Teach the children well
Jeff Kazmierski
Issue date: 7/13/10 Section: Opinion
What times we live in. We're experiencing the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression, we're fighting two wars in the Middle East, the Gulf of Mexico is being quickly turned into a toxic wasteland thanks to our insatiable need for oil and global climate change threatens the rest of the planet. Our federal government barely has the resources to deal with one of these crises; one by one, state budgets are on the verge of collapse.
You would think that with all the myriad crises we are facing, as a nation we would be bending every fiber of our will to ensure that the next generation has access to the tools, technology and knowledge it will need to overcome them. You would, sadly, be wrong.
Local and state governments are looking everywhere for whatever scraps of extra money they can scrounge and in some cases are making deep cuts in services in order to stay solvent. Unfortunately, many are looking at cutting the wrong programs. Higher education, in particular, is being cut in 41 states, and in 30 states K-12 support is being cut as well, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
This is a mistake. Any hope we have of recovering from the disaster they created rests in ensuring the next generation has the tools it needs to succeed. The only way to achieve that goal is through education.
There are many ways states can save money. We've become accustomed to hearing about state workers retiring after 20 years of "service" and receiving generous pension plans, often with full pay and benefits for life. These public servants are now raising a hue and cry about the prospect of having their pensions cut. Meanwhile, it takes a soldier, sailor, airman or marine 20 years of honorable service, in a job where he could actually be killed, before he earns the right to retire with a monthly pension of half his base pay. I ask you, who's made the real sacrifice? Who deserves the generous package?
In my hometown in New York, the local school district is in the process of laying off over 40 teachers and administrative positions, despite having been awarded 4.5 percent pay increases for the coming year. This is in a town where the unemployment rate is already above 10 percent, and most of those actually employed didn't get any pay raise. I ask you, where's the perspective?
State and local governments need to dig deeper and use more creativity to solve their budget problems. Balancing the budget on the backs of our children is not the answer. Cutting education spending now, when our children and our country needs it the most, is not only short-sighted, it is catastrophic. It will permanently limit our ability to compete in the global market. If we are to survive this economic and social crisis, we must do everything we can to make sure the next generation has the tools and skills it needs to succeed.
Anything less is simply unacceptable.
You would think that with all the myriad crises we are facing, as a nation we would be bending every fiber of our will to ensure that the next generation has access to the tools, technology and knowledge it will need to overcome them. You would, sadly, be wrong.
Local and state governments are looking everywhere for whatever scraps of extra money they can scrounge and in some cases are making deep cuts in services in order to stay solvent. Unfortunately, many are looking at cutting the wrong programs. Higher education, in particular, is being cut in 41 states, and in 30 states K-12 support is being cut as well, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
This is a mistake. Any hope we have of recovering from the disaster they created rests in ensuring the next generation has the tools it needs to succeed. The only way to achieve that goal is through education.
There are many ways states can save money. We've become accustomed to hearing about state workers retiring after 20 years of "service" and receiving generous pension plans, often with full pay and benefits for life. These public servants are now raising a hue and cry about the prospect of having their pensions cut. Meanwhile, it takes a soldier, sailor, airman or marine 20 years of honorable service, in a job where he could actually be killed, before he earns the right to retire with a monthly pension of half his base pay. I ask you, who's made the real sacrifice? Who deserves the generous package?
In my hometown in New York, the local school district is in the process of laying off over 40 teachers and administrative positions, despite having been awarded 4.5 percent pay increases for the coming year. This is in a town where the unemployment rate is already above 10 percent, and most of those actually employed didn't get any pay raise. I ask you, where's the perspective?
State and local governments need to dig deeper and use more creativity to solve their budget problems. Balancing the budget on the backs of our children is not the answer. Cutting education spending now, when our children and our country needs it the most, is not only short-sighted, it is catastrophic. It will permanently limit our ability to compete in the global market. If we are to survive this economic and social crisis, we must do everything we can to make sure the next generation has the tools and skills it needs to succeed.
Anything less is simply unacceptable.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Obvious
posted 7/15/10 @ 2:35 PM CST
Jeff,
I couldn't agree with you more. It is a shameful thing that our representatives (local and federal) must cut back on public education. But instead of stating what most already know and concur with, what would you recommend? Let it be known I would never sell short what our men and women in uniform do for us, but the military has very nice benefits both monetary and fringe that attrached people to serve; sign on bonus, tuition, travel, housing allowances in some cases. (Continued…)
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