Free Republic

Obama on Saturday called for limiting the amount of standardized educational testing to two percent of classroom time, addressing the growing concern across the county about an over emphasis on test taking. "Learning is about so much more than just filling in the right bubble," Obama said in a video released on Facebook. Obama and outgoing Education Secretary Arne Duncan plan an Oval Office meeting Monday with teachers and school officials who are working to reduce testing time. Obama’s efforts should be welcome news for teachers and their powerful and largely pro-Democrat unions that say educators’ performance evaluations shouldn’t be...

Addressing one of education’s most divisive issues, President Barack Obama on Saturday called for capping standardized testing at 2 percent of classroom time and said the government shares responsibility for turning tests into the be-all and end-all of American schools.

President Barack Obama has found a way to cater to his obsession with pre-K programs while the rest of his education agenda stalls: Skip Congress and spend the money anyway. Hundreds of millions of dollars in discretionary funding for early learning are funneling into states although Congress hasn’t seriously considered paying for President Barack Obama’s universal preschool proposal. Race to the Top early learning awards and Affordable Care Act money are helping states carry out their pre-K and early childcare plans. Education Secretary Arne Duncan is traveling the country to deliver what amounts to an early childhood stump speech, and...

The Arab lobby has taken over from the long time powerhouse Brit lobby for giving us BAD advice. The Saudi-led Arab lobby has been funding our universities, shmoozing the Washington elite, and suckering the gullible New York Times with money they reap from our dependence on their oil. And they have achieved surprising success, considering that 15 of the 19 terrorists who attacked the Twin Towers were Saudis. Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal donated $20 million each to Harvard and Georgetown Universities "to promote interfaith understanding." For Georgetown, the gift was the second-largest ever received. Cornell University, Stanford University, and...

As criticism of the President's national address builds his administration is still refusing to release the text of his comments to be made on Tuesday. As a result, it is becoming increasingly clear that the White House is likely to tone-down the contents of his speech in an attempt to embarrass President Obama's political opponents. On Tuesday, it is likely that the President will have abandoned his original plans to inject his social agenda into the schools, by instead giving a non-controversial speech centering upon how great this nation is and how "cool" it is to study. When the speech...