Protect Higher Ed

[Cajunrunner]

We do not lag behind in higher ed funding, except in the sense that we have this strange notion that students should not have to pay for it; we just have always had a very bad plan for higher ed. There is no reason for a state the size/population of Louisiana to have more than 4 public universities.

THIS. Unfortunately, we can't even get rid of/merge SUNO, much less do something about all the 4 year public universities in rural North Louisiana.

[Boomer]

Had a conversation with an alumnus who son accepted a Tulane scholly----His teachers were off a few days to go to Florida to help Obama in the election---There is all this talk about education from the private schools---What if they are learning false crap from their teachers---Just a little Rush or Fox news exposes the lies that the media displays and that are subsequently taught in our schools----Why are home schoolers out performing our kids taught by professionals---Well never mind we all know the answers!!!

[SlappyCajun]

Had a conversation with an alumnus who son accepted a Tulane scholly----His teachers were off a few days to go to Florida to help Obama in the election---There is all this talk about education from the private schools---What if they are learning false crap from their teachers---Just a little Rush or Fox news exposes the lies that the media displays and that are subsequently taught in our schools----Why are home schoolers out performing our kids taught by professionals---Well never mind we all know the answers!!!

Because home schooled kids generally have enough resources where one parent can stay at home to educate and the teacher student ratio is much smaller than public or parochial schools?

[VObserver]

Because home schooled kids generally have enough resources where one parent can stay at home to educate and the teacher student ratio is much smaller than public or parochial schools?

That is part of it slappy, but the other part is that home schooled kids are generally taught using methods that are "antiquated" [in teacher unionese that means effective] using quaint notions that children who learn phonics learn to read, and that grammar and spelling are important parts of learning your language, and children who learn basic math skills end up doing better in advanced math, and that "social studies" means teaching real history and real government, not the PC garbage that gets passed off as history and civics in schools.

As a result, home schooled kids test out MUCH better as a group than institutionally taught kids.

[Boomer]

That is part of it slappy, but the other part is that home schooled kids are generally taught using methods that are "antiquated" [in teacher unionese that means effective] using quaint notions that children who learn phonics learn to read, and that grammar and spelling are important parts of learning your language, and children who learn basic math skills end up doing better in advanced math, and that "social studies" means teaching real history and real government, not the PC garbage that gets passed off as history and civics in schools.

As a result, home schooled kids test out MUCH better as a group than institutionally taught kids.

See I told you we all know the answer!!!

[Oiler]

THIS. Unfortunately, we can't even get rid of/merge SUNO, much less do something about all the 4 year public universities in rural North Louisiana.

LSU is beginning to consolidate everything into one entity, with everything based in Baton Rouge. It is a financial necessity that they do this. Once that process is finished, look for the elimination of all of LSU's satellite campuses. Consolidation will soon take place in the UL System as well. It is a financial certainty.

[CajunFun]

Moveon.org, a hard left wing organization, sponsors this site. This petition will be used to attack Gov. Jindal and Moveon will add you to its mail list. Too political for me....I have been sending personal emails to the governor concerning the lack of higher ED. funding. I belong to no political group and this issue for me rises above politics.

George Clooney called Jerry Falwell a few years ago, said "Let's work together on AIDS in Africa." Should Falwell have told him to go pound sand just because Clooney's a liberal?

This is a respectful petition to the governor, telling him we think higher education is important and asking him to help. Should we refuse to sign on to something we agree with, just because the left started the initiative?

We don't understand why the political parties can't cooperate in D.C. Maybe it's because that's what the electorate expects.

[Cajunrunner]

This is a respectful petition to the governor, telling him we think higher education is important and asking him to help.

All fine and dandy. What is your proposed solution, though. People like Louisiana Budget Project just want to increase income taxes to feed more money into Higher Ed, without mentioning anything about any real budget reform to not spend that money elsewhere.

I'm all for pointed budget reforms (which our Governor has neglected to attempt) that put money into actual state responsibilities like Higher Ed and roads rather than other adventures; however, I will not support having to fork over more of my hard-earned income to Baton Rouge.

[CajunFun]

I have know problem with athletics funding them self, but the cost of a college education should reflect its value. A college education in Louisiana is dirt cheap compared to other states.

Is that a good thing, or a bad thing? Is education another socialist give-away program, or is it a shrewd economic investment?

When tuitions rise, enrollments decline, college graduate rates drop (and worse, college graduates grab the TOPS money and then quickly leave the state) and then Louisiana becomes increasingly less competitive. Not just less competitive compared to Texas and Florida, but to heavyweights like Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

Smart people are the best investment any entity can make. HP hired smart people in their formative years, and really had no idea what they were going to do with them; they just knew that those people would design their future. All current evidence suggests it was a smart move.

'Cheap' is a relative concept, it's always in relation to what the market price is elsewhere. So should we be cheap, competitive, or expensive?

Would Louisiana excel by trying to be the most expensive to get an education? By trying to be average? I can't see how either of those make sense.

Higher ed-- and that includes the enormously expensive professional and other graduate schools-- consumes a piddling 3% of the Louisiana budget (or at least it did a few years ago). I estimate that for 6% of our state's budget, we could educate every qualified student in Louisiana for free, and then go out and make the same offer to a few exceptional students from the rest of the USA.

What do you think that would do for Louisiana's future? Do you think the investment will pay off quickly?

And if not, where do you think we can invest that 6% so that it will give us anywhere near the same ROI?

[CajunFun]

All fine and dandy. What is your proposed solution, though. People like Louisiana Budget Project just want to increase income taxes to feed more money into Higher Ed, without mentioning anything about any real budget reform to not spend that money elsewhere.

I'm all for pointed budget reforms (which our Governor has neglected to attempt) that put money into actual state responsibilities like Higher Ed and roads rather than other adventures; however, I will not support having to fork over more of my hard-earned income to Baton Rouge.

Fine, say that to the governor. We can amend the constitution anyway we want, to say anything we desire.

But don't sit on your hands just because the other political party thought of it first.