Perot pushes technology for schools

[Rose Siding]

AUSTIN – The last time Dallas billionaire Ross Perot set his sights on changing education in Texas, the state's public schools were never the same.
...
"We are limited only by our creativity," Mr. Perot told the House Public Education Committee on Tuesday. "I think you're going to be amazed by how many technology people are going to show up wanting to get this done. For all the right reasons."

Mr. Perot testified in support of a bill that would require the Texas Education Agency to ensure that high-tech teaching materials are available for all subjects in primary and secondary schools.
...
Two decades ago, Mr. Perot was appointed by Gov. Mark White to head a select committee to overhaul education. The law eventually enacted created the no-pass-no-play rule, limited class sizes, required standardized tests, increased funding for poor districts and raised teacher pay.

Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, praised Mr. Perot as "the original reformer."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/legislature/stories/031605dntexperot.18d0f.html

[Squeech]

1. He runs a technology company

Electronic Data Systems. (Although it's possible he's retired as CEO by now, I'm pretty sure he still has a financial stake.)

And, despite his outsider rhetoric, he's no stranger to collecting federal funds. EDS made a ton of money in the '80s crunching Medicare data under government contract.

[notadmblnd]

2. Ross Perot unloaded EDS to GM back in the mid 80's

GM spinned it back off in the 90's and the company has gone down hill since.
At one time former Sec of State George Shultz and Vice Pretzeldent Cheney were on the board. Former Governer of Michigan is now in charge of obtaining government business for the company.

Ross Perot is now CEO of Perot Systems in competition with EDS and other computer service companies.

[Nay]

3. Has Mr. Perot said what the kids will do with their tech skills? Cuz

right now, tech skills that pay well simply get targeted and shipped off to India and China.

[proud_dem]

4. yeah and EDS is outsourcer to india too .....

Dallas-based Electronic Data Systems Corp (EDS) is adding more jobs to its call centres in Chennai, Mumbai, Pune and Gurgaon.

“We already have 3,000 employees at the four centres in India,” EDS spokeswoman Liz Bonet told Mid Day. “By early 2006, we expect that number to reach 5,000.”

The company recently announced 21,000 job cuts via attrition at its United
States and Europe data centres that manage software applications for clients.

“We are closing some data centres for highly-leveraged centres,” said Bonet. EDS, ranked 87th on the Fortune 500 list, offers business and technology solutions to companies worldwide.


http://web.mid-day.com/news/business/2005/march/105244.htm

[MisterP]

5. he warned us about NAFTA's "giant sucking sound"

[guitar man]

6. yes he did warn us

and he was characterized as looney tunes for it. Well, he was certainly right about it after all.