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February 1, 2013

BLOG: Battle for education still raging

James Bright The Express-Star

CHICKASHA — A week ago I wrote a blog expressing my disdain for House Bill 1895 - the one that would have monetarily executed the Oklahoma Arts Council.

Today we printed a story stating that the bill is dead. With that in mind I considered turning this blog into a victory lap, but I've been told gloating isn't overly mature and I really didn't do anything worthy of celebration in this regard.

So, instead, I think I'll take a moment to say congratulations to the Oklahoma Arts Council while also reminding them and our readers that this issue is far from dead.

State governments across the nation all seem to have this idea that the best way to solve any deficit problem is to cut from education.

Whether it's the destruction of arts in public schools,  or scholarship money, we as a society have slowly bled education over the last decade.

An informed and well rounded populous is critical to any country's success, including ours. Cutting teacher's salaries and reducing the number faculty at state schools won't combat our economic problems. We've gone this road long enough.

Educational supremacy should be our paramount concern, and yet, it seems to be what we attack first.

Why do we allow our elected officials, Republican and Democratic alike, to devalue the importance of education?

I don't get it, but I know if we continue to sacrifice education on the alter of political salvation our future is sure to look awfully bleak.

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