First Lady and Secretary of Education Take Time to Read Dr. Seuss to Children

I remember reading quite a bit when I was a kid. I loved Dr. Seuss and all of his wonderful characters. During the summer I would be a frequent visitor to the Pio Pico Public Library in Los Angeles. After all, they would give you a certificate of accomplishment based on the number of books you read during summer vacation!

As an adult, I've rediscovered my love of the public library and regular reading. I recently gave me daughter a Kindle as a gift. So, it goes without saying that I feel very good that First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan found time yesterday to read the Dr. Seuss classic 'Green Eggs and Ham' to about 250 local elementary school students.

Duncan told the children gathered at the Library of Congress that his parents didn’t allow television in his house when he was growing up, which helped him develop a love for reading and learning. The event was held to mark Read Across America Day.

The children also listened to stories from celebrities including actress Jessica Alba and Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver, who read from his own children book, 'Quickie Makes the Team.'

Next time I need to get the First Lady to read the children book, 'Martha Ann's Quilt for Queen Victoria' to the young 'uns!

Obama Wants to Close 5,000 Failing Schools

I am pleased to see that the Obama Administration is taking steps to change the dynamics of the American educational system. He wants to see 5,000 failing schools close and reopen with new principals and teachers over the next five years. The plan for failing schools is part of an effort to fundamentally change perceptions about what works in education.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan says kids have only one shot at a good education and chronically underperforming schools need a new start.

Obama doesn't have authority to close schools himself. That power rests with local school districts and states. But the president will have unprecedented money to offer schools from a federal school-turnaround fund. And states have an incentive to act in the federal economic stimulus law, because they must help failing schools improve to be eligible for the dollars.

The administration's goal is for the lowest-performing 1,000 schools — about 1 percent of schools nationwide — to close and reopen each year for the next five years.

Combined with the budget plan released last week, Obama could have as much as $5 billion to facilitate school turnarounds, which could translate to $1 million for every school that is closed and reopened.

I hope that Obama is able to keep the spotlight on his challenge to Americans. We need to significantly increase our efforts in public schools if we plan to maintain our position of global superiority in the future.

What say u?