"The federal Race to the Top program has the Michigan Legislature racing to throw together and vote on bills. All manner of changes are being broached — not in pursuit of a better education policy, mind you, but in pursuit of the up to $400 million the feds could lavish on the state.
The Legislature's appetite for 'free' money is well-documented. But this episode goes beyond the usual Capitol farce. Lawmakers should be making decisions based on good policy, not on hopes for the proverbial pot of gold.
Of course, any state that bases its school year on traffic patterns at hotels isn't to be taken too seriously at any time. Fear not, parents, the House voted to largely uphold the state ban on classes prior to Labor Day, in deference to the tourism industry."
The Legislature's appetite for 'free' money is well-documented. But this episode goes beyond the usual Capitol farce. Lawmakers should be making decisions based on good policy, not on hopes for the proverbial pot of gold.
Of course, any state that bases its school year on traffic patterns at hotels isn't to be taken too seriously at any time. Fear not, parents, the House voted to largely uphold the state ban on classes prior to Labor Day, in deference to the tourism industry."