I like Edwards new plan to pay teachers 15k more to teach in poor areas

[ecstatic]

I'm usually a critic of his, but this latest proposal indicates that he may truly be trying to find solutions to a very important problem in the poorest communities: Education. I hope his plan actually makes sure that the teachers who take on these offers are actually qualified and passionate about education, and not just doing it for the money.

Keep up the good work, Edwards. Kudos.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070921/ap_on_el_pr/edwards_education_1

And I hope Obama, Clinton, and Kucinich are watching and have even better ideas in the works.

[againes654]

1. Yeah

I like that idea too.

I would like to see Kucinich/Edwards or Edwards/Kucinich in the WH

[depakid]

2. Student loan forgiveness would help as well

[patrioticintellect]

3. Previous Kucinich floor speech

Students Pay for Tax Cuts for the Rich

Dennis Kucinich speaking from the Floor of the House

Link to this entry in the Congressional Record
Feb 1, 2006

Speaking during debate on H.Res. 653, providing for concurrence with Senate amendment to the House amendment to S. 1932, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2006, Congressman Kucinich said:

"Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today cuts approximately $12 billion from the federal student programs. Under this bill, the tax cuts for the super-rich are placed on the backs of students and their families. Under this bill, student borrowers -- already saddled with $17,500 in debt -- will be forced to pay even more for his or her college loans.

"The bill raises student loan interest rate caps and raises student loan taxes and fees. It places billions of dollars in student aid at risk by cutting $2.2 billion in critical funds used to carry out and administer the student aid programs.

"Some of the excessive subsidies to large lending institutions are finally cut but no protections are put in place to ensure that students will not have those costs passed on to to them as well. Rather than reinvesting those dollars into low-interest loans and additional grants, this bill uses the money for alleged deficit reduction.

"This bill is a travesty. It masquerades as a budget reconciliation, but is truly a tax cut for the wealthy paid for by students. The Higher Education Act was intended to help provide all Americans, regardless of their income-level, with greater educational opportunities. The Act recognizes the shared benefits, by both society and the individual, of a higher education. But instead of working to further those goals, the changes to student loan programs that we are faced with today undermine the goal of HEA.

"We must make it clear that we place students above tax cuts for the wealthy and defeat this bill. I urge my colleagues to stand with me and oppose H.Res. 653."



(http://www.kucinichforcongress.com/floor_speeches/educ_students_pay1feb.php">Source)

[sandnsea]

7. There are programs for that

High needs areas and fields like math and science, they pay so much for every year you teach, something like that. I think it should be more helpful on the front end so kids are sure they'll get the financial credits when they need them.

[rucky]

9. there's already a program out there for that...

it's just not well-publicized.

[framecop]

11. Exactly. Until he goes there, he's just scratching at the surface

[HockeyMom]

4. South Bronx

My daughter is a new teacher and teaching in the South Bronx. Although her undergraduate loans are almost paid off (by us), she still has to take out loans to get her Masters which is required in New York State.

It would definitely help them just starting out.

[LisaM]

5. I don't know why teachers have to pay for their Masters' degrees

It's never made sense to me.

[sandnsea]

6. Since Obama proposed it already

I'm sure he's on board. This is what they tried to turn into merit pay. He meant teachers who take on tough tasks merit more money.

[elizm]

8. Obama advocated those incentives MONTHS ago...

He promised more pay "across the board" for teachers and extra incentives for those willing to work in lower-performing schools in urban and rural areas

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/8335627.html

[sandrakae]

10. Yea combat pay.

[MadHound]

12. That's nice and all, but why not double all teacher's pay

Lord knows they need it, and it would be beneficial to both the children, but the educational profession in general.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

16. Realistically, a lot of teachers don't deseve it.

I know idiots who teach high school history who make more than a lot of college professors.

Well-qualified, intelligent teachers do deserve a significant raise though.

[LWolf]

13. I'd like to be paid what I'm worth

no matter where I'm teaching, frankly.

I think every teacher ought to be paid well.

If you want to attract teachers to at-risk areas, I'd suggest a focus on supporting the communities in those areas. If you go in and make sure that "poor" areas are clean, safe, have adequate housing, jobs, transportation, and services, there will be teachers who will want to teach there.

[KoKo]

14. Any money spent on getting more teachers and nurses would be well spent...

and to give them all a decent salary is so important. They are so valuable to our country...and so overlooked. Think of all the jobs we could provide if folks could be given some big tuition breaks and a decent salary to teach and train to help us when we are sick.

[YvonneCa]

15. Would that be just for newly hired teachers...

...or also for those that have been doing the job for years?

[Clintonista2]

17. This is why I really really like Edwards

He has some really great ideas, and I don't think that people pay very much attention to him. Edwards is my 2nd choice, by far.