Real Talk: Title 1 = More Stolen Blinds

It appears that the stimulus plan's education allotments are going to be distributed according to Title 1 mandates or something similar. Today's NY Times article describes that as:

"The formulas by which the stimulus money for public schools would be allocated to states and local districts are complex, but take into consideration numbers of school-age children in poor families. The level received per student would vary considerably by state, according to an analysis by the New America Foundation, a research group that monitors education spending. New York would be among the biggest beneficiaries, at $760 per student, while New Jersey and Connecticut would fall near the bottom, with $427 and $409 per student, respectively. The District of Columbia would get the most per student, $1,289, according to the foundation’s analysis."

What I never understand is this. How people can admit that overcrowding and family conditions are some of the biggest factors in the miseducation of America's disadvantaged youths, but continue to believe in a system that gives priority to institutions that uphold this? Even with the best teachers and the best resources we are knowingly setting these kids in New York and DC to fail.

Why? Because they are the little stacks at the high limit poker table. Every hand they commit themselves to will result in putting it all in the middle. Even if they win that hand and double up, they will still be the smallest stack and will have their blinds stolen repeatedly. That cycle describes their existence at the Poker table, until they eventually run out of chips. Of course, there is the "American Dream" - the player who can take the small stack and come out the winner. But let's be reasonable. Everyone is not cut out to perform at this high a level, nor can anyone do this without playing at a higher level than their opponents.

So how does one continue playing poker if they are the small stack? Simple. They go to a different table where their small stack is much more respectable. And that's what the country needs to be doing with these stimulus packages. We have, for too long, financed a poker room where there are only high limit tables. We have effectively said, "if you want to play then you need to play at the highest stakes possible. Otherwise, keep working."

Charter schools have taken up one position that does this by encouraging kids to play at these tables hard and fast and hopefully come out with enough to go to a lesser high limit table. But that doesn't solve the issue that most people can't do that and therefore the game, as it is meant to be played, is inaccessible to most people.

I'm pretty annoyed that this package misses the boat there. We need to open up more tables that allow small stacks to move out of the high limit arenas. We do not need to provide them with more chips that don't change their insignificance. And we definitely should not lower the buy-ins so that everyone can play, even though they can't afford to be competitive.