Many people in the United States no longer want to celebrate Thanksgiving because they believe that we have lied about our history with Native Americans and exaggerated what they might have done to us while denying what we did to them. I would like to see the celebration of Thanksgiving be an opportunity to make fundamental change in that history.

The department of Education is a subcontracting with scam organizations like "Great Lakes" to collect on standard student loans obtained from major Universities. Great Lakes cheats people regularly with the absurdly high interest rates and refusal or finding reasons to not refinance or consolidate the loans. Great Lakes is a subcontractor of the Government entity but there is no oversite to their practices and cheating student or parents who obtained loans in good faith that these loans would follow traditional student loan terms. Great lakes subcontractor has made these loans like the illegal "payday loans" making it a horrible thing to have one. My daughter is a nurse and she deserved to finish the 4 year technical programs with honors. Student loans exist are so we can have our best and brightest students work into society and not to be a source of fodder for the corrupt subcontractors who service these loans and see this as a windfall for greedy CEOs who run them. They get away with bad practices and there is NO Government over site of these bad contractors. The department of Education has a responsibility to function to encourage educating our best and brightest not to make ties with those parasite contractors who see this as a windfall and the victims have no recourse.

Due to Hurricane Sandy and the devastation that our community and district have sustained, we feel that NY State Assessment tests should be waived for the 2012/2013 school year. Two of our three schools have sustained tremendous damage, and all of our 7-12 graders are currently displaced and attending buildings in other districts. Our K-6 grade buildings are currently combined, housing 45-50 plus students per classroom. In addition, half of our students have lost their homes and their belongings and are currently living with relatives and friends as they try to recover from the effects of this storm. Due to the current set of extenuating circumstances and the weeks of valuable instructional time that was lost, we feel that administering state assessment test this year would not provide NY with an accurate assessment of either our teachers or students and that test preparation would further take away from the instructional time this district has already lost.

Due to becoming disabled I cannot afford to repay my childs student loan My hardship has affected my life as I am on disability with no extra means to repay this debt.At the time she was in college I was employed.I applied for hardship application and was ignored and the loan went into default.Collection calls and mail never stop.I always paid my families way now I feel useless to handle this debt.Please , make Hardship Applications for student loan debt a possibility for people who are truly disabled due to circumstance out of their/my control.

My son earns 1200.00 net per month and pays back 950.00 per month in student loan debt. I am retired and must help him. Forgive all debts and make college free for all who academically qualify; it would help the country and economy.

Multiple research studies have shown that New York State ranks as one of the very worst of the 50 states in funding fairness. The poorest school districts, both rural and urban, cannot meet the basic educational needs of their students. At the same time, schools in more affluent areas offer extensive programs.

Pass the Oil Extraction Tax

Upper education is bankrupting parents and students. It's time to make this part of education system in Alabama. Other states are doing this And keeping their best and brightest at home after graduation. This will benefit the state on so many levels. Lets do it!!!

Student loan debt is out of control. Individuals are unable to pay back the government for a variety of reasons. One way to help both students and the government is to cap the interest rate at low and reasonable percent.

FAFSA helps many students and some who honestly dont deserve it. In order to tell you what needs to be changed I must tell you my story. I am 22 years old and have been turned down numerous times because I can not provide my parents information. I left my house when I was seventeen because my mother was extremely abusive and have not spoken to her since. I grew up without a father, not even knowing his name. When I file for FAFSA they say I must provide my parents information and the only way that can be bypassed is if I am legally emancipated by court or married because that automatically makes me an adult. I have lived and provided for myself since I was 14 and I do not need a court to tell me what I already know. I know of many students whose parents lie on their FAFSA applications and get money that their parents can afford to pay. It's not fair that those who really need the help get turned down and all that is said is " I am sorry, many kids come in with this case but there is nothing I can do!" Please help me and other kids that can not get an education because the rules do not favor each and every realistic circumstance possible.

The people of 77 the 83 counties in Michigan voted successfully to repeal Michigan’s Emergency Manager Law. Governor Rick Snyder and the extremist-controlled Michigan legislature are now attempting to circumvent the will of the people by passing new legislation that is every bit as unconstitutional, anti-democratic, and vile as the law the people have just rejected. The proposed bill, HB 6004 “Educational Achievement Authority," violates our State Constitution and will substitute unelected bureaucrats with dictatorial powers for local, duly elected representatives of the people. Tell Governor Snyder and the Michigan Legislature to vote no on any legislation that attempts to circumvent the will of citizens who voted to repeal PA 4, the Emergency Manager Law.

Our educated men and women are buried in debt by student loans. We should encourage education and not punish it. Our communities will benefit if money and services go back into our communities and not just to the banks.