[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Stormcrow73

Not to put words in someone else's mouth but I will...I think perhaps one thing strum was driving at is that education in some parts of AR is not adequately addressed with children in terms of it's value to them. They do not perceive it's value. Many children have parents without an education who also do not perceive the value in it and thus the children are biased against higher education.

Right now, AR has too many worker bees and not enough queens if we continue that analogy. However, I'm again going to stress my firm belief that if by magic 80% of all AR high school seniors who graduated in 2008 obtained a degree in 4 years, it would serve only to decrease the population of young adults in the state as 90% of those 80% left to find a job that required their new degree.

If I understand what you are saying I agree with you, but what was said before amounted to all kids need college educations and they do not, nor should they all go to college. We had a very similar problem in NM, too may drop outs, too much poverty, and too many leaving the state after they got a college degree. What needs to be done, and God only knows how it can be done, is helping more graduate from high school. Adding a lottery will not help this problem if the funds are going to be used for scholarships only.

Yes, helping to educate many to the importance of education is something that needs to be done, still this really doesn't have too much to do with the lottery in my opinion (not that it is worth that much).

Nita

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by nmnita

If I understand what you are saying I agree with you, but what was said before amounted to all kids need college educations and they do not, nor should they all go to college. We had a very similar problem in NM, too may drop outs, too much poverty, and too many leaving the state after they got a college degree. What needs to be done, and God only knows how it can be done, is helping more graduate from high school. Adding a lottery will not help this problem if the funds are going to be used for scholarships only.

Yes, helping to educate many to the importance of education is something that needs to be done, still this really doesn't have too much to do with the lottery in my opinion (not that it is worth that much).

Nita

I guess I'm trying to play peacemaker to some extent by walking a fine line between the two POVs. You're correct, most of what I said has very little direct relation to the lottery and usage of monies at least WRT how we suspect they will be spent.

[Clay Lady]

I think that thirty minutes a week is better than no time. Other states have similiar scheduling. (Before you give me grief I have worked in Louisiana, Texas, California, and Washington state schools.) What I would like to be understood is that there are professional artists in the state that come into schools and do special programing. Sometimes these programs are in the art class but usually they are in the classroom tied to what the teacher is teaching. Arkansas art councils have won national awards. If there was more money even more good would be done.

I believe if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. I hope anyone that is not happy with their schools are at every PTO meeting and schoolboard meeting. This is not an Arkansas problem. I am for anything that will bring more money into education.

The "only poor people buy lottery tickets so we have to save them from themselves" is a short sighted answer. I'm not uneducated, not poor, and buy lottery tickets.

What have you done for education today?

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by Clay Lady

I believe if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

Well said. I first heard that in 1976 and took it as a life lesson.

Originally Posted by Clay Lady

What have you done for education today?

Wanna see my property tax bill?

I feel like adopting 6 kids so I can try to get my money's worth.

[PurpleLove08]

Originally Posted by Stormcrow73

I hear what you're saying and I don't really disagree but here's the rub: we ARE educating plenty of our native sons and daughters. They just can't stay here. Out of all the people I graduated college with in engineering, I can only think of about 10 out of a couple hundred who were able to hang around in-state to work. I'm sure my number's small because I didn't exactly go asking everyone where they were going but I do know that most everyone I heard about was headed to Texas for work. Our colleges and universities are educating plenty of people, and there are lots of people like me who would jump at the chance to get back here if there were jobs of interest. Then there are the people who are lost forever because they head out into the world and meet a sig. other who has no interest at all into coming to AR. You can't get them back no matter how good the jobs are. I agree we need to educate more people but there's a chicken and egg situation here that can't be ignored. I contend we have enough graduates of high enough caliber to fill a LOT of new jobs requiring degrees with the caveat that we can recover lost human resources of grads who have left the state.

Agreed.
I see what you're saying and I've thought about this as well.
I know plenty of my friends want to leave once they get their degree and I can't say I blame them. I plan to leave too.

[Bail_Khan]

Instead of using the money for education why not improve our strip clubs.

[Surf0325]

I moved from Chicago IL to Hot Springs Arkansas and yes I think we should have lottery. We should let everybody have a chance to win! Im voting YES!