Stimulus Plan Would Provide Flood of Aid to Education

[depakid]

Source: NY Times

The economic stimulus plan that Congress has scheduled for a vote on Wednesday would shower the nation’s school districts, child care centers and university campuses with $150 billion in new federal spending, a vast two-year investment that would more than double the Department of Education’s current budget. The proposed emergency expenditures on nearly every realm of education, including school renovation, special education, Head Start and grants to needy college students, would amount to the largest increase in federal aid since Washington began to spend significantly on education after World War II.

Critics and supporters alike said that by its sheer scope, the measure could profoundly change the federal government’s role in education, which has traditionally been the responsibility of state and local government.

Responding in part to a plea from Democratic governors earlier this month, Congress allocated $79 billion to help states facing large fiscal shortfalls maintain government services, and especially to avoid cuts to education programs, from pre-kindergarten through higher education. Obama administration officials, teachers unions and associations representing school boards, colleges and other institutions in American education said the aid would bring crucial financial relief to the nation’s 15,000 school districts and to thousands of campuses otherwise threatened with severe cutbacks.

“This is going to avert literally hundreds of thousands of teacher layoffs,” Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/education/28educ.html?_r=1&hp

[liberal N proud]

1. Can the damage bu$h has done to education be repaired?

No Child Left Behind needs to be dumped. Let the teachers teach and not prepare students for standardized tests.

[boomerbust]

2. Pukes hate this

They must keep the populace stoopid to regain power. They prefer more tax cuts and more trickle down economics to create more jobs.:eyes:

[liberal renegade]

3. trickle down

is that similar to pissing down my back and telling me it's raining?

[Robb]

4. Infrastructure needs alone demand this.

Investment in our children's education. Payoff = huge.

[4_TN_TITANS]

5. This is even more of a relief

when your wife is a music teacher. Arts are usually the first to get cut.

[IndyOp]

6. You've brought me the best news of my day...

I just hope the money really goes to the teachers and the needy college students who need the funds -- not to fancy experimental projects.

A bit of trivia -- Larry Scott of VA Watchdog.org -- said that one reason why the massive GI bill was passed after World War II was simply to keep veterans off the streets. There weren't enough jobs available and many vets weren't ready to return to work immediately after returning home. Concerned that vets would get into trouble without something to occupy their time, the GI bill was born. My point: We lucked into one of the best programs ever to come from Washington as a result of dealing with a short-term need in a humane manner. My father attended college on the GI bill.