Man Who Saved A Billion Lives Educated Thanks To Stimulus Investment

by Mike Smith · 2009-09-14 09:00:00 UTC
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Norman Borlaug died on Saturday, having committed his whole life to ending world hunger, saving millions (and perhaps up to a billion) lives through his work with plants and biotechnology. And where did his education begin? The Guardian newspaper wrote a piece in praise of the Nobel Prize winner: "He was a farmer's son from Iowa who got an education with help from New Deal programmes."

It's important to remember exactly what cuurent education reform programs like the Race To The Top and various turnaround strategies, and NASA's work to inspire kids can achieve, and what amazing students they can produce — incredible citizens working for the greater good. Not so abstract when you see someone like Borlaug emerge out the education system thanks to of a wave of investment for economic revitalization.

A few of crazy people feared socialist indoctrination when President Obama spoke to his kids at the start of the school term. The reality is hilarious, he was simply saying that if you work hard then you can succeed — with parents, teachers, and government programs playing a crucial part in helping youngsters reach their potential, just as Borlaug did.

[Photo credit: IRRI]

Mike Smith is associate editor at Change.org.
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