“We have many good schools with committed educators, but they are stuck in a system designed for the 20th century, not the 21st century,” Branstad said. “I am ready to invest significant resources into these educational reforms, which truly have the power to dramatically raise achievement. I want to thank these vital partners who will help us move education reform forward.”
Reynolds highlighted the importance of enhancing the teaching profession as a whole.
“This is about strengthening the teaching profession for the benefit of both students and teachers,” Reynolds said. “Teachers are the single most important influence on a child’s success inside school, and educators are being asked to do much more to prepare students for our knowledge-driven economy. We must make sure new teachers are ready to rise to that challenge, while also providing more support for teachers already in the classroom. Our Partners for Education Reform understand this.”
The growing list is as follows:
Pioneer
Wellmark
3M
Principal Financial Group
Iowa Chamber Alliance
Greater Des Moines Partnership
Urban Education Network of Iowa
Iowa Biotechnology Association
Iowa Board of Regents
Deere & Company
Master Builders of Iowa
MidAmerican Energy Company
Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company
Monsanto Company
Iowa Board of Educational Examiners
Meredith Corporation
Alliant Energy Corporation
CenturyLink
Alliance Pipline, Inc.
Mechanical Contractors Association of Iowa
NECA, IA (NEC)
NextEra Energy
Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI)
Iowa Association of Realtors
StudentsFirst
Hy-Vee, Inc.
Iowa Engineering Society
American Council of Engineering Companies
Associated Builders and Contractors of Iowa
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB/IA)
Professional Educators of Iowa
Siouxland Chamber
Iowa Department of Education
College Student Aid Commission
Why is it my responsibility to educate your child in the first place?
I’d rather learn at home and then have the $100,000 cash at graduation. Google is free and better than ANY teacher.
Teachers need to be taught HOW to inspire students to learn. I remember being really bummed in college because the only science course open was physics. I REALLY didn’t want to take it because I knew I’d hate it. However, the professor was amazing, enthusiastic, and energetic. He had a new everyday gadget for every class that he used to explain a new law and it was so interesting that I ended up with a B+ in the class. The downfall was an ancient lab professor who was horrible. You’d ask him a question and he’d tell you how to light the Bunsen burner. Not kidding. If he had been as inspiring as the lecture professor, I’d have learned a lot more and aced the class.
Compared to that physics class, grade school was very boring and unenthusiastic. There is way too much outside stimulation such as computer games for kids now to expect them to sit in class and pay attention. It’s no wonder half of them have ADHD. They are used to constant stimulation at home and there is no way they can sit still and focus on something that is not entertaining them and allowing them to interact with it. It’s a shame.
Schools are only as effective as the students are that desire to learn. Cutting edge technology, high paid teachers, million dollar buildings, these don’t buy a good education. When will govt. realize that pouring money into a problem will not necessarily solve it.