Staying hydrated is critical when you are trying to save a nation.

I know, I know, it’s hard to believe. Before Tuesday, I was just your run-of-the mill, nondescript high school teacher.  Now, thanks to President Obama’s most recent speech on Education, my job description has been amended to include “saving the nation.”

Trust me, it’s not easy preparing the nation’s youth for competition in a fast-paced, Darwinian global economy, especially while the whole world keeps tabs on your progress (or lack thereof). But, for the past four years, I’ve been on the job 7-5-180 (that’s 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, 180 days a year) trying my best to help American teenagers keep up with the 繁體中文版 (aka, the Joneses).

Unfortunately, my best efforts, and the best efforts of my colleagues, have not been good enough. Test scores are falling precipitously. Students aren’t finishing high school. Other countries have leapfrogged us in math and science achievement. Schools are crumbling and hallways are becoming increasingly violent.

But, help is on the way. In this case, the cavalry comes in the form of a $100 Billion funding injection for schools. The question is: will the Government’s stimulus plan bring schools into the 21^st century, or will the $100 Billion buy the American taxpayers more of the same? As of right now, this is one question that I don’t have an answer key for.

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