If the Republicans have their way education in America is in deep trouble. We can forget about the educational reforms needed to relieve high employment, close the science gap, and to provide equal educational opportunities. I am talking about basic education and simply keeping the buildings open, with someone in front of the classroom, and pencils in the supply room.
Governor Corbett has proposed a new state budget that slashes 1 billion dollars, mostly out of education and social services. Rick Santorum hit the morning talk shows after winning three primary contests. He proudly reminded listeners of his family value positions and that funding education is not the answer. The Santorum solution is to give education back to the parents and get fathers back in the home. Locally, Tea Party taxpayers attack fair assessments and mileage increases desperately needed to make up for some of the short fall from lower federal and state contributions.
Republicans want to “untax” our country back to the third world. The view that families with fathers can educate their young may be true in a simple village existence. In our complex society, where literacy is a must and specialization is a given, public dedication to education defines who we are as a people.
The parents of Asian immigrants make deep financial sacrifices to educate their children. Norway values its teachers as professionals and pays them on par with its physicians and lawyers. In many countries public education is a twelve month endeavor that receives the highest priority from public funds.
Republicans love to lambast the President and his party for degrading America’s standing in the world. In fact, their attack on funding education will do more to place us at the bottom of the industrialized world, than any other single factor.
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