Government Should Better Fund Education
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People are facing hard financial time all over the nation. Local governments almost everywhere are experiencing massive budget cuts. Unfortunately, while endless useless government positions remain intact (and even receive salary increases) it seems like two areas of public service that get the brunt of the cuts no matter where you live are the libraries and the public schools.
Locally, our teachers will face a salary DECRESE of four percent this next school year. Jobs have been eliminated for many staff and faculty. Of course, we will still continue to provide a free education to all of the non tax paying illegals storming our cities, but that is only an aside in this particular rant. Also, our local library system has been totally revamped, has fewer open hours, a newly smaller staff, and a future that will see entire branches closing permanently.
Some school districts out in Minnesota might be looking at even more extreme changes. Various districts have proposed a four-day school week in order to save on transportation costs. Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura suggested a 20% pay cut for teachers!!
The United States struggled with staying in step with other world nations in the area of public education, and yet teachers are still underpaid and undervalued. Our public libraries are seen by politicians as unnecessary. At the same time I see stories in the local paper about government offices that plan completely unneeded remodeling projects for their offices, complete with expensive designer furniture and high end art.
The balance is not being properly maintained. I promise you, until schools are well funded and teachers are paid on par with other highly trained professionals,. Out school system will continue to falter. We cannot continue to treat schools and libraries as a financial afterthought and expect them to succeed.
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