The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release September 24, 2011

WEEKLY ADDRESS: Strengthening the American Education System

WASHINGTONIn this weeks address, President Obama told the American people that it is time to raise the standards of our education system so that every classroom is a place of high expectations and high performance. On Friday, the President announced that states will have greater flexibility to find innovative ways of improving the quality of learning and teaching, so that we can strengthen performance in our classrooms and ensure that teachers are helping students learn rather than teaching to the test. By modernizing our schools and improving the education system, the United States can continue building an economy that lasts into the future and prepare the next generation to succeed in the global economy. Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House September 24, 2011 Over the last few weeks, Ive been making the case that we need to act now on the American Jobs Act, so we can put folks back to work and start building an economy that lasts into the future. Education is an essential part of this economic agenda. It is an undeniable fact that countries who out-educate us today will out-compete us tomorrow. Businesses will hire wherever the highly-skilled, highly-trained workers are located. But today, our students are sliding against their peers around the globe. Today, our kids trail too many other countries in math, science, and reading. As many as a quarter of our students arent even finishing high school. And weve fallen to 16th in the proportion of our young people with a college degree, even though we know that sixty percent of new jobs in the coming decade will require more than a high school diploma. What this means is that if were serious about building an economy that lasts an economy in which hard work pays off with the opportunity for solid middle class jobs we had better be serious about education. We have to pick up our game and raise our standards. As a nation, we have an obligation to make sure that all children have the resources they need to learn quality schools, good teachers, the latest textbooks and the right technology. Thats why

the jobs bill I sent to Congress would put tens of thousands of teachers back to work across the country, and modernize at least 35,000 schools. And Congress should pass that bill right now. But money alone wont solve our education problems. We also need reform. We need to make sure that every classroom is a place of high expectations and high performance. Thats been our vision since taking office. And thats why instead of just pouring money into a system thats not working, we launched a competition called Race to the Top. To all fifty states, we said, If you show us the most innovative plans to improve teacher quality and student achievement, well show you the money. For less than one percent of what we spend on education each year, Race to the Top has led states across the country to raise their standards for teaching and learning. These standards were developed, not by Washington, but by Republican and Democratic governors throughout the country. And since then, we have seen whats possible when reform isnt just a top-down mandate, but the work of local teachers and principals; school boards and communities. Thats why in my State of the Union address this year, I said that Congress should reform the No Child Left Behind law based on the same principles that have guided Race to the Top. While the goals behind No Child Left Behind were admirable, experience has taught us that the law has some serious flaws that are hurting our children instead of helping them. Teachers are being forced to teach to a test, while subjects like history and science are being squeezed out. And in order to avoid having their schools labeled as failures, some states lowered their standards in a race to the bottom. These problems have been obvious to parents and educators all over this country for years. But for years, Congress has failed to fix them. So now, I will. Our kids only get one shot at a decent education. And they cant afford to wait any longer. Yesterday, I announced that well be giving states more flexibility to meet high standards for teaching and learning. Its time for us to let states, schools and teachers come up with innovative ways to give our children the skills they need to compete for the jobs of the future. This will make a huge difference in the lives of students all across the country. Yesterday, I was with Ricky Hall, the principal of a school in Worcester, Massachusetts. Every single student who graduated from Riccis school in the last three years went on to college. But because they didnt meet the standards of No Child Left Behind, Riccis school was labeled as failing last year. That will change because of what we did yesterday. From now on, well be able to encourage the progress at schools like Riccis. From now on, people like John Becker, who teaches at one of the highest-performing middle schools in D.C., will be able to focus on teaching his 4th graders math in a way that improves their performance instead of just teaching to a test. Superintendents like David Estrop from Ohio will be able to focus on improving teaching

and learning in his district instead of spending all his time on bureaucratic mandates from Washington that dont get results. This isnt just the right thing to do for our kids its the right thing to do for our country, and our future. It is time to put our teachers back on the job. It is time to rebuild and modernize our schools. And it is time to raise our standards, up our game, and do everything it takes to prepare our children succeed in the global economy. Now is the time to once again make our education system the envy of the world. Thanks for listening.
[PRESIDENTIAL WEEKLY ADDRESS ASSESSMENT PHASE A.a START OF]
[ Old English hs < Germanic] = White Cotton Cloth < Persian hasa < Arabian < hassa

