Politicizing Student Loans With Deadline Looming...What's New?

gocollege.com

Did anyone really think that this Congress and this Administration could leave politics out of the Student Loan extension?  Wishful thinking if you did.  Congress phased in the lower loan rate of 3.4% in 2007 for undergraduates.  This lower rate is in jeopardy of reverting back to the 6.8% rate beginning in July.  Failure of Congress and the Administration acting in unison will add an estimated $1,000 in increased loan debt for each student. 

Obviously, both parties in this fight do not want to see the loan rate go back up.  Neither want to be blamed by students or their parents for an increased debt obligation.  However, both parties choose to bicker about how to pay for the reduced student loan rate.  The lower rate is estimated to cost $6 billion. 

Republicans immediately try to find a way to carve away at provisions of the Affordable Healthcare Act finding savings there.  A non-starter for the Democrats.  Democrats want to eliminate specific tax benefits for small business owners to pay for the lower student loan rate.  A non-starter for the Republicans.  Both parties blame each other and of course, the politics of Washington take over.

edudemic.com

Posturing on any political issue is par for the course.  The President has made a point to include the student loan issue on the campaign trail effectively casting the net of blame on the Republican Party.  Republican Congressional leaders say the matter could be resolved if the President didn't want to use it as a campaign issue driving up support among young voters.

Like most of the issues before Congress, paying for them is the dilemma.  The Republicans always want to cut programs, benefits and services that are near and dear to the Democratic Party.  The Democrats always want to place a larger burden on the wealthier taxpayer or business concern unacceptable to the Republican Party.  These more difficult economic times only enhance these entrenched positions that both parties adhere to. 

Every issue of our time involves the political posturing, the rhetoric of blame and the unwillingness to find a negotiated compromise.  All the while the American people wait and wonder what will happen for them.  This Congress will undoubtedly be long remembered as the Congress that accomplished very little other than expanding the polarization between the two parties and the American people.

No worries though.  The Student Loan crisis will be averted at the 11th hour just like so many other decisions this group of legislators have provided.  One of these days the old axiom of throwing the bums out will come to fruition and maybe, just maybe then, we will have a legislative body that actually listens to the concerns of the American people.       

    

¿Por qué no enseñar español en la Escuela Primaria?



csmonitor.com

If you are like me and challenged by foreign languages, you have no idea what the subject of this story is about.  Reflecting on that, it really is a shame.  When I was in high school, I had two years of Spanish and one year of Latin.  Enrolled for one more year of Spanish in college.  The sum total of those three  years of learning is a handful of words that I know and hardly ever use.  It is indeed a shame.

As I think about it today, I am ashamed that I did not take those three years of learning more seriously and become somewhat fluent in Spanish.  It would be helpful to me today in my work but unfortunately, I chose not to put forth much effort when I was a younger man.  I work with nearly thirty people who speak Spanish and our communication with each other is less than great. 

Most Americans believe that it is the responsibility of the non-English speaking individual to learn English if they choose to work and live in the United States.  For the most part, I agree with that principle.  It seems to me that one would want to learn the prevalent language of the country in which they live and work.  I also support English as the primary language of the United States and believe all communications emanating from the government and other public institutions should be delivered in English. 

At the same time, it is increasingly true that our nation has a growing population of Hispanics.  Most statistics point to 50.5 million Hispanics living in the United States as of July, 2010.   This accounts for 16.3% of the population of the United States.  The same studies point to a total population of Hispanics of 132.8 million by 2050 or 30% of the population. 

Thus the question of the subject line, "Why Not Teach Spanish In Elementary School?"  The children of Hispanics attending elementary school in the United States are all learning English.  This is certainly appropriate and of great value to the Hispanic community as these children will be bi-lingual and in a good position to secure better jobs when they reach work-age. 

Teaching Spanish to our English speaking school children only makes sense, especially since 30% of the population will also be speaking Spanish.  Teaching any foreign language in the elementary grades makes great sense as languages are much easier to learn early on rather than later in the educational experience.  Sure, English will always be the prevalent language in our nation but why not provide the same competitive advantage to our English-speaking young people too. 

America continually stands by and watches our competitive advantage disappear in the educational arena.  Our scores and educational achievement lags behind many nations of the world.  Children in countries across the globe are not only learning their own native language but also English.  Why should be neglect this same opportunity for our young people. 

No debemos dejar que orgullo estar en el camino.  (We should not let pride get in the way.)  Let's educate our  young people and give them the same opportunities to compete and excel in later life.  I sure am sorry I didn't learn to Habla español.