Education: the wheels of the economy

Herbert has a good column on education, but not due to anything he writes... rather, some rep from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has some very clear, succinct, and true words:

"It may sound like hyperbole," said Mr. Vander Ark, "but this is the economic development issue for our society, and it is the social justice issue of our times. It is the most important long-term issue for the civic health of the republic.

"In the aggregate, we need more young people educated at higher levels: more finishing high school, more finishing community college, more finishing four-year degrees. And secondly, I think it's very important that we close the racial and socioeconomic gaps in educational attainment.

"We're seeing a scary level of income stratification that is the result of educational stratification. And it's becoming important not just for the economy but for our society that we help low-income [students], and especially kids of color, achieve high levels of education so that they can participate in the economy and in our society."

Damn skippy. On the economy alone, we can't make stuff cheaper than the Chinese and other folks right now, but what we can do is innovate with the best of 'em. Bush has recognized this in speeches, but (surprise!) hasn't done shit about it. In fact, Pell grants and other programs have actually been cut off the rate of inflation. And yes, NCLB was passed, but show me an educator in this country that thinks it is good program (and show me a governor who likes the unfunded mandate and literally impossible-to-achieve standards). NCLB was actually created to pave the way for public school failure and thus build momentum for private school vouchers.

Where are all the grown-ups?