Obama’s stance on education

Summary: Barack Obama is our new president. This article displays his education plans.  It also shows his record on education issues in the senate.  Finally the article takes a look at key interest groups and where they stood on the issue.

Topic: Pell Grants

Category: mainstream journalistic

What is it? An article from the National Journal

Title: Obama on Education

Publication information: National Journal, 8/1/2008

Author: Caruso, Lisa

Location: Ebscohost MAS ultra (search Obama and education)

Accessed: 1/26/08

Support:

Jon Schnur: Campaign advisor

Michael Johnston: Advisor, counseled Obama in US Senate.

Chris Edley: Advisor, served on the commission that drafted “no child left behind”

Danielle Gray: top education campaign adviser.

Randi Weingarten: American Federation of Teachers

Summary:

The article listed all of Obama’s campaign advisers.  Randi Weingarten is quoted at the end of the article opposing Obama’s plan to revise “No Child Left Behind”.

Source analysis:

The National Journal is a non partisan source of information on current political news and emerging policies.  This company has print articles online, and does broadcast news as well.  With 110 editors and reporters focusing just on Washington DC, the National Journal prides itself on setting the bar for editorial reporting on US politics.  Their publications are widely read amongst decision makers and influencers across the country.

Usefulness:

This article gave me a little more insight on Obama’s track record on the issue of education.  It gives four education bills that he supported in his time as Senator of Illinois.  All of the bills involved improving teaching standards, and raising student achievements amongst disadvantaged children.  It showed me that education is one of his more passionate issues.  This article also showed some of the key interest groups in the education field. Key interest groups were hesitant to endorse Obama at first because of his stance on merrit pay for teachers, criticism of testing, and criticism of “no child left behind”.

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