What Team Sport ! Play the Play !

        “Politics is a team sport” is  an article  written by opinion writer Charles Blow in the February 23 New York Times. In that article, Blow analyzes the words of Republican candidate, Rick Santorum in response to questions asked in Wednesday’s debate. In defending his support for No Child Left Behind, Santorum answered that he voted for it, although it was against his principles because “when you’re part of the team, sometimes you take one for the leader and I made a mistake. You know politics is a team sport. You’ve got to rally together.”

      Blow presented polls and surveys that show that Santorum’s RepublicanParty is against “team sport and rallying together” unlike the Democrats who believe in compromises for the greater good of the nation.  While I agree with Charles Blow that Santorum exposed his” legislative underbelly”, I fully disagree that it revealed a weakness of Santorum. In describing himself  in one word, Santorum said “courage.” What courage? Where is his courage to stand up for what is right, regardless of opposition from his Republican peers?  Of course I agree with Blow and Santorum that compromise is good. I readily admit that team sport is what this nation needs. However, and ironically that is what Santorum continuously attack president Obama about. All of the issues that he has criticized the President for, were brought about because President  Obama genuinely believes and practices this theme that "politics is team sport and sometimes you've got to rally together”. Unfortunately for Santorum, if his fellow Republican, Romney, had not “out” him, I would never had known that he went  “against his principles.”

     I agree with Charles Blow that "Santorum take on compromises is one of the more reasonable things he said lately". Sadly though , compromise is not one of the things he has practiced and ranted about  lately. Check his votes on earmarks. Then check his rants. Better yet; check his votes on Plan Parenthood. Then check his rants. Charles Blow, I am sure this man of courage will say “ I made a mistake “. But is it Jekyll or is it Hyde?

Leave No Child ...

     On Friday , February 10,2012, The Time Magazine published an article entitled The Beginning of the End for No Child Left Behind .Teachers, educators and even some parents involved with the public school education system, will painfully admit, that the strict requirements of No Child Left Behind had given them nightmares, taken away their jobs, and left more children behind, than ever before. No Child Left Behind enacted by Pres. George W. Bush in 2002, was a strong effort to get accountability by measuring student performance in the public school system
    According to the Time Magazine ,educators can now breathe easier with the Beginning of the end for No Child Left Behind. The Time magazine states that president Obama has granted a deal to every state to "set higher, more honest standards than the ones set by No Child Left Behind."

This an important article because for the ten years since its existence No Child Left Behind have impacted, the education system and the people involved with it. It had some good points because it tried to provide standards and accountability. Unfortunately some of the standards were unrealistic and impractical especially when it came to financial funding.