Here is the link to Bill Gates's speech on state budgets and education spending that Dr. Baber mentioned in class:
http://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gates_how_state_budgets_are_breaking_us_schools.html
I do not see many new concepts in the talk that we have not heard before, but it goes with the work that is done at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It is also always good to hear support from industry leaders why education should be funded! "Balance wheel pattern" is an academic analysis of this pattern on budget allocations between different sectors of the economy. Dr. Delaney in the department has done some work in this area. Here is a second link for anyone interested in reading more: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lpo/doyle/balancetime.pdf
Bill Gates efforts reminds me of the topic of a radio program i listened to earlier this semester. The topic was equality in education (across ethnic groups) and how lack of funding (and access to funding) exacerbates the under-representation of ethnic groups in HE. Essentially, funding policies and practices, from all angles and level, play a key part in the inequality of education in HE.
ReplyDeleteWith that topic on the table, a response from one of the guests on the radio program was to this effect, “If the government perceived this issue has a problem, they would do something. 9/11 was an issue, the government responded with a defense budget. Katrina was an issue, the government responded… slowly, but there was a response. Katrina had media attention to facilitate that drawn out response. Is our education system not a problem, does the inequality across groups not demand a financial plan for change?” In other words, if a small child was walking into the street, you would get out of your chair, drop your reading material to the floor and run to the child. How far into the street does HE have to wander before someone does something?
It got me thinking of how true it is – if someone wants something done, truly wants it, then it happens. Think of yourself, think of larger examples. In particular, if government agencies and individuals believed that the inequality in education was truly an issue, which has clear social, political, and financial ramifications for our nation’s future, wouldn’t they do something?
My question is, what stops the powerful from recognizing this problem, to the point that they do something about. Get it done, address it, put down your other reading material and make a plan for change.
Thank you for posting this! It is very interesting to see how industry leaders (and successful ones at that) see the "industry" of education/higher education. All the financial side of this “business,” different funds coming from different places, and the connection between the state and federal governments.
ReplyDeleteJohn, you are right, and it is completely disheartening.
I have come to dislike politics the more I understood how things work…I think we are lucky to live in a Democratic nation, but politics/bureaucracy is disheartening. You see Legislators and caucuses and there is just too much “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine,” bills are voted on without investment. With the fiscal crisis of our state, things are even tighter, it’s one thing or the other…fund the arts or fund the parks, fund higher ed or fund secondary…it’s a no win situation, and we are always seen as the ones that can take care of themselves, or falsely seen as being rich. Plus, because of our fiscal past and some bad decisions on the part of some high authorities at our University; students/faculty/staff are seeing the wrath that is meant towards others. Our programs and funding are being cut because something isn’t working at the top, somewhere in the pipeline people are forgetting that it is our future that we are helping by supporting higher education. The University of Illinois brings in $17 for every $1 the state invests in us!
If anyone is interested (I’ll probably talk about this in class)…we have U of I Day at the Capitol coming up (that I plan through my office) on April 6th, it will give you a chance to speak with your legislators (Senator and Representative) and tell them why they should support the U of I. It is a lot harder for them to come up with excuses why when they have a student’s face and dreams in front of them (although they will most likely blame it on the other party…always the Democrats or Republican’s fault, depends who you are talking to).
FYI-- The state currently owes the U of I $455 million (unpaid receivables)…and an additional $44.8 million for MAP payments…