The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release September 24, 2011

[14th century. < late Latin secretarius "confidential officer" < secretus (see secret)] < furniture that is used as an office
['sekrter] secrtaire MASCULINE AND FEMININE; POLITICS ministre MASCULINE
AND FEMININE

[13th century. Via Old French relaisser "let go" < Latin relaxare "loosen" (see relax)]

[14th century. Via Old French adresser < assumed Vulgar Latin addrictiare "direct to" < Latin directus (see direct)] < Russian directiva = prime order (Marxist Dictionary) < French directive < Latin directivus < directus = straight (line)

WEEKLY ADDRESS: Strengthening the American Education System

[ Old English strengu < Germanic, "strong"]

= create basis of something, lie down

[ Old English wice < Germanic, "series, succession"] < Turkish ugur = Good Luck < Augurium <<Good Sign>>

WASHINGTONIn this weeks address, President Obama told the American people that it is time to raise the standards of our education system so that every classroom is a place of high expectations and high performance.
performance [pr fwrmnss] (plural performances) noun
1. artistic presentation: a presentation of an artistic work such as a play or piece of music to an audience 2. manner of functioning: the manner in which something or somebody functions, operates, or behaves a high-performance car 3. working effectiveness: the way in which somebody does a job, judged by its effectiveness (often used before a noun) performance-related pay 4. thing accomplished: something that is carried out or accomplished 5. accomplishment of something: the act of carrying out or accomplishing something such as a task or action 6. display of behavior: a public display of behavior that others find distasteful, e.g. an angry outburst that causes embarrassment (informal) 7. LINGUISTICS language produced: the language that a speaker or writer actually produces, as distinct from his or her understanding of the language. See also competence (sense 3) parolen (sense 5)

classroom (plural classrooms) noun

room where people are taught: a room, especially in a school or college, where classes are held

[ Old English Frgedg "day of the goddess Frigg"] = Preparation , Deployment < stock , supplies < deriving from < During the Hellenistic Period it was used to call the day before the Hebrew Sabbath and it was the day to prepare for the next day now Universally known as Saturday. [Pre-12th century. Contraction of Saturn's day, translation of Latin Saturni dies]

On Friday, the President announced that states will have greater flexibility to find innovative ways of improving the quality of learning and teaching, so that we can strengthen performance in our classrooms and ensure that teachers are helping students learn rather than teaching to the test.
[14th century. < Anglo-Norman enserer, alteration of Old French asserer, assurer (see assure)]

[Early 16th century. Directly or via French moderne < Latin modernus < modo "just now, in a (certain) manner" < modus "measure"]

By modernizing our schools and improving the education system, the United States can continue building an economy that lasts into the future and prepare the next generation to succeed in the global economy.
knowledge noun
[nllij]

education [jj kysh'n] (plural educations) noun

1. educating: the imparting and acquiring of knowledge through teaching and learning, especially at a school or similar institution "After all, what is education but a process by which a person begins to learn how to learn?" (PETER USTINOV Dear Me 1977) 2. knowledge: the knowledge or abilities gained through being educated 3. instruction: training and instruction in a particular subject, e.g. health matters 4. learning experience: an informative experience Spending a weekend in their house was a real education. 5. study of teaching: the study of the theories and practices of teaching a degree in education 6. system for educating people: the system of educating people in a community or society jobs in education

