The House just passed a bill that would give $6.4 billion to rebuilding–and greening–schools. This investment in America’s future has some controversy attached, though. Much like any investment, the return needs to be factored in. Will this bill actually work as part of an economic stimulus, or will it be something more on the order of frivolous spending?

Greener Schools and Energy Savings
In the short-term, it’s pretty clear that these initial investments in our educational infrastructure will save money on heating and cooling. While this money saved may be in essence canceled out by the cost, the savings are going to the schools, not back to the taxpayers.

Schools are, in general, large buildings that are costly to heat and cool. This money comes out of school budgets, and in older schools with outdated heating and cooling systems, this comes out to be a lot of money. Updating these schools will not only make for a better learning environment, but it will let schools use the alotted moneys in a more productive, more educational fashion.

Rep. Ben Chandler (D., Ky.), sponsor of the legislation, had this to say about the bill: “It will give much needed money to our schools struggling with huge budget deficits and deteriorating facilities while encouraging energy efficiency and creating jobs for Americans that cannot be shipped overseas.”

What About the Children?
Students learn better in a comfortable environment. Just think of those hot, summer days in the classroom as you struggled to hold on to a sweat-covered pencil. It’s bad enough to deal with test anxiety by itself; add sweltering heat to the mix and it’s no wonder students can’t concentrate.

These improvements proposed in the bill will help America get back on the right track to having the best educated citizens on the planet. It may be a chunk of change, but in today’s bailed-out economy, $6.4 billion is just a drop in the bucket. Isn’t it about time that our educational system see some of this money?