bigoted govt educational spending directed at students, not institutions

How many things are wrong with the content of this well-written article by the AP's Justin Pope in the C-J...

Leaders of historically black colleges say they'll fight a reduction in a federal program they call a financial lifeline at a time of economic distress for the schools and their students.

President Barack Obama's education budget, unveiled Thursday, included major spending increases in many areas - but didn't include an extra $85 million that black institutions have received annually for the past two years thanks to a 2007 change to the student loan laws....

A program supporting Native American tribal colleges would also see decreased funding, while one for institutions serving large numbers of Hispanic students would see an increase from $93 million to $98 million.

Education Department officials emphasized that all such institutions stand to gain from other parts of the budget, notably the proposed increase in the maximum Pell Grant for low-income students by $200 - to $5,550.

Still, the move could suggest that even as the administration pushes big education spending increases focused on low-income and minority students, direct support for institutions isn't the most favored method....

"The administration is definitely committed to strengthening HBCUs and other colleges and universities that serve minority populations," said Carmel Martin, assistant secretary of education, on a press conference call Thursday. "And one of the best ways we can do that is by supporting our students."...

1.) The spending is determined racially.

2.) It's given out differently to different racial groups.

3.) It's directed at students instead of institutions-- as if it's philosophical. But on elementary and secondary education spending, it's deemed offensive to give monies to students instead of institutions.

4.) Spending for a local/state function is being controlled at the federal level.

5.) The Education Dept. doesn't understand-- or is pretending not to understand-- the impact of inflation on real spending. (A $200 increase is less than a 4% increase.)