As reported in the NY Times, educators are increasingly frustrated with Obama’s Race to the Top.  As school districts across the country crunch numbers and are forced to let go of quality teachers because of budget shortfalls, Obama and education secretary, Arne Duncan, are seen more like dog trainers trying to teach the rest of us how high and when we are supposed to jump and then rewarding us with a bone.

Education is not a game.  We shouldn’t be playing around with it.  True, it needs some major overhauling.  It also needs a large infusion of financial support that will go to supply physical needs and increase pay to hard-working, highly successful teachers.

But at the bottom of this education mess, we find people.  Students.  And families.  We could implement the most cutting edge, successful programs, hire the most qualified teachers, and fill the classrooms with technology but if we don’t address the problems that are plaguing students outside of the classroom, then we haven’t solved any issues.  Those things are only short term solutions to long term problems.  We have to help people learn to view education as a worthy, important endeavor.  Only then will this mess start to be sorted out.