I’m all about balance and compromise when it comes to politics and policy, but how many others out there shook their heads knowingly and resignedly when finding out that the revised stimulus package passed Wednesday took a $16 billion bite out of the initial plan for school construction. (Insert disappointed clucking and sighing?)
Everyone loves the idea of education, but it’s always among the first to go. The original $83 billion proposed two days ago to go toward child care, public schools and universities.? Too good to be true. Building new schools will not close the achievement gap (psst, it’s the teacher quality that will) but it’s shovel-ready and it sure can help.