1. information in mind: general awareness or possession of information, facts, ideas, truths, or principles Her knowledge and interests are extensive. 2. specific information: clear awareness or explicit information, e.g. of a situation or fact I believe they have knowledge of the circumstances. 3. all that can be known: all the information, facts, truths, and principles learned throughout time With all our knowledge, we still haven't found a cure for the common cold. 4. learning through experience or study: familiarity or understanding gained through experience or study knowledge of nuclear physics 5. COMMUNICATION transmission of information: information services and the storage and transmission of information, especially within a large organization 6. intercourse: sexual intercourse (archaic)

[14th century. Probably < obsolete knowledge "acknowledge" < know + Old English -lcan < -lc "practice"]

Genetic Information already stored vs or + Information stored through External Sensors (Sexual Ones Excluded) .

soul [sl] (plural souls) noun

1. nonphysical aspect of person: the complex of human attributes that manifests as consciousness, thought, feeling, and will, regarded as distinct from the physical body 2. feelings: a person's emotional and moral nature, where the most private thoughts and feelings are hidden Her soul was in turmoil. 3. spirit surviving death: in some systems of religious belief, the spiritual part of a human being that is believed to continue to exist after the body dies. The soul is sometimes regarded as subject to future reward and punishment, and sometimes as able to take a form that allows it to remain on or return to earth. 4. spiritual depth: evidence of spiritual or emotional depth and sensitivity, either in a person or in something created by a person Though technically perfect, the drawing lacked soul. 5. essence: the deepest and truest nature of people or a nation, or what gives somebody or something a distinctive character In my travels I hoped to discover the soul of the Russian people. 6. type of person: somebody of a particular type, especially one regarded sympathetically or with familiarity Poor soul! What will he do now? 7. anyone: anyone at all (used in negative statements) You have to promise not to tell a soul. 8. individual person: an individual person, especially when thought of as making up the number of a group (usually used in the plural) a country of some 10 million souls 9. perfect example: a good example, or personification, of a positive quality The hotel manager was the soul of discretion. 10. somebody essential to something: the leader of or the most influential person in a group or movement 11. African American spirit: a quality regarded as characterizing African American culture, especially as manifested in understanding and in social customs, speech, and music

If Life is a continuous Struggle to understand the Battlefield we breathe in what is best and more efficient? A Quick perhaps 40 minute pass over through the Penis and the Vagina or a 25 or even 40 and 50+ year old Study of information coming everywhere else but what we really want to know to at least satisfy our immediate needs and later on what elevates a Mans Soul? In Time Both? When is Precisely When?

If it is all about sex why we need a soul? If it is all about soul how are we going to talk through sex if all other communication protocols have failed? If we are not readily and naturally free to understand what is happening inside us how are we going to interact with the Environment that is already Universalized the last 20 billion Years?

[ Old English swol < Germanic]

[Late 16th century. < French remarquer < marquer "to mark"]

[14th century. Via French < Latin praesident- < present participle of praesidere (see preside)]

Remarks of President Barack Obama [ Old English hwt < Indo-European, "shine"] Weekly Address The White House Hellenistic Sinai < Probably coming from the September 24, 2011
Sumerian - Chaldean God Called Sin in the same name desert

[ Old English latost (adverb) "after all the others" < Germanic]

[13th century. Via Old French cas "event" < Latin casus < cadere "to fall"]

Over the last few weeks, Ive been making the case that we need to act now on the American Jobs Act, so we can put folks back to work and start building an economy that lasts into the future.
[ Old English byldan "construct a house" < bold "dwelling" < Germanic, "dwell"] The Battle to build something out of nothing with your own hands or mind. [13th century. < Latin vision- < vis- (see visible)] <> Turn the Invisible to a Visible State or bring what is beyond reach closer physically or mindfully.

[14th century. < late Latin essentialis < Latin essentia (see essence)] < < Doric / < Indo European < twe < Latin te > French te Sanskrit tva > Ancient Germanic pe(ke) > Old English Thee , Old Slavonic Ti

Education is an essential part of this economic agenda. It is an undeniable fact that countries who out-educate us today will out-compete us tomorrow. Businesses will hire wherever the highly-skilled, highly-trained workers are located.
[ Old English bisignis "anxiety, distress" < bisig "anxious, busy"] The Game of Stress Is Anxiety really that bad when you know what it really means in your own personal reality? [Mid-16th century. Directly or via Old French < Latin globus "ball, sphere"]

But today, our students are sliding against their peers around the globe. Today, our kids trail too many other countries in math, science, and reading.
[13th century. < Old French cuntre < assumed Vulgar Latin (terra) contrata "(land) lying opposite" < Latin contra "against"] [12th century. < Old Norse ki] [Pre-12th century. Via Latin schola < Greek skhol "learned discussion, school"] < < I Have < Hard to interprete < Italian Contra , Contro < Latin Contra

Knowledge that becomes useful in the given moment during life time ergo Knowledge is Power.

As many as a quarter of our students arent even finishing high school. And weve fallen to 16th

in the proportion of our young people with a college degree, even though we know that sixty percent of new jobs in the coming decade will require more than a high school diploma.
[ Old English nowe < IndoEuropean] < Young, New < Latin Novus ?< Ancient Greek [ Old English mra < Germanic]

[15th century. Via French < late Latin seriosus < Latin serius] = The Brightest Wanderer Star

What this means is that if were serious about building an economy that lasts an economy in which hard work pays off with the opportunity for solid middle class jobs we had better be serious about education. We have to pick up our game and raise our standards.
[ Old English onbtan "on or around the outside of" < on (see on) + btan (see but)] [ Old English bettra < comparative of Germanic, "advantageous"]

= Aura < Possibly Turkish meaning West

[13th century. Via Old French oblig(i)er < Latin obligare "tie to" < ligare "to tie"] = feed < = share , implies need to be obeyed natural or conscious one can be interpreted as obligation.

As a nation, we have an obligation to make sure that all children have the resources they need to learn quality schools, good teachers, the latest textbooks and the right technology.
[ Old English gd < Germanic, "unite"] < New Latin Unia = Union < Unus = One , the Same

[ Old English hw, instrumental case form of hwt "what"] [ Old English send < Germanic, "swollen hundred"< Indo-European, "to swell"]

Thats why the jobs bill I sent to Congress would put tens of thousands of teachers back to work across the country, and modernize at least 35,000 schools. And Congress should pass that bill right now.
[13th century. Via Old French moneie < Latin moneta "mint, money" < Moneta, epithet of the goddess Juno, in whose temple coins were minted] Goddess Can I have your Aroma Please? In the End, All I want is you not your money [15th century. < Latin congressus, past participle of congredi "go together" < gradi "proceed"]

= Congress < Latin Congressus < Latin Congredior = Meet

But money alone wont solve our education problems. We also need reform. We need to make sure that every classroom is a place of high expectations and high performance.
[14th century. Via French and Latin < Greek problma "projection, obstacle," literally "thing thrown in front" < ballein "to throw"]

[Pre-12th century. Via French < Latin platea "broad way" < Greek plateia hodos] < Hellenistic = Road , Female of the term

= Problem < = Throw Forward , means whatever exceeds inwards or confronts something else Visualizes Battle Intellectual, Science one or Common Sense One using Standard War Tools and Methods.

[13th century. < Latin vision- < vis- (see visible)]

= French Visa < Latin Visa , Visus = To See

Thats been our vision since taking office. And thats why instead of just pouring money into a system thats not working, we launched a competition called Race to the Top.
[Early 17th century. < late Latin competere "strive together" < Latin petere "seek"] < French Chic < German Schick = Way of Manners , Nobility [ Old English mst < IndoEuropean, "big"]

[ Old English fftig < five + -tig "ten"]

To all fifty states, we said, If you show us the most innovative plans to improve teacher quality and student achievement, well show you the money.
[Pre-12th century. Partly < Latin expendere "pay" (see expend); partly < Old French despendre "expend" < Latin dispendere (see dispense)] [14th century. Via French < Latin dispensare < dispendere "weigh out" < pendere "weigh"] [Early 16th century. < Anglo-Norman emprower "make a profit" < Old French prou "profit" < late Latin prode "profitable" < Latin prodesse (see proud)] Gain Prestige by Fixing Something or Increasing what is identified as Quality in the given moment

For less than one percent of what we spend on education each year, Race to the Top has led states across the country to raise their standards for teaching and learning.

[12th century. Via Anglo-Norman estaundart "flag to which troops rally" < Old French estandart] < English Standard = To make certain something that stands in the future as a symbol e.g. Flag

[Late 16th century. Via French rpublique < Latin res publica "public matter"] = A Kind of Hat < Italian Repubblica = Democracy

[Mid-17th century. < French dvelopper "unwrap" < Old French voloper "wrap"]

[Late 16th century. Directly or via French < medieval Latin democratia < Greek dmokratia "rule of the people" < dmos "people" + kratos "rule"]

These standards were developed, not by Washington, but by Republican and Democratic governors throughout the country. And since then, we have seen whats possible when reform isnt just a top-down mandate, but the work of local teachers and principals; school boards and communities.
[ Old English weorc < Indo-European] [Early 16th century. < Latin mandat-, past participle of mandare "give into somebody's hand" < Indo-European, "hand"]

[14th century. Directly or via French < Latin reformare "form again" < forma "form"]

Thats why in my State of the Union address this year, I said that Congress should reform the No Child Left Behind law based on the same principles that have guided Race to the Top.
[Late 19th century. After Karl Adolph von Basedow (1799-1854), German physician] [14th century. < Anglo-Norman, alteration of French principe < Latin principium < princip"somebody who takes first place"]

[ Old English behindan < hindan "from behind" < Germanic] [15th century. < Latin admirabilis < admirari (see admire)]

While the goals behind No Child Left Behind were admirable, experience has taught us that the law has some serious flaws that are hurting our children instead of helping them.
[14th century. Origin ?] <Flou < Old French Flo = Desert Place , Non Cultivated Region [ Old English helpan < Germanic]

Parallel with the Latin fluctuare = Stay Afloat

[13th century. < Old French < Latin fortis "strong"] [15th century. Via Latin < Greek historia "history, knowledge, narrative" < histr "learned man"] Ancient < = Knowledgeable , to be trained in something To Truly Know what other people do and why they are doing it did it and even perhaps predict why they may do it again (and again, and again) < Hellenistic = Load < English Loan , Charge

[14th century. Via French < Latin scientia < scient-, present participle of scire "know, discern" < Indo-European, "cut"] = Arrow < Latin Sagitta Do I lead the The Arrow Of Time or the Arrows Vision is Leading Me Mr. Stephen Hawkings? Who or what is Leading You?

Teachers are being forced to teach to a test, while subjects like history and science are being squeezed out. And in order to avoid having their schools labeled as failures, some states lowered their standards in a race to the bottom.
[15th century. Via French < Latin parent- < present participle of parere "give birth"] [ Old English botm < Indo-European]

These problems have been obvious to parents and educators all over this country for years. But for years, Congress has failed to fix them. So now, I will. Our kids only get one shot at a decent education. And they cant afford to wait any longer.
[ Old English geforian "accomplish" < forian "to further"] [ Old English sceot, gesceot "act of shooting" < Germanic, "to project"]

[15th century. Directly or via French annoncer < Latin annuntiare < nuntius "messenger"]

Yesterday, I announced that well be giving states more flexibility to meet high standards for teaching and learning. Its time for us to let states, schools and teachers come up with innovative ways to give our children the skills they need to compete for the jobs of the future.
[ Old English cild] [12th century. < Old Norse skil "discernment"]

difference [dffrnss, dffrnss] (plural differences) noun

1. state of being unlike others: the quality of being different from or unlike something or somebody else There's no real difference between going by train and going by car. 2. distinguishing feature: a feature that distinguishes one person or thing from another Can you spot the differences between the two? 3. significant change: a change that has an effect a noticeable difference in her moods 4. disagreement: a disagreement, argument, or divergence of opinions settle our differences 5. MATHEMATICS answer to subtraction equation: the amount by which one quantity is greater or smaller than another What's the difference between 16 and 6? 6. LOGIC defining feature: a distinguishing feature that marks out a thing being defined or discussed from others that are more general being divisible by two is the difference between even numbers and other whole numbers

This will make a huge difference in the lives of students all across the country. Yesterday, I was with Ricky Hall, the principal of a school in Worcester, Massachusetts.
yesterday [ystr day, ystrdee] noun (plural yesterdays)
1. day before today: the day before this one 2. past: a time in the past

[Late 19th century. Probably < a surname]

[13th century. Via French < Latin singulus < simplus "simple"]

adverb
1. on previous day: on the day before today 2. in past: at a time in the past

Every single student who graduated from Riccis school in the last three years went on to college. But because they didnt meet the standards of No Child Left Behind, Riccis school was labeled as failing last year.
[13th century. < Old French, "ribbon, fillet"] [14th century. < by cause "for the reason (that)," after Old French par chance] [12th century. Via Anglo-Norman estaundart "flag to which troops rally" < Old French estandart]

That will change because of what we did yesterday. From now on, well be able to encourage the progress at schools like Riccis.
[15th century. < Latin progressus, past participle of progredi "go forward" < gradi "to walk"]

[ Old English tcan < IndoEuropean, "to show"] = Spectacle < show = Point to , Exhibit

[13th century. Via Anglo-Norman and Old French < Latin populus < Etruscan]

From now on, people like John Becker, who teaches at one of the highest-performing middle schools in D.C., will be able to focus on teaching his 4th graders math in a way that improves their performance instead of just teaching to a test.
[13th century. < in1 + stead "place"] [Mid-16th century. < ecclesiastical Latin superintendent-, present participle of superintendere "oversee" < Latin super "over, above" + intendere (see intend); translation of Greek episkopos "overseer"] Ancient Greek = Watcher , Guard

Superintendents like David Estrop from Ohio will be able to focus on improving teaching and learning in his district instead of spending all his time on bureaucratic mandates from Washington that dont get results.
bureaucratic adjective
krttik]

1. administrative: relating to the way administrative systems are organized the bureaucratic structure 2. too rigid: applying rules rigidly within an administrative system or government

[14th century. Via French < Latin justus < jus "law, right"]

This isnt just the right thing to do for our kids its the right thing to do for our country, and our future. It is time to put our teachers back on the job.
[Assumed Old English putian, origin ?] < Italian Pouttana < French putain (means Whore since 1278) < old French put(e) meaning dirty , corrupted , filthy

[ Old English tma "period of time" < Germanic, "extend"]

= Respect < Sanskrit Cayati = Respect

It is time to rebuild and modernize our schools. And it is time to raise our standards, up our game, and do everything it takes to prepare our children succeed in the global economy. Now is the time to once again make our education system the envy of the world.
[13th century. Via French envie < Latin invidia < invidere "look askance at" < videre "see"] To See but cannot Reach , To Visualize but can not further Dream or Hold in your Hands , Perhaps the Closest thing to Hell for the Modern Western Man and Woman

[ Old English ancian < Indo-European] [ Old English hlysnan (influenced by list4) < IndoEuropean, "hear"]

Thanks for listening.

[PRESIDENTIAL WEEKLY ADDRESS ASSESSMENT PHASE A.a END OF] [PRESIDENTIAL WEEKLY ADDRESS ASSESSMENT PHASE A.b START OF]

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release September 24, 2011

WEEKLY ADDRESS: Strengthening the American Education System

Earth

WASHINGTONIn this weeks address, President Obama told the American people that it is time to raise the standards of our education system so that every classroom is a place of high expectations and high performance.

On Friday, the President announced that states will have greater flexibility to find innovative ways of improving the quality of learning and teaching, so that we can strengthen performance in our classrooms and ensure that teachers are helping students learn rather than teaching to the test.

