Martin O’Malley proposes three ‘horizons’ to improving U.S. education

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Martin O’Malley speaks with the Daily Iowan Editorial Board on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015. (The Daily Iowan/Peter Kim)


Three primary “horizons” will drive the new normal of the American education system, Democratic presidential candidate Martin O’Malley said on Nov. 7, suggesting that specialized education may not be in the best interest of the country.

The former Maryland governor argued that the United States should implement a universal prekindergarten program, reform high-school students’ senior years to include dedicated college schooling and allocate a “coding for all” approach that would expose students to growing information-technology jobs before they take on student loans.

“There is no better return on your dollar,” O’Malley said about prekindergarten programs in an hourlong meeting with the Daily Iowan Editorial Board.

At times, lifelong Democrat O’Malley borrowed a few pages from his personal education playbook. At one point, he admitted that he and his wife Katie O’Malley didn’t do enough in saving up so their four children could go to college loan-free.

O’Malley cast wide blame on the lucrative and powerful education industry, saying state and federal governments are the reasons tuition at colleges and universities is increasing each year.

More investment should be allocated to federal Pell Grants and work-study programs, the Democratic underdog argued.

A Pell Grant is money the federal government gives to students who need it to pay for college. It is sometimes referred to as an entitlement and is only available to students with financial need.

Some students pursue work-study options, in which they can earn financial aid in exchange for a part-time job.

O’Malley — who favors a variant of debt-free college — said average middle-class Americans shouldn’t have to put more than 10 percent of their family’s median income toward a four-year public college or university.

Students who attend community colleges shouldn’t have to front more than 5 percent of their family’s median income, the former Baltimore mayor said.

“The next debates are going to be how are we going to give our kids a more holistic way of thinking,” O’Malley said, informally suggesting that American classrooms should use more collaboration and “conceptual” thinking.





“It’s almost like the pendulum swung to the degree that specialization was the way to go,” said O’Malley, a proponent of a national Common Core system.

While he lightly took a shot at specialized education, his Maryland record shows he favors such a tactic.

As governor, O’Malley firmly backed charter schools, institutions that focus on a few subjects, such as technology or science.

Under his watch, the number of charter schools in Maryland doubled. He invested $1.3 billion in public-school construction between 2006 and 2010, according to the O’Malley for Governor campaign in 2010.

O’Malley said high-school seniors should be able to obtain a college-ready certificate that counts as a half or full year of college.

He also called on more school districts to offer computer-coding classes to help spur interest in IT. Jobs in that sector are widely considered to be high-paying and in-demand.


read more: http://www.dailyiowanepi.com/2015/11/07/omalley-three-horizons-american-education/

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[Koinos]

1. I am so pleased that O'Malley is more concerned about issues than polls.

[elleng]

2. "how are we going to give our kids a more holistic way of thinking,”

O’Malley said, informally suggesting that American classrooms should use more collaboration and “conceptual” thinking.

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3. such a wealth of ideas and innovation

...a truly dynamic public servant.

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4. kick

[FSogol]

5. K&R. n/t

[pinstikfartherin]

6. Like the "coding for all" idea. K&R.