are committed to real change in the way you educate your children , '' he told his audience , `` if you 're willing to hold yourselves more accountable , and if you develop a strong plan to improve the quality of education in your state , then we 'll offer you a big grant to help you make that plan a reality . '' Like no president in recent memory -- except maybe George W. Bush , who diagnosed that schools are often afflicted with `` the soft bigotry of low expectations '' -- Obama gets it . What Obama `` gets '' is that America 's public schools often underperform and help cheat students out of brighter futures for three main reasons : 1 -RRB- There are low expectations , not just for students but also for parents , schools and whole communities that are written off as not able to compete academically . Too many educators let themselves off the hook by telling themselves that poor kids from struggling backgrounds are somehow incapable of learning as well as kids from wealthier communities . 2 -RRB- Too many educators and politicians treat public schools as if they exist
San Diego , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Obama deserves an A + for his agenda for education reform . His decision to nominate Arne Duncan as U.S. education secretary was inspired , and his comments on holding the system accountable are honest , refreshing and insightful . Obama showed that again this week with a powerful speech at James C. Wright Middle School in Madison , Wisconsin . He announced that , in the coming weeks , states would be able to compete for their share of more than $ 4 billion in funding through the administration 's Race to the Top initiative . But in order to do that , he said , the states have to demonstrate that they 're serious about increasing accountability by doing things like tearing down `` firewall laws '' that prevent districts from factoring in student performance when evaluating teachers . That sinister brainchild was brought to you by politically influential teachers ' unions who make it their solemn mission to protect their members from the scrutiny and standards that everyday people have to put up in their jobs . Obama 's not having any of it . `` If you