Comments on: Obama, Loebsack Campaign in Washington, IA

By: lwittmayer

lwittmayer — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:27:40 +0000

Laurie I was there on the stage behind him. My husband and I came in to the very first political rally we have ever attended with mixed party history. We have liked what we have seen and heard of Obama, and were greatly impressed with him in person. He looks to have the skills and strength of character to improve the old way of politics in Wash, D.C.

I teach special education and see the pain in the eyes of special needs studens when we are required to test them at grade level when we already know they are unable to even read the examples. It breaks my heart. What has happened with NO Child Left Behind is that we have totally DESTROYED the child, reduced school time to testing and data keeping, hours of developing statistics, and forcing children's instruction to what will help on a test rather than what is exciting about learning, developmentally appropriate, or character building.

We are judged as educators on the numbers of an exam that is culturally biased, and greatly flawed in evaluating what is important in educating a child to be successful in life, and confident as a person. The government has used horrible judgement in this matter, and refuses to admit it.

Sen. Obama gave me a chance to briefly make this point. He is my hope for the future of many things, especially in my world of education.

By: desmoinesdem

desmoinesdem — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 07:00:52 +0000

thanks for the liveblog I was hoping Loebsack would stay neutral, I admit.

I actually haven't heard that Fired Up Ready to Go story.

By: lwittmayer

lwittmayer — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I teach special education and see the pain in the eyes of special needs studens when we are required to test them at grade level when we already know they are unable to even read the examples. It breaks my heart. What has happened with NO Child Left Behind is that we have totally DESTROYED the child, reduced school time to testing and data keeping, hours of developing statistics, and forcing children’s instruction to what will help on a test rather than what is exciting about learning, developmentally appropriate, or character building.

Sen. Obama gave me a chance to briefly make this point. He is my hope for the future of many things, especially in my world of education.

By: desmoinesdem

desmoinesdem — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

thanks for the liveblog I was hoping Loebsack would stay neutral, I admit.

I actually haven’t heard that Fired Up Ready to Go story.