Dollars Schmollars

As I read the article about larger class sizes for non-core classes in Florida, I was a bit amazed. I wasn't necessarily amazed that class sizes are increasing. That's happening all over the country. I was amazed that people either can't think of more creative solutions or simply complain.

We've known for a while that the status quo doesn't work for a lot of students. We also know that smaller class sizes are no guarantee of an excellent education. Still the push, especially by unions who have a vested interest in keeping jobs, is to simply tell legislatures to provide more money. It's as if none of these people have realized how bad the economy is.

As a finance guy, I tend to harp on this subject a bit, but there are only so many ways to get money to spend. The main way is to earn it. Governments can't earn it and they can't take money from people who don't have any. Warren Buffet is willing to give a bunch of his money away and does, but then gets criticized for the kinds of schools that he gives it to. Buffet also thinks that others in his income range (of which there are few) can afford to (and therefore, I suppose, are obligated to) be taxed more. The problem is that even a proposed tax on the rich wouldn't be enough to fix the problem. It brings to mind the poor boy with his finger in the dike trying to hold out the ocean.

Of course, who needs money, we'll just borrow more. Oops, we can't do that any longer either say the rating agencies.

I guess there is really only one answer left. Let's figure out ways to provide education for less money. We don't need traditional classrooms for many subjects. Carpe Diem in Yuma, Arizona has a model that saves money and uses fewer teachers per pupil. Many online programs have proven effective. It's sort of like the Six Million Dollar Man (I know. I'm dating myself.) We have the technology, we can rebuild the education system.

There are two reasons to do it. One is that it's the right thing to do. Two is that it's the most feasible thing to do in this economy. The economy is simply a great excuse to do what we ought to be doing anyway. Yes, I believe that dollars do make a difference--saving them, that is.