WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama urged Congress to take action now to put our teachers back to work in classrooms, because the best predictor of individual and American success in this economy is a good education. In 2009 and 2010, we helped keep hundreds of thousands of teachers on the job, but we must do more, which is why the President sent Congress his jobs bill in September that helps states prevent more layoffs and rehire more teachers. It’s time for our elected leaders to come together and take action on the President’s bill to help our students and economy, and put our teachers back to work.
The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, June 9, 2012.
Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
June 9, 2012
Watch video:
That’s not just true for our individual success; it’s also true for America’s success. New jobs and new businesses will take root wherever they can find the most highly-educated, highly-skilled workers. And I want those workers to be American workers. I want those good-paying, middle-class jobs to take root right here.
So it should concern everyone that right now – all across America – tens of thousands of teachers are getting laid off. In Pennsylvania alone, there are 9,000 fewer educators in our schools today than just a year ago. In Ohio, the number is close to 7,000. And nationwide, over the past three years, school districts have lost over 250,000 educators. Think about what that means for our country. When there are fewer teachers in our schools, class sizes start climbing up. Our students start falling behind. And our economy takes a hit.
The point is: teachers matter. One study found that a good teacher can increase the lifetime income of a classroom by over $250,000. A great teacher can change the course of a child’s life. So the last thing our country needs is to have fewer teachers in our schools.
Now, I know states are still going through some tough times. I realize that every Governor is dealing with limited resources and many face stark choices when it comes to their budgets.
But that doesn’t mean we should just stand by and do nothing. When states struggle, it’s up to Congress to step in and help out. In 2009 and in 2010, we provided aid to states to help keep hundreds of thousands of teachers in the classroom. But we need to do more. That’s why a critical part of the jobs bill that I sent to Congress back in September was to help states prevent even more layoffs and rehire even more teachers who had lost their jobs.
But months later, we’re still waiting on Congress to act.
When it comes to this recovery, we can’t fully control everything that happens in other parts of the world. But there are plenty of things we can control. There are plenty of steps we can take, right now, to strengthen our economy. Putting teachers back in our kids’ classrooms is one of those steps. And there’s no excuse for inaction. You work hard. Your leaders should, too. Especially at this make-or-break moment for the middle class.
I know this is an election year. But some things are bigger than an election. Some things are bigger than politics. So I hope you’ll join me in telling Congress to do the right thing; to get to work and to help get our teachers back in the classroom. We can’t afford to wait any longer.
Thanks and have a great weekend.
Americans can thank the almighty teachers union for the downfall of the U.S. Education system !
Last I checked the legislators and school boards dictate what is taught. The union settles wages.
I get so tired of this teacher sympathy crap. I live on barely enough to get by and they just want more and more. Obama is missing the boat if he thinks people are sympathetic to teachers or police and fireman. When you compare what they make to what the average Joe Blow makes they are way out of line. Tell people living on Social Security that the public workers need a pension, wage or health care increase and see how far you get. There are a lot of us out here who feel that way.
How much did you go into college debt to just enter your noble career of helping our children? You DIDN’T? oh.
Hey smart @ss-you know nothing about me or who I put through college. It just happen I have two sons who have gone to college and I have gone my self so don’t tell me about going into debt to help children. It doesn’t change my opinion one bit. Teacher’s make enough money now and certainly have enough pension. The real world doesn’t ask other people to pay their way only academia thinks the world owes them a living. I don’t mind paying them but when they demand more and more every year enough is enough.
If you have a better way to train and compensate people who teach our children, I would love to hear it. Don’t take the Peter Children route of complain and bitch with NO solution.
That’s easy. Cut their wages and pension’s down to a reasonable level like the rest of us. They won’t go anywhere because they have it made where they are. They might have to work until retirement age and of course they would bitch about it but what else is new. They have the best part time job in the country. 9 months and on paid vacation for 3 months with who knows how many paid holidays and spring break. Let them pay their fair share on their health care just like we have to and get a 401K.
I wonder if he knows most of them retire at 55 on 60K pension with free medical all tax payer supported.
Yea that seems excessive to say the least. Private sector gets nothing these days, many times, and it’s shrinking.
Unionize your work site and bring up your wage, rather then try to bring theirs down