Friday, June 27, 2008
I thought I'd jump on my high horse this morning and take a ride....
I N S I D E H I G H E R E D Daily Update
REFORMING ADULT EDUCATION,
http://insidehighered.com/news/2008/06/27/qt
Adult education programs are failing to reach millions of Americans who lack basic literacy or other skills needed to get decent jobs, says a report released Thursday by a national commission charged with studying the issue. "Reach Higher, America: Overcoming the Crisis in the U.S. Workforce" notes that 18 million adult Americans lack high school diplomas, 51 million haven't gone to college and 18 million aren't proficient in English. The report, from the National Commission on Adult Literacy, calls for an overhaul of federal programs for adult literacy so that efforts have the explicit goals of either job training or preparation for postsecondary education.
51 million! That is 1/6 of the United States population. If the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is serious about creating jobs, perhaps creating learning programs that are affordable is a place to start, by enabling the part of the 51 million that reside in Pennsylvania the ability to apply for jobs and get them because they have an education. This will allow workforce development professionals the chance to promote our learned population as ready and smart to work for Mr. or Ms. Businessman/woman.
We could develop the programs with sufficient funding through the TIUs or community colleges with later matriculation to the SSHEs and the Pitt and Penn State campuses if desired. Why not take some of the state lottery money for senior citizens, and ear mark that towards education of adults to make their senior citizen years ones of being able to stand on their own or more independent of state coffers at a later age. Its pay them now or pay them later. The old tale about giving someone a fish comes to mind here: if you teach a person to fish, they'll be self-sufficient.
In Pennsylvania, we could at least try.
There are other countries, smaller than the GNP of the United States , that can afford to teach adults for next to nothing for the student. Can the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania not do as much?
Paul
I N S I D E H I G H E R E D Daily Update
REFORMING ADULT EDUCATION,
http://insidehighered.com/news/2008/06/27/qt
Adult education programs are failing to reach millions of Americans who lack basic literacy or other skills needed to get decent jobs, says a report released Thursday by a national commission charged with studying the issue. "Reach Higher, America: Overcoming the Crisis in the U.S. Workforce" notes that 18 million adult Americans lack high school diplomas, 51 million haven't gone to college and 18 million aren't proficient in English. The report, from the National Commission on Adult Literacy, calls for an overhaul of federal programs for adult literacy so that efforts have the explicit goals of either job training or preparation for postsecondary education.
51 million! That is 1/6 of the United States population. If the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is serious about creating jobs, perhaps creating learning programs that are affordable is a place to start, by enabling the part of the 51 million that reside in Pennsylvania the ability to apply for jobs and get them because they have an education. This will allow workforce development professionals the chance to promote our learned population as ready and smart to work for Mr. or Ms. Businessman/woman.
We could develop the programs with sufficient funding through the TIUs or community colleges with later matriculation to the SSHEs and the Pitt and Penn State campuses if desired. Why not take some of the state lottery money for senior citizens, and ear mark that towards education of adults to make their senior citizen years ones of being able to stand on their own or more independent of state coffers at a later age. Its pay them now or pay them later. The old tale about giving someone a fish comes to mind here: if you teach a person to fish, they'll be self-sufficient.
In Pennsylvania, we could at least try.
There are other countries, smaller than the GNP of the United States , that can afford to teach adults for next to nothing for the student. Can the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania not do as much?
Paul
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
I think all military members deserve education benefits war or peace. Here's why...
Reason 1:
I served from 1978-1984 in the navy on submarines. This was for all practical purposes an era of peace. Except I was on submarines and I am a life member of the VFW for certain missions my submarine was involved in. I wear the expeditionary medal for "having been on hostile/enemy land for more than 30 days consecutively" due to missions(s) my boat was involved.
Reason 2:
My brother, a Navy Lt and aviator, served from 1981 to 1985 when he was killed. These were years of peace too. I'm telling you this because service men and women risk their lives every day preparing to defend our country. My brother's jet crashed and he died. Certainly that servicemen and women risk their lives in peace for war deserve education benefits.
I hope you will agree with me that all members of the military deserve education benefits. We risked our lives.
Reason 3:
The final reason has to do with cost. The GI Bill from 1945 has returned six-fold in increased payroll taxes to the US government. The cost of education for the military as Kennedy and Eisenhower suggest, should not be a consideration because it is actually a revenue positive measure. We need to look long-term and not short-term for funding solutions. Politicians only see to the next election cycle which is no different than Wall Street but that is another post.
We all know the social reasons why education matters. MIlitary members deserve education benefits whether it is peace or war. And you know what? if you want to keep military spouses happy, and have GIs reenlisting, you will give education benefits to spouses too!
Paul
Reason 1:
I served from 1978-1984 in the navy on submarines. This was for all practical purposes an era of peace. Except I was on submarines and I am a life member of the VFW for certain missions my submarine was involved in. I wear the expeditionary medal for "having been on hostile/enemy land for more than 30 days consecutively" due to missions(s) my boat was involved.
Reason 2:
My brother, a Navy Lt and aviator, served from 1981 to 1985 when he was killed. These were years of peace too. I'm telling you this because service men and women risk their lives every day preparing to defend our country. My brother's jet crashed and he died. Certainly that servicemen and women risk their lives in peace for war deserve education benefits.
I hope you will agree with me that all members of the military deserve education benefits. We risked our lives.
Reason 3:
The final reason has to do with cost. The GI Bill from 1945 has returned six-fold in increased payroll taxes to the US government. The cost of education for the military as Kennedy and Eisenhower suggest, should not be a consideration because it is actually a revenue positive measure. We need to look long-term and not short-term for funding solutions. Politicians only see to the next election cycle which is no different than Wall Street but that is another post.
We all know the social reasons why education matters. MIlitary members deserve education benefits whether it is peace or war. And you know what? if you want to keep military spouses happy, and have GIs reenlisting, you will give education benefits to spouses too!
Paul
Labels: Education Benefits for the Military
