Obama's state of the union and Education

President Obama touched a great deal on the present state of education in the United States of America. Obama payed tribute to the value of good teachers, saying, "Stop teaching to the test and replace teachers who just aren't helping kids learn." He also called on every state to require students to stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18. To further their education, Obama urged Congress to stop interest rates on student loans from doubling as scheduled in July, extending the tuition tax credit and double the number of work-study jobs in the next five years. Obama alerted colleges and universities who are constantly raising tuition rates, saying that if they can't harness technology and redesign courses to help students finish more quickly, they will face less taxpayer funding.

As a teacher and a current student I don’t think Obama could have said that any better. He obviously sees the importance in education and it’s comforting to me to know that the man in charge of this nation is backing my profession. However, it would have been even better if he touched on the state of today’s children’s lack of physical acivity and the importance of physical education. The president also said that students brought here that aren’t American citizens should not live under the threat of deportation because Congress can't agree on a comprehensive immigration plan. He said "If election-year politics keeps Congress from acting on a comprehensive plan, let's at least agree to stop expelling responsible young people who want to staff our labs, start new businesses and defend this country, Send me a law that gives them the chance to earn their citizenship. I will sign it right away."