The newly passed stopgap spending bill designed to keep the US government in business for two more weeks removes funding from almost a dozen education programs for the remainder of the fiscal year (through Sept. 2011), and maybe for good.
However, I do not mourn the loss of funding for the "Exchanges With Historic Whaling and Trading Partners" for $8.6 million.
"Authorized projects include internships, apprenticeship programs, and education programs to increase understanding of cultural diversity and multicultural communication among Alaska Natives, native Hawaiians, and the people of the continental United States, based on historic patterns of trading and commerce. The authorizing law was amended in 2006 to include projects for any federally recognized Indian tribe in Mississippi.
"This program supports culturally based educational activities, internships, apprenticeship programs, and exchanges for Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and children and families of Massachusetts. The program earmarks funds for certain entities in Massachusetts, Alaska, and Hawaii as follows: $2 million each for (1) the New Bedford Whaling Museum in partnership with the New Bedford Oceanarium in Massachusetts and (2) the North Slope Borough in Alaska; not less than $1 million each for the New Trade Winds Project to (1) the Alaska Native Heritage Center, (2) the Bishop Museum in Hawaii, and (3) the Peabody Essex Museum in Massachusetts; and not less than $1 million each for the same three entities for internship and apprenticeship programs."
Makes me wonder just whose vote was bought in 2006 with adding native Americans from Mississippi to a program based on historic whaling partners.
And just how much was this program adding to educational achievement of Native Hawaiians, Alaskan Natives, and Mississippi Indians?
We don't need to throw more money at many of the problems with education in the US. We need to spend what we already fund more wisely.
