How to Spend $100 Billion on Education

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Under the severe circumstance of economical depression, attracting more aboard study students is a good way not only to bring more financial profits, expending the demanding, but also releasing the pressure of laying off the employees in universities.
So start increasing the scholarship.

Malargy 10:37AM March 20, 2009

I agree, teaching to the test is not the way. But the big problem is that teachers have too much on their plate. I barely have time to plan my quality lesson plans. I'm too busy running from one meeting to another about everything that has to do with anything BUT teaching. New teachers burn out because they can't handle all the work, politics, and the kids terrible behavior. How can even the best teacher instruct when the kids and parents are so disrespectful? It is overbearing and that's why I am also getting out early.

Chris Potter of NC 7:34PM March 13, 2009

I think existing schools should be the top priority. Public schools need more supplies, books, and better teachers. I don't think it makes much sense to throw money at the creation of new charter schools while the schools we already have our suffering. The children who are attending these schools NOW should benefit from this money, more so than anyone else. President Obama wants more children to go to college? Why not focus on the ones that are closer to college age. Lets decrease the drop out, and get the 14 and 15 year olds motivated. Let's give them some sort of incentive that they did not know existed. They lack the inspiration to learn because their daily school experience lacks organization, lacks supplies, and most importantly lack the support systems needed to push a student into the college mindset.
If you know of any student that is seeking guidance about attending college, pass this site along to them: http://www.howtogetin.com/

Lee Anne H. of MA 2:48PM March 12, 2009

Money provides an opportunity for a solution but not a solution. It will take all the expertise and creativity of our entire community to help our kids be successful. First we must address the issue of "the test" Curriculum in our schools is being driven by a test that I beleive tests many things we do not care if kids know. If it is to be a driving force for what we teach then more time and care must be spent on what it is testing. It should be the same in general difficulty across the states. The test should be rewritten so that it measures growth. As it is written now California's test starts at difficult grade level so a child may have made a year and a half worth of growth, but if they are not on grade level it will not show. In addition if we care so much about these results than the tests should be proctored. If you want reliable consistant results then the test must be administered in the same way under the same circumstances. Lets make the test reasonable for the children. The time frames are ridiculous. We should not expect 8 year olds to try to respond to difficult material and test for over an hour at a time. Next we must ask ourself is the test all we care about. What about drop out rates, school attendance or violence on our campuses? Life is not just about taking a test and we need to look at our overall goals with our kids and how they can be accomplished and what indicators we must look at to measure them. I don't beleive merit or "preformance pay" can make any sense the way things are structured. That just means if you teach at risk kids you are further penalized. We teach children we don't program computer chips.
We need to move past the mind set that education is in such trouble because folks are not doing their job. It is just not true. We also need to quit finger pointing. It will take all of us working together to help make our kids successful. We need to come together as a community and address the very real emotional and physical problems that our children face. No teacher, parent, or administrator woke up today and said I think I will do a lousy job. We won't get the best from anyone by blaming and accusing. Our kids face incredible challenges. It is up to our community as a whole to find solutions.

Cherie Flint of CA 6:49PM March 08, 2009

Pouring more money into public education will not fix it, bus instead will prolong the agony of a system that is in great need of reform. Like the bank, auto industry and AIG bailouts, a lot of money is sunk into these industries with little if anything to show for it. Save hundreds of billions of dollars by reducing the age of mandatory education to 16. Students who want to attend community college or university at 16 should do so, others who want to start their careers at McDonalds should do so, and others who opt for trade schools should be allowed to do so. I was a K-12 & special ed substitute teacher for 9 years, and I've found public schools to have become warehouses where children become socialized by others, and learning is secondary. Those who really desire to learn are often disrupted and held back by those who don't want to learn. The public school curricula has become overwhelming with requirements that ill prepare our children for the real world. Everyone educational professional from teachers to principals, superintendents and Board members to union bosses all claim we need to spend more to educate our children... but the reality is they are mostly protecting their career turf and/or political positions and our students' education is really secondary to their own selfish agendas. We need to apply the technology that already exist to improve individualized learning, and not learning in herds. Then set specific time aside in a classroom environment to teach kids how to get along, not to be prejudice, racist, sexist, etc. and let them and their parents have much more curriculum choices that is appropriate to each individual child. Let's fix public school and not waste more taxpayers monies on what has proven to be a losing proposition.

Tony Lee of CA 4:27PM March 04, 2009

As an educator I was most impressed that Obama recognized the lack of parent involvement in students' education.
Parent conference night is attended by less than 10% of parents at our school. They don't show up for concerts, sporting events, anything.
Parents today seem to think that all they have to do is give birth and send their kids to school. Teachers are responsible for the rest.
Unfortunately it doesn't work that way and until parents participate in and support what goes on during the school day we won't see positive results in education.

nanetmari of CA 9:02AM February 28, 2009

Gee, all our tax dollars flying around like that- sure wish some would fly my way. Of course it`ll never happen, but I can sure use it right now.

Dennis Salisbury of UT 5:15PM February 27, 2009

It's true, that any lump sum of money earmarked for "education", an area that the media has traditionally ladled a poor repuation, can be of concern. However, it might be interesting to note that with the recent IDEA law into effect, many schools cannot afford to provide the educational services they are legally required to provide due to lack of money. I support the 12.2 billion dollars which will hopefully be spent on providing appropriate services to the children in our classrooms who are struggling.
If you are not familiar with special education, I would encourage you to do some research to better understand the bigger picture. When we meet the special needs of students, we open the door for them to be successful in school.
As for assessments, the possibility of creating realisic, effective assessments that reflect genuine pictures of what our students are learning sounds like a wise idea. Times have changed. Should'nt our schools teach to the complex skills our business cultures and economies need to flourish rather than a scantron sheet?

Ms.Audra Siu of CA 11:00PM February 26, 2009

Perfromance pay for teachers is a totally ignorant idea due to the fact that teachers have special education and ESOL students in some classrooms at some schools. Those students are at a higher risk of not passing standardized tests no matter what the teacher does. Why should a teacher be punished for this? All this will cause is negativity toward special ed and ESOL students being in their classrooms!! I am also sick of everything being all about standardized testing! That is one tiny segment of time in the school year to test on. Some students do not test well. Some may be sick, emotionally stressed, etc. How about listening to teachers about a student's performance? Teachers are with them every day and know how they are progressing, not the government!

mitzi of GA 6:42PM February 26, 2009

Author Robert Renteria and his book From the Barrio to the Board Room are having a dramatic impact on the lives of at risk youth in and around Chicago and Aurora Illinois. There are many ways to use this money to impact change. We've seen schools building programs around the book. We've received hundreds of testimonials, including Congressmen, Mayors, and University and ghetto school teachers. Robert comes from the barrio and understands what these kids are going through. He hung with gangs, did and dealt drugs and was shot at and stabbed. But he got out, went for his GED, joined the military and eventually became the VP of a publicly traded company. When kids hear his story they know he understands the challenges they face. There are not enough Latino role models and Robert has dedicated the rest of his life to keeping our youth in school, out of gangs and off drugs. Invest in the people who are already making a difference and help them reach out to more of our kids! www.fromthebarrio.com

Corey Blake of IL 11:03AM February 25, 2009