May 26, 2011 by Yolanda Fontanez-Coleman | State Education Budgets
I recently read an article about how a Michigan School Superintendent is pleading the Governor to make his school a prison. I never realized how much money we funnel into the prison system vs. the funds we allocate per student in the school system.
Listen to these hair-raising facts about the State of Michigan; the State of Michigan spends an estimated $40,000 annually per prisoner, but a mere $7,000 per student. What is wrong with this picture? In fact, the Pew Center on the States reports that five states spend as much or more on prisons as they do on education and that 28 states spend 50 cents on prisons for every dollar spent on education.
What an eye-opening and disappointing reality! Aren’t our children worth the investment? Aren’t our future leaders important enough? Read more on this issue at http://bigthink.com/ideas/38573
What do you think? I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue!
Oh the amazing things we could do with $40,000 per child!
A little off topic, but this just reminded me of the sad fact that the prison system is BIG business. And the scandal of PA judges sending children to prison for kickbacks came to mind. Still enrages me! ( http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41448385/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/former-pa-judge-go-trial-kickbacks-case/ )