Re: Fw: Obama's Reference to Performance Pay Booed at NEA Convention (with video)

["Jack Gerson" <jackrgerson@gmail.com>]

I was at the NEA RA as a delegate from California, and I also recall Obama
remarking about U.S. public school students doing poorly compared to
students from other developed countries (although those remarks aren't in
Antonucci's edited video).

In addition to supporting merit pay and charter schools, Obama also called
for "more accountability". Although critical of NCLB, his prescription was
"fix it by providing more funding" rather than scrap it.

Although I haven't seen it reported anywhere, the California Teachers
Association leadership was highly critical of Obama's speech -- in fact, of
his education policy in general -- at a meeting of the entire 1,200-member
California delegation the morning after Obama's speech. They made clear that
while they will continue to support Obama, they plan to pressure him on
merit pay and incentive pay, and to pressure NEA to firm up its position and
to work to bring Obama around on educational policy.

Jack Gerson


On Thu, Jul 10, 2008 at 4:50 PM, <dkeikoa@hawaii.rr.com> wrote:

> I tried to open the video, but wasn't able to. I am traveling, so not using
> my normal means of access.  I was at NEA and I do support Obama, but I was
> disappointed by his address at NEA for the reasons you stated. Also,  I
> heard him put his ideas in context by saying that we are the lowest of all
> the developed countries in international testing. Having been informed by
> this listserv and reading Gerry's books, I know that to be untrue. No one
> reacted to the statement as I did, and one said she doesn't remember him
> saying it. I'll keep trying to check on it.
>
>
> ---- GERALD BRACEY <gbracey1@verizon.net> wrote:
> > FYI
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: EducationIntel@aol.com
> > To: EducationIntel@aol.com
> > Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2008 1:09 PM
> > Subject: Obama's Reference to Performance Pay Booed at NEA Convention
> (with video)
> >
> >
> > The Education Intelligence Agency
> >
> > NEA Convention Coverage
> >
> > July 5, 2008
> >
> >
> >
> > Barack Obama took the bull by the horns today in accepting the
> endorsement of the National Education Association Representative Assembly.
> He spoke live via satellite from Butte, Montana, with a group of local
> teachers behind him. EIA's video of the speech is posted at
> http://www.eiaonline.com and on YouTube.
> >
> >
> >
> > He expressed support for much of NEA's agenda - overhaul of the No Child
> Left Behind Act, higher pay, college tuition for new teachers, etc. - but he
> also specifically noted his backing of charter schools (around the 4:45 mark
> of the video) and caused quite a stir, including some very loud booing, when
> he said (around the 6:10 mark):
> >
> > "Under my plan, districts will be able to design programs to give
> educators who serve them as mentors to new teachers the salary increases
> they've earned. They'll be able to reward those who teach underserved areas
> or take on added responsibility. As teachers learn new skills or serve their
> students better or if they consistently excel in the classroom, that work
> can be valued and rewarded as well."
> >
> > After the booing, Obama said, "I know this wasn't necessarily the most
> popular part of my speech last year, but I said it then, and I'm saying it
> again today, because it is what I believe."
> >
> >
> >
> > # # #
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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