Regardless, we do have to come up with money for education anyway. The skills he is talking about are certainly needed but something I think is missing from junior high and high school teaching today is the ability to do critical thinking and the ability to debate ideas. There are many good teachers out there that do include this in their classrooms but not nearly enough. I went to a small school when I was a kid and we had this really demanding and wonderful history teacher in 8th grade. If you had a B or better in his class you spent at least three days of your class time in the school library.
We were given subjects to research and then we debated them in class. We debated slavery and the civil war, communism, and many other ideas. These debates were very hot on both sides of the issue and we were free to say all the bad things if we had the negative side. All of us really got into it and there was a great deal of competition to win for your side even if it was the wrong side. This was about 1960 before Vietnam, before the big civil rights push etc.
My kids much later in the late 80's early 90's had a science teacher in junior high and three or four high school teachers who did similar things or used really challenging approaches teaching their subject. These teachers were not just putting in their time for a paycheck but loved their subjects and loved to teach and as a result their students worked hard and loved their class.
Money alone can't give that to a school. Leadership is what makes a huge difference and parent interest and involvement supporting good leadership is essential to a good school.
I was fortunate to be young during the inspiring times of Jack and Robert Kennedy. Obama is that kind of leader, and that, given an opportunity, does trickle down to everyone giving rise to healthy enthusiasm that brings people together and lifts them up instead of pushing them down and dividing them.
McCain and Palin have absolutely nothing to offer this country except more misery. Misery loves company they say but I am tired of their kind of hopeless, misery and strife. This country has to get out of its rut and move forward or we will suffer terribly for it and our children will indict us for our lack of will and leadership.