Can Education Survive the US Economy?

It is that time of year again! The summer is beginning to wind down and stores are beginning to stock up on supplies to draw in this year's crop of student's for back to school specials.....and during these economic times I am sure that students and parents alike will definitely be searching to pinch every penny possible.

While watching the dramatic events that have taken place over the past few weeks in the US: from the political showmanship over a debt deal, to the first US credit downgrade in the history of our great country, and finally to the roller coaster like swings in the stock market, I got to thinking......will education survive?

It seems like not too long ago that the US was reeling from a devastating downturn in the US economy that wiped away massive amounts of wealth with the failure of companies like Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns.  This was only 2008 and to be honest, education barely survived.  The loss of teaching professionals across the country is staggering with states furloughing employees and ending educational programs at rates never before seen in the US. 

Because of the economic downturn, school districts have had to learn to do more with much less and in some cases this made these schools more effective at what they do.  But in others.....many students have been negatively affected.  School upon school is now faced with over crowding, dilapidated facilities, and class sizes in some areas approaching the mid 30's.

To be fair.......some of the money issues in education weren't caused by the crash of the stock market in 2008.  Some certainly are more likely due to poor money management and over spending while the times were good.  Unfortunately, the times are no longer good and they haven't been for a long time.  In reality it appears that the rough times for education may just be getting started.

A recent article posted on Education News stated the the recent debt deal spells more bad news for the students of this great country.  Because of the overwhelming debt that our country faces and the reality that the majority of the income of our country is already dedicated toward paying our interest payments, social security benefits and medicare premiums..........education is sure to be on the chopping block again.

So if education is to survive.....administrators are going to need to pinch a bit more...and again teachers and students will need to do more with a great deal less.

My fear however is....will there be anything left?  And if not, where does education go from here?