No Child Left Behind

I enjoyed President Bush's speech to Stuart High School in Virginia. His speech was addressed to the children and presented education in a fun way. Bush's main points were that every student should given the assets to graduate, the bar would be raised, testing would be implemented to monitor progress, and the States would be left in control.

The best argument of logic, or logos, is that American schools are falling behind the curve. As a nation we need to do something to improve graduation, reading and math rates. This is the minimum needed and I think that Bush makes that clear.

Bush has all the credibility he needs, he’s the President. However, in this speech he did not establish any further ethos for himself. Instead he tried to created more credibility for teachers and principals.

Bush always ends his speeches with a lot of pathos. This trend continues with an enthusiastic ending paragraph. Speaking very specifically on not leaving any child behind, Bush gets a very loud response from the crowd.

The decorum of this speech was changed to let the immediate audience feel welcome. Bush did not stand at a lectern talking at senators or representatives. Instead he meandered around a stage talking to High Schoolers as if he was one of them. Bush made many funny jokes at a High School level and thanked them “for letting this old man come and speak…” to them.

Bush had a very clear cut telos, or goal, for education. He outlined what he expected of students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Most of all he told the Federal Legislators that they would be behind him in this initiative.
Bush outlined when and for what purpose testing would be administered, but made it clear that each State would be responsible for creating and monitoring the tests and their results.

The issue of education has needed to be addressed for some time. Bush used kairos, or timing, when he picked Stuart High. This school had been floundering but now it is back in the green and even leading is some statistics. Our education system as whole is being challenged by other nations who are producing smarter and more literate children.

Bush’s speech was very epideictic, in that it praised Stuart, the students and teachers there, for their improvements. Yet, he also criticized anyone who would argue that education does not need reform. By saying we are going to improve, others may have felt stepped on.

As a whole, this was a very well thought out speech. It drew more people in than it offended. It set clear goals with a purpose that are achievable and it was very timely.