Vice President Joe Biden spoke today at Syracuse University's Schine hall about education. On stage with Biden at his Law school alma mater were two members of The Middle Class Task Force, Secretary Geithner and Secretary Duncan, as well as Syracuse University Chancellor Nancy Cantor and a panel of education experts. The students who attended were primarily members of the Superintendent's cabinet along with a lot of local politicians many other people who are just concerned about education in the United States.
Several topics were big at the speech today, including simplifying the FASFA (Federal loan application)process. As well as the Income Based Repayment plan, which is a new plan for federal and government loans where your required monthly payment is capped at an affordable rate based on income and family size. The Middle Class task force also discussed improving the Section 529 (college saving) plans.
Currently the United States of America ranks in at about 15th on how many high school graduates go on to (and succeed at) some kind of post-secondary (college) education. When not to long ago we were ranked #1. Out of 100 and some odd countries 15 isn't bad but Secretary of Education Arne Duncan beleives that The statusquo is no longer good enough.
The government has set aside around $100 Billion more for education (it seems more for post-secondary) and according to the speakers none of that will come from taxes. They said not 1% would come from taxes, it would all come from switching around funds, and cutting back on Bank subsidiaries. Which is phenomenal because last year alone, post-secondary students borrowed $80 million for education. Which is roughly a 16% increase from 2007. When an SU student in the audience asked Biden if this was a guarantee Biden explained that there will be times, when other things take priority. If national security becomes an issue, it will take priority. If putting more cops on the streets in dangerous cities is what needs to happen it will take priority because without safe streets, or a safe nation students can't feel safe walking to school.
Joe Biden said today that when he's done with his term, if people write one thing about him or remember him for one thing years from now, he hopes that it will be that he was truly passionate about education. After listening to him speak about it, and seeing the Earnestness in his face, I feel absolutely safe saying that Vice President Joe Biden is a man who is truly passionate about education.
"We don't only want to come out of this great recession with a growing GDP but with a new platform for the 21st century" -Joe Biden @SU 9/9/09This is the change we expected from Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and the administration. Rather than focusing on one issue, and putting the rest off, they're focusing on the important things.
by Jake O'Connell
1 comments:
Sounds like it was an interesting talk.
I liked the write up...lots of numbers!
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