Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
 
USM Forum -- Message Board -> AAUP-USM MESSAGE BOARD -> Good Editorial in the HA
Post Info TOPIC: Good Editorial in the HA
Angeline

Date:
Good Editorial in the HA
Permalink Closed

Following up on Rachel Q's article yesterday:


Our culture must value education


 







EDITORIAL

Where do we go from here?

This is the question Mississippians should be asking themselves in response to the 15th annual Kids Count report, which was released Thursday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation of Washington, D.C.

Based on the national report, Mississippi improved in six of 10 categories used to determine the well being of children.

There were decreases in infant and child death rates, as well as the rate of teenage deaths by accident, homicide and suicide. Fewer 15- to 17-year-olds are getting pregnant. Fewer children are living in poverty.

The bad news? Mississippi ranked 50th overall in child well-being.

Where do we go from here?

One overriding issue begs for attention: Mississippi must develop a culture that truly values - and places a premium on - education.

As deputy state superintendent John Jordan accurately noted in reference to the report, there is a direct correlation between the state's 50th ranking in child well-being and insufficiences in adult education.

"Until we overcome this issue we have of poor education attainment by adults who are not trying to pick up the basics they missed as children, they will continue to suffer with income, and their children will suffer," said Jordan.

For too many Mississippians, education is not a high value.

Why? Our culture is failing to reinforce the lifelong benefits - in learning, economic prosperity and quality of life - that come with gaining a quality education.

And sadly, the younger generation appears to be taking its cues from the older generation.

The Kids Count report showed an 18 percent increase in the number of teenagers not attending school and not working. Moreover, 19 percent of Mississippi's 18- to 24-year-olds are not working or in school and don't have a degree beyond high school.

Education, alone, isn't going to solve all of the state's problems.

But we sure can't solve any of them without it.

Parents, teachers, coaches, local and state officials, community and business leaders - everyone in a position to influence our youth must actively champion the high value of education.

We need to expand higher-education opportunities for high school students by providing grants and scholarships that encourage students to pursue educational opportunities beyond high school.

Lawmakers need to adequately fund all levels of education: K-12 schools, community and junior colleges (which conduct the lion's share of work force training in our state), and four-year universities.

Education should be the first budget item lawmakers address each year when they convene at the state Capitol.

Most importantly, Mississippi needs to develop a culture that elevates the importance of education.

Less talk.

And a lot more action by all of us concerned about the well-being of our children and the future of our state.

Education

Mississippi must develop a culture that truly values education. As a culture, we're failing to reinforce the lifelong benefits - in learning, economic prosperity and quality of life - that come with obtaining a quality education.



__________________
anon2

Date:
Permalink Closed

Bad editorial! We cant spend our way to good education for everyone. Over 2/3 of the state budget goes to education, do we want 70%, or 75% before we will admit the legislature is already giving education first priority? As long as we have too many universities, jc's, and branches of every type, we will never have enough money to raise all of them to an acceptable status. The tax paying public has gone along with every education proposal in hopes that nirvana was near. Meanwhile college presidents are competing for students, building branches across the street from their competitors, and lobbying to lower out of state tuition. We have college golf courses, airplanes, and half the nations jc football teams. Until the spending is brought under control the problem is insumountable. Much less build a new college on the coast?


Lets also enact tort reform and lower taxes on business so we start attracting businesses again and collect more tax revenues. By ignoring the reasons for revenue problems and focusing only on the spending issue we are burying our heads in the sand.



__________________
truth4usm/AH

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: anon2
"Bad editorial! We cant spend our way to good education for everyone. Over 2/3 of the state budget goes to education, do we want 70%, or 75% before we will admit the legislature is already giving education first priority? As long as we have too many universities, jc's, and branches of every type, we will never have enough money to raise all of them to an acceptable status. The tax paying public has gone along with every education proposal in hopes that nirvana was near. Meanwhile college presidents are competing for students, building branches across the street from their competitors, and lobbying to lower out of state tuition. We have college golf courses, airplanes, and half the nations jc football teams. Until the spending is brought under control the problem is insumountable. Much less build a new college on the coast? Lets also enact tort reform and lower taxes on business so we start attracting businesses again and collect more tax revenues. By ignoring the reasons for revenue problems and focusing only on the spending issue we are burying our heads in the sand."

I hear your arguments about higher ed (don't agree with them all, but I hear you), but I don't think you can argue that K-12 education in MS is anything but woefully underfunded.  Public school teachers in MS have the lowest salaries of any in the nation.  Maybe some of those tax revenues you're talking about should be spent on decent salaries for K-12 educators (who have the most important job in the state, IMHO).  Education is the cure for so many social ills (unemployment rates, crime rates, etc.).  When will government officials really get this?


BTW, TN was ranked 43rd in that report, so I suppose I'm moving up in the world. 



__________________
Eagle in Cairo, Egypt

Date:
Permalink Closed

My husband and I moved AWAY from Mississippi because of the salary I was receiving at HPSD.  I made nearly $4000 more a year in North Carolina.  Schools all over are facing a teacher-shortage (especially in sciences and math) because graduates can make more money in the private sector.  That leaves the truly dedicated or completely insane (sometime the same thing) to teach in the schools.  The only way to get public K-12 properly staffed is to offer teachers an incentive of sorts. 


You also have to add in the K-12 mix the No Child Left Behind standards.  Many states have come up with something called alternative route certification.  This is to get qualitified people in the classroom who do not have the education courses.  These standards are adding pressure to an already underpaid profession. 


I believe in public eduation (at all levels).  I believe that every child can learn.  I also KNOW that throwing money at the problem is not the answer.  But if you want children to have a proper K-12 education, you have to have qualified, dediated teachers.  And the way to get these teachers, is to pay them what they are worth. 



__________________
Eagle in Cairo, Egypt

Date:
Permalink Closed

I'm sorry if I got on my soap box there.  This is a subject that is near and dear to my heart.

__________________
educator

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: Eagle in Cairo, Egypt
"I'm sorry if I got on my soap box there.  This is a subject that is near and dear to my heart."
I think what you've said is inspiring.  It's a subject near and dear to my heart as well.

__________________
Invictus

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: educator
"I think what you've said is inspiring.  It's a subject near and dear to my heart as well."


Same here. Eagle-in-Cairo may get on that particular soap box any time.



__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
USM Forum -- Message Board -> AAUP-USM MESSAGE BOARD -> Good Editorial in the HA
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard