March 14 , 2013 Page 3 One Man’s Opinion Another Man’s Opinion A good friend and column reader, Michael B., “Super cool,” said Barack. “Right on,” said Improving Education By Gerry Chong debt disappear, even as we borrow more.” went apoplectic last week over the state of our Ben…and Tinker Bell threw more pixie dust economy, so I want to assure him everything is on the duo to bless the arrangement they By Cristian Vasquez Title I is the nation’s largest federal education okay. As a matter of fact, it’s more than okay. had reached. It was difficult to walk away from the issue of grant that states receive and distribute to It’s perfect! Here’s what’s happening, Michael: A suddenly serious Tinker said, “Now sit education that was brought up last week since their local school districts for children from In 2009, that cute little pixie fairy, Tinker down and listen, Barack. Here’s the important the area of K-12 education was not touched. low-income families. Title I funds pay for Bell, was cruising around Washington and part of the pixie dust economy: Free money There is much to be debated about the state such things as educational programs for happened to fly into an open White House is the foundation, but the important news of our public education system in California disadvantaged children. Under NCLB, a school window. There, she found the President with is that it’s no longer important to grow the and across the country. While small school would lose funds as a form of punishment for his head buried in his hands and his shoulders economy to raise our standard of living! districts have demonstrated improved API scores underperforming and be made to change its and efficiency in math, science and English educational approach. It is difficult to refute “In other words, the economy is dead among their students--as a whole, the nation’s the idea of changing a system that is not in the water. But who cares?.” scores are not too impressive. This is not a new working, but it is irrational to believe that a problem and it was one that former President school can make a change for the better when hunched. “Wazzup, Boss?” she asked. With a Government can give us entitlements from George W. Bush tried to fix through his No Title I funds are withdrawn from its budget. groan he replied, “I’m in over my head.” She the borrowings...and it’s all free! Child Left Behind Act. While \Bush was RTTT grantees receive additional federal cooed, “Poor baby, tell you what--I’ll grant “The latest economic reports show our bombarded with criticism by opponents for what funding while NCLB requires states to make you three wishes to lighten your burden.” economy growing at one-tenth-of-one-percent they claimed to be an ineffective act, we must reforms in order to continue receiving the same f He brightened and said, “Super! Here’s my per year. In other words, the economy is dead remember two things: the act was heavily ederal funds they currently receive and are first wish: I want to borrow money without in the water. But who cares? As long as there influenced by the late Senator Ted Kennedy, entitled to get. While NCLB provides a limit.” POOF! With a wave of her wand and is compensating entitlement growth, economic who even though he criticized the funding aspect framework for RTTT, a stark difference is that a fist full of pixie dust, his wish was granted. growth is irrelevant. We’ll all be fat and happy of the act, strongly believed in its goals. Second, RTTT encourages different methods of “What’s next?” without working…living a life of leisure. President Obama’s Race to the Top program used measuring student, teacher and school “Okay,” he said, “Now I don’t want to pay “The plan is a win-win program, Barack. NCLB as a sort of blueprint to move forward performance without fiscally crippling the any interest on that unlimited debt.” “Easily China and foreign lenders will be happy. Our with reforming our nation’s K-12 system. school. The intent of NCLB is great--to fix the done,” she said. POOF! With pixie dust children and grandchildren will be relieved In many regards both NCLB and RTTT educational problems afflicting our nation’s covering his shoulders, the interest on the of repaying our debt. We haven’t been able deal with the same issues, but the approach is schools. However, the financing approach of national debt was reduced to zero. to make the economy grow in four years, so different. While NCLB provides mandates for it all is flawed. “So what’s your third and final wish,” she let’s just give up and replace growth with schools to improve tests scores, RTTT actually K-12 education is very much needed asked, adding, “Make it a good one.” “It is,” free money to all.” provides incentives. One can get technical and and RTTT is a major improvement from he said. “I don’t want to ever pay the loans With that, a smiling Tinker Bell covered argue that incentives and mandates are one NCLB. We shouldn’t completely discredit the back. POOF! Tinker invented Ben Bernanke. Barack and Ben with a thick layer of pixie and the same, but the truth is they are not. qualities of NCLB, but you can’t ask a school Ben said, “Okay, Barack, here’s what we’ll dust and flitted off to save the EU. RTTT seeks to provide states with monetary to improve the quality of its education for do: We’ll just buy back government loans with So relax, Michael. Tinker Bell has taken incentives to reform their education systems low-income students by taking away the Title I money the government just printed! Cool, care of everything. Our economy is perfect based on the needs and inefficiencies in their funds intended to provide these children a good no? That way, no one needs to worry about and nothing can go wrong...Nothing can go system. NCLB mandated a variety of changes education. RTTT isn’t focused on punishing repaying the trillions of dollars we’ve borrowed. wrong…Nothing can go wrong. at the state and local education systems as a low-performing schools, but rather it seeks to Each month our money printing makes our POOF! • requirement to receiving Title I funds. reward good academic performances. • Local Alliance Global Reach I wanted a banker that shared my passion for making a difference for generations to come. I Bank Manhattan. -Jeami Duncan Mercy’s Village International 888.657.6523 | www.bankofmanhattan.com South Bay . 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