latest report on achievement in the US?

links income of parents with academic record so the legacy of 8 years of GWB…seems to be entrenching privilege and blocking innovation of the ‘undeserving poor’.

politics is a BIG part of education, no way to not be critical of NoChildLeftBehind..the damage done will linger for decades…

so…what of GWB now?

I differ with you, not on politics, but it is both pertinent and necessary that people who use these forums AT LEAST be informed.

Your political beliefs are not in question here. Your opinion of a speech that you didn’t stay to hear is the point. I can only hope that you might listen next time and talk about specifics that you disagree or agree about.

I too, a teacher, and most pertinent here for you, I am a lifetime independent. That means I determine my beliefs by informed choice. Please, just be informed by actually listening first!

Your reply says far more behind it than in your actual words. Your “apology” is your faint attempt to lash out. I see I hit home.

My father had the anger, like you, and I long ago recognized some people try to anger others so they themselves can feel better. Your reply doesn’t anger me, it only confirms that you aren’t listening and exchanging ideas, but rather expressing your own anger and lack of qualifications to judge a speech you didn’t stay to hear … or so you say.

I appreciate that there are many like you, less one with my “angry” father now passed, but you are not a clear or even close majority in America. We “who are not enlightened like you” not only allow but encourage your contributions. Your words remind us of those who complain and cry without really considering anything but one limited opinion.

I sincerely hope you find a way to see something outside your limited point of view.

So many comments from someone who can’t listen to an opposing point of view. Virtually a “gunfight challenge” over a cup of coffee. I grew up in a home with an extreme conservative, my father. He died a couple years back, so bitter and angry. As a registered independent, I choose based on my belief and that has included republicans.

Victoria … when you leave the room rather than hear something you don’t agree with … I worry if you communicate that handicap to your students. In a land and a democracy of ideas, you become unqualified to critique a speech you didn’t hear. My father missed a lifetime of family life for similar reasons. Yet to him, he was entirely correct and the rest of the world or family was wrong. It was a lonely and bitter end, yet we were there for him.

I hope you stop and listen more, not that I expect you will suddenly agree, but that you will become informed rather than dogmatically insistent that the views different than you appreciate are so horrible. You had eight years of what you wanted, and now you need to watch how others can do things differently. Don’t worry, Sarah is coming in 2012!

I could not disagree with you more. If a President’s job is to keep Americans from harm and to keep this country from attack, not to mention keep Americans employed, then Bush did his job. Millions have lost their jobs since GW Bush left office, my husband being one of them. I thank President Bush from the bottom of my heart. How dare you try to take my right to be grateful to my former president from me. Make no mistake, I could write plenty about the current administration. But I choose not to. It speaks for itself. GW Bush put everything he had into leading this nation. I never thought I’d end up blogging about this topic at this conference. Gladwell was out of line because ISTE did not contract him to talk about politics – liberal or otherwise. It was a lack of judgment on his part. Period. His opening remarks were offensive to me and hundreds, if not thousands of others. I spoke with the President of ISTE yesterday. She graciously apologized for my being offended, noting that ISTE is indeed a “diverse” population.

The two of you ought to have more sensitivity and allow people their right to think, feel, and respond however they will.