By modernizing our schools and improving the education system, the United States can continue building an economy that lasts into the future and prepare the next generation to succeed in the global economy.

Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House September 24, 2011

Over the last few weeks, Ive been making the case that we need to act now on the American Jobs Act, so we can put folks back to work and start building an economy that lasts into the future.

Education is an essential part of this economic agenda. It is an undeniable fact that countries

who out-educate us today will out-compete us tomorrow. Businesses will hire wherever the highly-skilled, highly-trained workers are located.

But today, our students are sliding against their peers around the globe. Today, our kids trail too many other countries in math, science, and reading. As many as a quarter of our students arent even finishing high school. And weve fallen to 16th in the proportion of our young people with a college degree, even though we know that sixty percent of new jobs in the coming decade will require more than a high school diploma.

What this means is that if were serious about building an economy that lasts an economy in which hard work pays off with the opportunity for solid middle class jobs we had better be serious about education. We have to pick up our game and raise our standards.

As a nation, we have an obligation to make sure that all children have the resources they need to learn quality schools, good teachers, the latest textbooks and the right technology. Thats why

the jobs bill I sent to Congress would put tens of thousands of teachers back to work across the country, and modernize at least 35,000 schools. And Congress should pass that bill right now.

But money alone wont solve our education problems. We also need reform. We need to make sure that every classroom is a place of high expectations and high performance.

Thats been our vision since taking office. And thats why instead of just pouring money into a system thats not working, we launched a competition called Race to the Top. To all fifty states, we said, If you show us the most innovative plans to improve teacher quality and student achievement, well show you the money.

[< Latin per centum "by a hundred"]

For less than one percent of what we spend on education each year, Race to the Top has led states across the country to raise their standards for teaching and learning. These standards were developed, not by Washington, but by Republican and Democratic governors throughout the country. And since then, we have seen whats possible when reform isnt just a top-down mandate, but the work of local teachers and principals; school boards and communities.

Thats why in my State of the Union address this year, I said that Congress should reform the No Child Left Behind law based on the same principles that have guided Race to the Top.

While the goals behind No Child Left Behind were admirable, experience has taught us that the law has some serious flaws that are hurting our children instead of helping them. Teachers are being forced to teach to a test, while subjects like history and science are being squeezed out. And in order to avoid having their schools labeled as failures, some states lowered their standards in a race to the bottom.

These problems have been obvious to parents and educators all over this country for years. But for years, Congress has failed to fix them. So now, I will. Our kids only get one shot at a decent education. And they cant afford to wait any longer.

Yesterday, I announced that well be giving states more flexibility to meet high standards for teaching and learning. Its time for us to let states, schools and teachers come up with innovative ways to give our children the skills they need to compete for the jobs of the future.

This will make a huge difference in the lives of students all across the country. Yesterday, I was with Ricky Hall, the principal of a school in Worcester, Massachusetts. Every single student who graduated from Riccis school in the last three years went on to college. But because they didnt meet the standards of No Child Left Behind, Riccis school was labeled as failing last year.

That will change because of what we did yesterday. From now on, well be able to encourage the progress at schools like Riccis. From now on, people like John Becker, who teaches at one of the highest-performing middle schools in D.C., will be able to focus on teaching his 4th graders math in a way that improves their performance instead of just teaching to a test. Superintendents like David Estrop from Ohio will be able to focus on improving teaching and learning in his district instead of spending all his time on bureaucratic mandates from Washington that dont get results.

This isnt just the right thing to do for our kids its the right thing to do for our country, and our future. It is time to put our teachers back on the job. It is time to rebuild and modernize our schools. And it is time to raise our standards, up our game, and do everything it takes to prepare our children succeed in the global economy. Now is the time to once again make our education system the envy of the world.

Thanks for listening.

[PRESIDENTIAL WEEKLY ADDRESS ASSESSMENT PHASE A.b END OF]