Obama invokes Lincoln and Kennedy in schools shake-up

President Barack Obama marked his first 50 days in power by announcing a major overhaul of America's education system.

Despite the economic problems facing the nation, he warned that the country could not ignore the need for reform. He said failure to act now would result in the "American dream" no longer being open to many school leavers.

Promising a "cradle to career" overhaul of the education system, he insisted action had to be taken to reverse years of decline and that America's future prosperity depended on it.

Aware of criticisms he is taking on too much, he invoked the names of former presidents to show that he was capable of handling more than one crisis. "I know there are some who believe we can only handle one challenge at a time," Mr Obama said.

"They forget that Lincoln helped lay down the transcontinental railroad, passed the Homestead Act, and created the National Academy of Sciences in the midst of civil war.

"Likewise, President Roosevelt didn't have the luxury of choosing between ending a depression and fighting a war," Mr Obama told the US-Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "President Kennedy didn't have the luxury of choosing between civil rights and sending us to the moon."

The president called for more investment, better teachers and longer school hours. Promising to boost early education and higher learning, Mr Obama, who benefited from a Harvard University education and private schooling in Hawaii, said he also wanted to introduce merit pay for teachers.

He said the merit awards would treat "teachers like the professionals they are, while also holding them more accountable.

"Let there be no doubt: the future belongs to the nation that best educates its citizens," Mr Obama said. "Yet, despite resources that are unmatched anywhere in the world, we have let our grades slip, our schools crumble, our teacher quality fall short, and other nations outpace us."

Mr Obama also announced he is to create a new White House women's council to ensure all government agencies consider how their policies would affect women.

One of his personal advisors and close friend Valerie Jarrett will head up the council.