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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

It was supposed to be a "feel good" event for the White House and a break from all the fighting and name-calling over health care, but instead President Obama's back-to-school speech next Tuesday has created a firestorm of its own.

Some school districts around the country are refusing to carry it. Some Republicans say they're appalled at spending tax money to spread the president's "socialist ideology." They're comparing it to something you would see in North Korea or Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

On the surface, it seems like a good idea - a pep talk for the nation's schoolchildren from the president, calling on them to take responsibility for their education and do their best.

Instead it's starting to look like another political miscalculation by the White House with some Republicans and parents characterizing the ideas as developing a "cult of personality."

The White House is asking students to write letters about how they can achieve their short-term and long-term education goals. They will also release the text of the speech on Monday so parents know what to expect. Seems harmless enough.

Ironically, the first President Bush was criticized by Democrats when he made a similar televised address to students in 1991. He asked children to take control of their education and write him a letter about how they could achieve their goals. Been here - done this.

Here’s my question to you: Is President Obama's back-to-school address an inappropriate mix of politics and education?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

Our education system is in serious trouble; and it's unclear how American students can continue to compete globally. Consider this: out of 30 industrialized countries in a 2006 study, American 15-year-olds ranked 25th in math. Many of our big city high schools have a graduation rate below 50 percent.

This may be why most states now seem to agree that national education standards are needed, instead of the patchwork system we currently have. 46 states, along with the District of Columbia, have agreed to develop a set of standards for what students should learn every year from kindergarten through high school.

The group is expected to come up with the standards by July - and then each state will have to decide whether to sign on. The coalition says the benchmarks would be internationally competitive. And they better be...

Critics of the current system - where each state sets its own standards - point to places where students score well on state tests, but not on national exams. For example - in Mississippi, 90 percent of fourth graders passed the state reading exam in 2007, but only 51 percent had basic or partial mastery on a national exam.

Many Republicans oppose national standards, saying that Washington shouldn't control schools; but there seems to be more support this time around since the schools and states are leading the charge. Plus the results of the old way of doing it are nothing short of dismal.

Here’s my question to you: Is it too late for American schools to become competitive?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

It's that time of year again - graduation season. But this year's crop of college graduates is looking for jobs in the worst economy their generation has known. Not exactly the best time to job search when 5.7 million people have been out of work since the recession started.

An AP-mtvU poll surveyed more than 2,200 college students on 40 campuses and found some recent college grads on food stamps; and other undergraduate students working three jobs while attending school full-time.

The poll also shows:

- 22 percent of students say they worry a lot about having enough money to get through the week; and one-third say they really worry about their parents' finances.

- Almost 20 percent changed plans and decided to go to graduate school because their undergraduate degree might not be enough to get them a job.

- One in five students say at least one of their parents lost a job in the last year; these students were less likely to go to grad school because they can't afford it.

- Almost one in five students considered quitting school.

- 32 percent say money worries have a big impact on their stress level; that's up five points from last year.

The silver lining here... Pollsters say that despite all the apprehension, there's also a lot of determination and spirit on the part of these youngsters. These students think eventually their education will pay off... and will help them land a job.

Here’s my question to you: In light of the economy, what advice would you give to a college graduate?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

As the recession forces states to slash education funding, more school districts are considering cutting the school week down to four days as a way to save money.

The Los Angeles Times reports that only about 100 of the nation's 15,000 school districts now use a four day schedule - most of them small, rural school districts.

But that might change... some districts are now tossing around the idea to serve more suburban or urban areas, including suburbs of Denver, Colorado; Portland, Oregon, and even the country's fifth largest school system in Florida's Broward County.

Usually schools that go to four day weeks extend their hours 60 to 90 minutes per day. Experts say there's no proof as to whether the shorter week helps or hurts students.

But some worry that especially younger students will lose focus with a longer day. And many parents don't like the idea because it means they would have to find another child care option for that extra day. This is why schools are also considering other options - like ending sports, mandatory furloughs for employees and renegotiating union contracts.

Also, when you consider the below-average results that many U.S. schools are already turning out each year, it seems like less time in school is hardly the answer.

But education spending makes up the biggest share of states' budgets. Nationwide, the 50 states face a combined 350 billion dollar shortfall over the next 3 years. They are also planning to eliminate close to 600,000 jobs.

Here’s my question to you: In light of reduced education budgets, is a four-day school week a good idea?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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Despite the tens of billions of dollars the U.S. spends on education every year, high school students have not made any significant gains in reading or math for nearly 40 years. A new government report known as the "Nation's Report Card" shows results for 9, 13, and 17-year-olds dating back to the 1970s.

While the two younger groups have improved in those subjects over the years, scores for 17-year-olds have barely budged.

On reading tests, the high schoolers' scores have improved by exactly one point out of 500 points since 1971. They have "intermediate skills," and can make generalizations about what they've read. As for math, the scores have gone up by just two points since 1973. Students can perform "moderately complex procedures" like using decimals or fractions.

Colleges and businesses, not surprisingly, say many high school students just aren't up to snuff; that they earn diplomas without learning the necessary skills for life. As one education advocate puts it: "If high schools were cell phones, they'd be considered in a dead zone."

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan calls the results for high school students "especially troubling." No kidding...

President Obama speaks about education being one of his administration's top priorities. This national report card suggests he doesn't have much time to waste.

The administration wants to make boosting high school graduation rates a key focus. They also want states to start using tougher common standards for both teaching and testing, instead of benchmarks that vary from state by state.

Here's my question to you: What does it say about the state of education if high schoolers have made little progress in reading and math since the 1970s?

Tune in to the Situation Room at 6pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.

And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.