Community Corner

VIDEOS & PHOTOS: Friendly Crowd, Some Foes Greet Obama

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Some 100 people who had gathered outside Parkville Middle School cheered as President Obama's motorcade snaked along Hiss Avenue just after 10 a.m.

But the cars quickly pulled into a tent behind the school and the president was barely visible waving inside his limousine to the people who had awaited his arrival. 

Just about 50 minutes later, the president and his motorcade sped off. There were far fewer cheers as Obama, again, was barely visible.

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This was clearly what we call a photo-op: a chance for the president to pose with real students and teachers who highlight proposed education policies.  

President Obama and his education secretary, Arne Duncan, were scheduled to visit the school together—with Obama's budget director—to highlight the president's emphasis on curricula that focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Obama's $3.73 trillion national budget for 2012 was unveiled today, and it calls for hiring more STEM teachers.  

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"Students need to master science, technology, engineering and mathematics in order to thrive in the 21st century economy, and we have seen other nations eclipse ours in preparing their children in these critical fields," Obama's budget document states.

The budget calls for recruiting 10,000 STEM teachers over the next two years and preparing 100,000 more over the next decade. His budget includes $80 million to "expand promising and effective models of teacher preparation, which will help train effective STEM teachers," according to his budget document.

Enjoy our Photo Gallery of the president's visit. Feel free to add your own by clicking "add photos." Thanks!  


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