Obama gives priority to education in the State of the Union

             One of the major themes President Barack Obama covered in the State of the Union address Tuesday was education. 

             "This is our generation's Sputnik moment," he said, referring to the U.S. response to of the first satellite's launch by the Soviet Union in 1957.
             Investing on new technologies, raising standards, producing more math and science teachers will help U.S. compete with the emerging economies such as China and India. 

             “Maintaining our leadership in research and technology is crucial to America’s success.  But if we want to win the future -– if we want innovation to produce jobs in America and not overseas -– then we also have to win the race to educate our kids.”

             Obama also said that currently a quarter of the United States’ students do not finish high school and that, in the 10 years, nearly half of all new jobs will require more education than just a high-school degree.

             In addition, he called upon not only educators, but also parents and the everyday citizen as making sure every child gets a chance to succeed is the responsibility of communities.

             “That responsibility begins not in our classrooms, but in our homes and communities. It’s a family that first instills the love of learning in a child,” Obama said.