Obama: al meer studieschuld dan op creditcards
In het betoog kwam de president na zijn pleidooi voor eenkrachtiger economisch herstel dankzij een fair fiscaal beleid enslimme investeringen meteen te spreken over het cruciale belang vanonderwijs, onderzoek en innovatie. Zijn verhaal sluit nauw aan bijde denklijnen die Greg Darnieder, de rechterhand van zijnonderwijsminister Arne Duncan recent in zijn
Beloon de beste, geef scholen ruimte
“To prepare for the jobs of tomorrow, our commitment to skillsand education has to start earlier. For less than 1 percent of whatour nation spends on education each year, we’ve convinced nearlyevery state in the country to raise their standards for teachingand learning — the first time that’s happened in a generation.
But challenges remain. And we know how to solve them. At atime when other countries are doubling down on education, tightbudgets have forced states to lay off thousands of teachers. Weknow a good teacher can increase the lifetime income of a classroomby over $250,000. A great teacher can offer an escape from povertyto the child who dreams beyond his circumstance. Every person inthis chamber can point to a teacher who changed the trajectory oftheir lives. Most teachers work tirelessly, with modest pay,sometimes digging into their own pocket for school supplies — justto make a difference.
“Teachers matter. So instead of bashing them, ordefending the status quo, let’s offer schools a deal. Givethem the resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward thebest ones. (Applause.) And in return, grant schoolsflexibility: to teach with creativity and passion; to stopteaching to the test; and to replace teachers who just aren’thelping kids learn. That’s a bargain worth making. (Applause.)”
Leerplicht tot 18 jaar
“We also know that when students don’t walk away from theireducation, more of them walk the stage to get their diploma. When students are not allowed to drop out, they do better. Sotonight, I am proposing that every state — every state — requiresthat all students stay in high school until they graduate or turn18. (Applause.)
When kids do graduate, the most daunting challenge can be thecost of college. At a time when Americans owe more in tuitiondebt than credit card debt, this Congress needs to stop theinterest rates on student loans from doubling in July. (Applause.)
Extend the tuition tax credit we started that saves millions ofmiddle-class families thousands of dollars, and give more youngpeople the chance to earn their way through college by doubling thenumber of work-study jobs in the next five years. (Applause.)”
Exploderende collegegelden stoppen
“Of course, it’s not enough for us to increase studentaid. We can’t just keep subsidizing skyrocketing tuition;we’ll run out of money. States also need to do their part, bymaking higher education a higher priority in their budgets. Andcolleges and universities have to do their part by working to keepcosts down.
Recently, I spoke with a group of college presidents who’ve donejust that. Some schools redesign courses to help students finishmore quickly. Some use better technology. The point is, it’spossible. So let me put colleges and universities onnotice: If you can’t stop tuition from going up, the fundingyou get from taxpayers will go down. (Applause.) Higher educationcan’t be a luxury – it is an economic imperative that every familyin America should be able to afford.
Let’s also remember that hundreds of thousands of talented,hardworking students in this country face another challenge: thefact that they aren’t yet American citizens. Many were brought hereas small children, are American through and through, yet they liveevery day with the threat of deportation. Others came morerecently, to study business and science and engineering, but assoon as they get their degree, we send them home to invent newproducts and create new jobs somewhere else. That doesn’t makesense.”
Innovatie vereist fundamenteelonderzoek
“After all, innovation is what America has always beenabout. Most new jobs are created in start-ups and smallbusinesses. So let’s pass an agenda that helps themsucceed. Tear down regulations that prevent aspiringentrepreneurs from getting the financing togrow. (Applause.) Expand tax relief to small businessesthat are raising wages and creating good jobs. Both parties agreeon these ideas. So put them in a bill, and get it on my desk thisyear. (Applause.)
Innovation also demands basic research. Today, thediscoveries taking place in our federally financed labs anduniversities could lead to new treatments that kill cancer cellsbut leave healthy ones untouched. New lightweight vests for copsand soldiers that can stop any bullet. Don’t gut theseinvestments in our budget. Don’t let other countries win therace for the future. Support the same kind of research andinnovation that led to the computer chip and the Internet; to newAmerican jobs and new American industries.
And nowhere is the promise of innovation greater than inAmerican-made energy. Over the last three years, we’ve openedmillions of new acres for oil and gas exploration, and tonight, I’mdirecting my administration to open more than 75 percent of ourpotential offshore oil and gas resources. (Applause.) Rightnow – right now – American oil production is the highest that it’sbeen in eight years. That’s right – eight years. Not only that -last year, we relied less on foreign oil than in any of the past 16years. (Applause.)
But with only 2 percent of the world’s oil reserves, oil isn’tenough. This country needs an all-out, all-of-the-abovestrategy that develops every available source of American energy.(Applause.) A strategy that’s cleaner, cheaper, and full of newjobs.”
