Yesterday, Barack Obama outlined his plan for education reform, which includes standards, like sending more kids to college and holding schools accountable for student performance, as well as more innovative initiatives like merit pay for teachers, removing limits on charter schools and extending the amount of time that kids spend in school.
Considering that we’re in the midst of a major financial crisis, some in the media are looking at Obama’s domestic agenda in education and health care and wondering: is the president doing too much too soon?
Shouldn’t he just concentrate on the economy? they ask.
To me, it’s obvious that reforming education and health care is about fixing the economy.
Quick facts about education and the economy:
*There is a correlation between higher levels of education and higher earnings for all racial/ethnic
groups and for both men and women.*The income gap between high school graduates and college graduates has increased significantly over time.
*Higher levels of education correspond to lower levels of unemployment and poverty, so in addition to contributing more to tax revenues than others do, adults with higher levels of education are less likely to depend on social safety-net programs, generating decreased demand on public budgets.
Quick facts about health care and the economy:
*50 percent of all bankruptcy fillings are partially attributed to health care costs even though 68 percent of those who file for bankruptcy have health insurance.
*About 1.5 million families lose their homes to foreclosure every year due to unaffordable medical costs.
*Retiring elderly couples will need $250,000 in savings just to pay for the most basic medical coverage. Many experts believe that this figure is conservative and that $300,000 may be a more realistic number.
It’s just shortsighted thinking to miss these important connections. So next time someone tells you that Obama is doing too much for health care and schools and too little for the economy, set ‘em straight.
__
Kidz Today is a column about youth and education by Joie Jager-Hyman
Can someone please put you in charge?
Very sweet of you but you’d have to be CRAZY to want that job!
Here is a bone:
We are already in a terrible situation. With the current crisis the President has the ability to get cash and get it fast. No question he is taking advantage of that. Obviously in the short term we will be spending too much, but in the long run we will see the benefits. Sadly, we have put education and health care aside for so long that all he is really doing is catching up. No easy answers with this financial crisis, but we need to focus on education,health care, and alternative energy.
while i don’t have the knowledge to know whether i agree or disagree with obama’s education reforms, it shocks me to think that some people think he is doing too little. the house is on fire, the water in the hydrants have dried up and there is a strong wind blowing! he needs to do everything he can to slam the breaks on this disaster. when will there be a “good time” to reform health care or education? probably never.
One day we will listen to the researchers and experts and social scientists about what is best for our country’s future. One day. Hopefully…
Joie you are so right – if we don’t improve our educaitonal and health system now it will be too late. Without an educated population we can not compete in the global market. Aside from being immoral, our health care system is indeed bankrupting many. Not good for the economy or anything else.
When you look at the news recently and see Hospitals closing, and states reducing the local health care programs it makes on wonder who is hurting. Same with our education system, we have over crowded classrooms, not enough teachers and each year we push the students through the system. Help these two divisions helps us all in the future. You have to start now to get the wheels turning.