Even if I don't agree, I won't actively get frustrated with someone else's perspectives. But, lately there was a discussion that brought up a point of view I just couldn't believe my peers would agree with.
"Money back in the education system is not really a solution."
It is a well-correlated relationship between a funded school with educational benefits. Whether 90% of that money is going to the head of the school or not, even that 10% has more capabilities when there's actually money in it than if there wasn't. So, I don't see how anyone could think that money is not a solution to the recent problems in the education system?
The arguments I heard were that the main pooling of the money would go towards the chancellors or silly bureaucratic nonsense, and not really towards the education of students or even towards good teachers for students.
To which I would agree, but even with the little money we have we still have bad teachers. So, more money could at least better the odds at getting a few good teachers.
Also, any money in the system helps the system. The ONLY reason our classes have been cut, our professors fired, and our financial aid reduced is because we have SIGNIFICANTLY less money. So the ONLY solution to that is to have more money in the system.
It's not because the chancellors are actually sadists who get off on seeing the students in their system suffer -- it's because they still want to make lots of money and so they'd rather cut funds to classes and professors than suffer an economic loss. If the system had the money to satisfy their unreasonable paychecks, then they have leftover to actually give to the students. Yes, it's a horribly corrupt system and it needs serious change -- and if you want to fight against this corruption then more power to you! But, a just as good solution (and by being an equally suitable solution, it means it's still an IMPORTANT solution) is to actually have money put back into the system.
In the same discussion I heard this argument, I had previously heard another student say that his financial aid isn't going through. To say something like 'money isn't a solution' seems a bit of a slap to the face. That person's education is put on hold because he can't get money to pay for it. Please don't say the only thing this student needs is not a solution to his problem.
I'm sorry if this was rant-y, but some things I feel really strongly about and improving the education system is one of them.
I tried posting earlier.
ReplyDeleteI'll keep it short.
Nice post.
ITA. The idea of our educational system not actually needing money is laughable. That's the first thing it needs, along with more accountability for the higher ups in the system itself.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the question is about the money, it is about funding a system that is fundamentally broken. Throwing money into a bad solution, doesn't make the solution better. Of course, money is of absolute necessity for materials, a healthy learning environment and well informed intelligent instruction. However, money won't make a bad idea better. In fact, in many ways, pumping money into a bad system magnifies all of its problems. We need to financially support better educational solutions, not support a public system that is doing more harm than good to students.
ReplyDeleteSooooooo, do you think it better that people can't get classes, can't get resources, because the higher-ups have fucked up? Why don't we focus making money accountable, and capping presidents/executive salaries? Why do the students (Who are the most important people in the educational system) have to suffer because money is mismanaged? It's not about throwing money into a fully bad system, it's about misappropriating funds that are given in a system that actually could work with better accountability and legislation. Schools need money. Period.
ReplyDeleteYou're not going to tell me that kids in a low income neighborhood don't actually need money for all those books, supplies, teachers, etc., that it's better to let them rot, than to give more money that might go to the coffers of the greedy, yet will also properly fund the school's activities, in some way.
About 2% of our federal budget goes to education. 25% goes to defense. How is that not a money allocation problem? How do you get effective soldiers, if they can't read or graduate college?
Agreed, Charmed. completely.
ReplyDeleteAnd in response to Bhava, "throwing" money into a "bad idea" is not what this is. it's replacing money that has been cut. The money used to be there, and the system has always been bad. And yet, people still graduated and got educated. Now? not so much. So, now it's just no money and still a bad system. I agree, the system is bad. but taking money out of that system (especially when that system is DIRECTLY related to STUDENTS) is nowhere even close to a solution. If the system was illegal prostitution, sure. let's not throw money into illegal prostitution. but this bad system is EDUCATION.