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Why the federal government? All we'll get is some PC gobble-de-gook (note the scientific language) that will spend a lot of money and only make things worse.

Increase America's talent pool by vastly improving K-12 mathematics and science education. · Among the recommended implementation steps is the creation of a merit-based scholarship program to attract 10,000 exceptional students to math and science teaching careers each year. Four-year scholarships, worth up to $20,000 annually, should be designed to help some of the nation's top students obtain bachelor's degrees in physical or life sciences, engineering, or mathematics -- with concurrent certification as K-12 math and science teachers. After graduation, they would be required to work for at least five years in public schools. Participants who teach in disadvantaged inner-city or rural areas would receive a $10,000 annual bonus. Each of the 10,000 teachers would serve about 1,000 students over the course of a teaching career, having an impact on 10 million minds, the report says.

I beg to disagree. You can spend millions, even billions, and yes you will end up with some very bright teachers. Teachers can't teach to kids who refuse to cooperate. Many of today's students don't want to be at school and don't even try to learn. There biggest challenge every day is to see how much they can get away with without getting caught. "COOL" rules! The "smart" kids just try to stay out of the way. All day they are bombarded with the profanity and gutter behavior of the miscreants. I would love to see a scholarship program that would reward kids for being acheivers in high school. Show that you are serious about learning (through four years of high school) and get the chance of a lifetime. Maybe even put them on a priority list for lucrative gov't. jobs that come open after the student graduates from college.

Sorry about the rant. I worked in a middle school and coached the Scholars' Bowl team. What a great bunch of kids! But, unfortunatly, at least 60% of the students didn't care a lick about learning anything. Teachers spend most of their time dealing with the show-offs.

I guess we should give up the A-bomb. It has to be worthless because all government projects are bad and all private sector projects are good. I am so sick of all you corporate sycophants.

Ain't it the "broad federal effort" that has run these jobs overseas to begin with?

Gubment... "We need more money to do the job (we fouled up the first time) to do the job next time.