an FT letter writer on business plans to improve schools

In today's Financial Times, Walter Weis (either a student or teacher) of Forest Hills, NYC writes:

Sandy Weill (chair of Citigroup) and John Ferrandino think business can play a bigger role in public education ("American Schools can be saved by business"). Perhaps so, but probably the most importat thing it can do is pay its taxes. Instead of nickel-and-diming municipalities for ever more tax concessions, pay the regular corporate rate. Be a member of the community. Not only will the additional funding help relieve overcrowding of urban schools, but it will broaden the tax base currently being shouldered by the poor and the middle classes....
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Well, there's a lot to do to improve municipal institutions of all sorts. As Joel Kotkin said (from another blog entry:

But two major things need to happen in order for cities to be saved.

First, they must undertake a CAT scan of sorts, which would reveal, underneath the glossy exterior of arts centers and arenas and hip downtowns, the reality of lost jobs, dysfunctional schools, and crumbling infrastructure.

Second, they need to acquire the political will to attack these issues head-on despite the inevitable roadblocks.

What is needed is for cities to craft their own New Deal. Given their shrinking political power, they will not be able to extract resources from Washington or most state capitals. They will have to get smart about how they are run and focus their resources on basic issues, like schools, infrastructure, boosting small business, and creating jobs--rather than promoting bread, circuses, and tattoo parlors. (Note from RL: see the very interesting series of articles from Black Commentator on "Wanted: A Plan for Cities to Save Themselves.")

Until there is an expectation of quality and high standards, the solution isn't always one of providing more money, but of ensuring that money is used wisely and focused.