| By Alan Franklin - Dec 17th, 2009 at 12:09 pm EST |
| Also listed in: Statewide Student Progress |
Colorado faces a crisis in providing the quality education to our children they deserve, and radicals are preparing for new attacks on our public schools next year.
Last week, former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton, speaking to an audience of "Tea Party" right-wing radicals, reportedly called for the abolition of the United States Department of Education.[i] That's an incredibly reckless and foolish idea. The Department of Education administers billions of dollars of direct funding each year for public schools all over the country, including hundreds of millions to Colorado--not to mention direct responsibility for everything from student loan and scholarship programs to accommodation for children with disabilities.
Schools in Colorado are being closed due to a chronic inability to provide for them. Abolishing the Department of Education won't do anything to solve real problems, it's just fringe rhetoric. Sign our petition to Norton, demanding she get serious about education:
http://progressnowcolorado.org/ProtectSchools
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Colorado ranks 40th in the nation in education funding per student. As a percentage of personal income, Colorado ranks an abysmal 49th in our commitment to funding public education.[ii] Our state faces an ongoing fiscal crisis that is likely to hamper our ability to properly meet the needs of our children for years to come. Colorado public schools rely on federal funds to meet the needs of all of our children, from AP whiz kids to those most in need of extra support.
That's the reality, but what do extremist conservatives want to talk about? Radical nonsense. Abolishing the Department of Education. At a time when leadership and innovative thinking is needed more than ever, the right is out of touch with the needs of Colorado's most important institutions.
Sign our petition: tell Jane Norton to get serious about education, not pander to extremists.
http://progressnowcolorado.org/ProtectSchools
We will share your comments with Norton and the media. Thank you for standing up for our children and Colorado's future.
Comments are closed for this post.
Education, health care, corporate accountability, living wages, conservation and environment, calls for peace and diplomacy=Bad
Colorado invests $1 in higher education, it's return on investment $40. (Source: Michael Carrigan) Is Jane economically challenged?
found:
Link
-these people scare me, along with the type of combative ignorance displayed in Jane Norton's ad campaign. Would like to see some more agenda of hers exposed.