Stimulating the US’s Education

Recently, President Obama signed into effect his Economic Stimulus Package, which will provide our country with a $787 billion boost. Many people think that it’s too big of a price tag and that some of the money is being distributed wastefully. While we all have our differences in opinions as to where the money should be allocated, I think that there is one area that President Obama has gotten right: Education. The Package calls for $150 billion to be given to help our schools, from childcare centers to colleges. Since education is always one of the first areas to be cut, it’s no surprise that many people have raised a fuss about that much money going towards schools. But why? This money will help go toward in and after school programs (among other things) that will help keep our kids off the streets, away from the violence, and vested in their future. Why wouldn’t we want our money going towards that? I speak to kids every day about the importance of an education and why they should stay in school, and if the money from the Stimulus Package is going toward motivating them to graduate and make a better life for themselves, then I support it wholeheartedly. For anyone who still thinks that this price tag on education is too much, check out these high school dropout statistics from the AEE:

•    If all of the students in the Class of 2008 had graduated, the US would have seen an additional $319 billion in income earnings over the course of the graduates’ lifetimes.

•    Increasing the high school graduation rate only 5% would have saved the US an estimated $8 billion just in 2008 alone.

•    High school dropouts are more likely to be uninsured or rely on Medicaid. Had they gotten their diplomas, in 2008 they would have saved the US $17 billion in health care costs.