Expecting lots of entries from Red States?
It’s not quite the glee club or football championship.
U.S. high schools will flex their competitive muscles this spring for a different sort of prize — President Barack Obama as speaker at this spring’s graduation ceremony. But to catch that particular brass ring, they will have to show not how well their students can sing or tackle, but make the case for how dedicated they are to providing an excellent education.
The White House announced its ”Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge” on Friday, which it says “encourages schools to show how they are making great strides on personal responsibility, academic excellence and college readiness.”
To compete, applications — consisting of four essay questions with a video and other data optional — should be completed by students and submitted by a high school’s principal to www.WhiteHouse.gov/Commencement no later than Monday, March 15 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The White House and Department of Education will select six finalists from among schools that make the deadline. Those six will then be featured on the White House website, where the public will be able to vote for three schools that make the best case. Obama himself will select a national winner, and visit the school to deliver the commencement address to the Class of 2010.
The United States has one of the worst high school dropout rates in the industrialized world and its students often rank below those in other Western nations in reading and math. Obama has pledged billions of dollars for education in his “Race to the Top” initiative, included in his $787 billion economic stimulus plan last year. States are competing for that funding, but, given that it does involve politics in which education is a favorite, er, football, some state officials have expressed wariness about the increasing involvement of the federal government in the past decade into curriculum and school reforms. Local officials contend that they know better what is good for their students than officials far away in Washington.
Photo credit: U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during the commencement ceremony at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona May 13, 2009. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Hoop Dreams: Obama puts on full-court press at White House
Forget about Afghanistan, healthcare and the economy. President Barack Obama took time out on Thursday to indulge in his favorite sport as he hosted cabinet members and lawmakers for a round of pickup games on the White House basketball court.
It was the biggest day of hoop dreams at the White House since Obama took office, and reporters disappointed at being kept away went one-on-one with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs before the opening tip-off.
As for why were journalists being barred: “To protect the privacy and the statistics of any of those involved,” he quipped at his daily briefing.
As for who would referee between political friends and foes: “I assume they call their own fouls, which I’m sure is a point of contention at any given point,” Gibbs said.
As for why no women made the cut: “The point is well taken,” Gibbs said, conceding that as the father of two young daughters Obama would have to seek gender equality next time.
The roster included Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, and 11 members of Congress, including two Republicans.
Earlier in the day, Obama also dropped by to watch a game on the White House court played by the Marine Wounded Warrior basketball team from the National Naval Medical Center.
More pictures of President Obama Playing basketball at Image Overflow
Obama assembling high-powered basketball team
WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama did not have to look far to find his choice for education secretary — just across the basketball court.
Obama and his education choice, Arne Duncan, play pick-up basketball games together, and Duncan has a history in the sport having played on the Harvard basketball team while a student there and then professionally in Australia.
At a news conference in Chicago to announce Duncan’s nomination, Obama chuckled when talking about the Chicago-area native.
“I did not select Arne because he’s one of the best basketball players I know,” Obama said. “Although I will say that I think we are putting together the best basketball-playing Cabinet in American history.”
There is an outdoor basketball court on the White House South Lawn that is used sometimes. On the campaign trail Obama said if elected he would consider taking out the indoor bowling alley at the White House and putting in a basketball court.
Other hoop players in the Obama inner circle include his choice to be Attorney General, Eric Holder, his national security adviser, James Jones, and his pick for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice.
They don’t seem to have the respect of the tall Duncan, however, who we might as well nickname “Dunkin’ Duncan.”
Just what we needed to “fix” education. Another pocket fleecing Chicago mobster. Good move.
