President Obama pushes education revival

President Obama pushes education revival
By Hillary Chabot  |   Tuesday, March 8, 2011  |  http://www.bostonherald.com  |  Local Coverage

Photo by Angela Rowlings

President Obama told a rambunctious crowd in Dorchester this afternoon that he would push to make America’s education system tops in the world — and told the crowd at TechBoston Academy to honor their teachers.

Obama’s urging comes as Wisconsin teachers continue to protest a controversial push to eliminate collective bargaining.

“You know, in South Korea teachers are known as nation builders,” Obama told a crowd of roughly 400 people crammed into the pilot school’s auditorium. “It’s time we treated the people who educate our children with the same level of respect. We have to reward good teachers.”

Obama made no mention of the continuing struggle in Wisconsin, but he has expressed support of the teachers in the past. The president, who is also in town for a fundraiser, said he visited TechBoston “so that the rest of America can see how it’s done. You guys are a model.”

The pilot school, created partly by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has a higher attendance rate and graduation rate than other schools in the community, said Obama. He vowed to continue to spend on education during his roughly 20 minute speech despite tipping his hat to Republican cries of overspending.

“We need to come up with a budget that forces government to live within its means,” said Obama. “A budget that sacrifices our commitment to education is a budget that sacrifices our children’s future and I will not let it happen.”

Obama will be speaking at a fundraiser dinner at the Museum of Fine Arts later tonight.

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