NYT/AP: Gates Foundation Puts $2.3B Into Education

[DeepModem Mom]

Gates Foundation Puts $2.3B Into Education
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 15, 2005


SEATTLE (AP) -- Bill Gates raised some hackles with his withering assessment of American high schools, but at least the billionaire founder of Microsoft is putting his money where his mouth is.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has invested $2.3 billion since 2000 in new visions of education, with smaller schools and more personalized instruction to prepare young people for the working world and post-high school learning.

The foundation has programs in 42 states and the District of Columbia; it supports more than 1,500 high schools -- about half totally new and the others redesigned. Its three scholarship programs, designed to fill tuition gaps left by other grants and aid, have assisted more than 10,000 students.

At one of its schools, the Truman Center in Federal Way, about 20 miles south of Seattle, 12 teacher/advisers tend 208 students -- helping them figure out what they care about and how to pursue it. Two days a week are set aside for job-shadowing and internships in the real world....

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''When we give a grant, we give it because the community wants it and asks for it,'' (Gates Foundation spokeswoman Marie Groark) said. ''It's not the Gates Foundation telling the community to do something. It's the Gates Foundation supporting work that's already begun.''...


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Gates-on-Education.html

[napi21]

1. I listened to Bill talking about today's education system, and I agree

with him. I've been complaining for years that schools don't teach students how to survive in the real world. Sure, it's the parents responsibility to teach a lot of common sense things, but a lot of them don't. I think it's great for all educators to monitor what kind of jobs are needed in the current world and offer courses to train students for them.

I suspect other sountries have already been doing that, and explaines the influx of workers from foreign lands.

[BlueJazz]

2. At least Bill puts "Real" Money into his charity....

...not like some others who give 10,000 dollars (When they have an income of 170 million a year).

Anyone guess who I'm talking about?