Krista's Economic Paper

Have you ever written a $787 billion dollar check?  As of February 13, 2009 President Obama can say yes; just by signing a huge stimulus plan to improve our economic crisis.  Reporters and politicians have attacked and argued over this bill since the idea was introduced.  Sixty-six percent of Americans support the 2009 Economic Stimulus Package because of the education benefits being offered as well as many other anticipated improvements (http://people-press.org).  These benefits include creating and saving jobs for teachers, updating schools, and preventing already budgeted programs from disappearing.  If the stimulus plan follows through as predicted many students will gain the knowledge and experience promised to them as American citizens.

Saving our teachers' jobs is beneficial in many ways to parents, teachers, and their students.  Educators in grade, middle and high schools are walking into their classroom anticipating the worsts. They are not only worried about their own kids and family; teachers are concerned about the kids whose lives have been impacted.  In New York City alone nearly 14,000 teachers will retain their jobs because of 2009 Economic Stimulus Plan.  In Oregon 44,000 jobs will be saved, 3,000 of which are geared toward education (http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/02/12/2009-02-12_obama_stimulus_plan_may_mean_huge_infusi.html).  The future of Americans lies in the hands of our educators.  They have devoted their life to education and promote a healthy future for America.

A critical part of preparing students for the 21st century is updating our schools with learning tools such as computers and other necessary systems.  The plan concentrates on providing and updating technology for the classrooms, labs and libraries.  Keeping up with the never ending advances among computers and programs can be costly but important.  President Obama recognizes just that when he puts part of the money aside to support updating our schools.  The libraries will be updated with new edition reference materials to ensure students have the most accurate information at their fingertips.  These much needed classroom materials will be provided.  The materials are new  textbooks and renovations to update teaching techniques such as replacing dust filled chalkboards with sleep, easy to clean white boards.  All our students will benefit form these updates (http://www.edweek.org)

After school and during school programs are great to keep students occupied with safe and fun learning activities.  With financial cuts being discussed for programs all students will not have the same opportunity.  Most parents can't afford to set money aside for their child's favorite extracurricular activity like they are now being asked to do.  After school events keep kids safe, and away from drugs and other challenges in our society.  Sport teams are also suffering and penny pinching.  Being a member of a team teaches students to work together and also keeps them healthy by promoting physical activity.  The program previously known as Future Farmers of America now just he FFA Program promotes working together and efficiently.  The FFA students focus more on scholastic and problem solving skills.  And like similar to sports, students get to travel to different schools to compete.  Taking these programs away will definitely have a large impact on our kids.  All students should be allowed the same opportunities as they were just years ago.  Now parents have to scramble to find daycare for their kids after school because after school because after school programs are no longer dependable.

Now we have to remain positive and trust the largest investment in the United State's history will be worth the debt and other sacrifices (http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/02/with_history_an.html).  Education is something very important and affects almost everyone.  I hope the money is used wisely yet generously to improve the environment in which students have the right to find themselves and discover who they are.  Many still fear President Obama has continued to dig us into a larger hole that will take years and years to pay back.  Many officials are monitoring the progress of this plan very closely in order to avoid unnecessary expenses for us as taxpayers.  Only time will tell if this plan is really what America needs to move forward.