Friday, June 27, 2008
Labor Voices
Jumpstart the economy by investing in schools
Education shouldn't be a marginal
issue in election
Iris Salters
Political candidates are overlooking a surefire
way to jumpstart the economy and create jobs this election year. I'm talking
about strong public schools. Education is the best way to fix the economy
and put more people to work -- and we all need to make sure candidates discuss
the issue during the campaign and act on it after they're elected. Despite
a lot of talk and media coverage of state and federal campaigns, you sadly
won't hear much about schools. There's a lot to compete with: Who'll end
the war in Iraq? Keep terrorism from America's heartland? Slow global warming?
Cut taxes? Keep gas prices from hitting $5 a gallon?
Schools are low on the priority list, save for some casual references in
stump speeches. We sat through 41 presidential debates this past year --
education wasn't mentioned in two-thirds of them. In a recent story about
political news coverage, the prestigious Columbia Journalism Review put
it this way: "To call education even a marginal issue in the rhetoric
of the campaign trail at this point would be severe overstatement."
That's sad.
Why?
Because an estimated 20,000 Michigan students will drop out of school this
year.
Because the economy increasingly relies on how much Americans know. Because
employers want trained workers and will move to communities and states that
have
them.
Can you name a single state or nation with a strong economy but a weak education
system?
From the state House to the White House, we need policymakers who understand
the
important link between effective schools and a vibrant economy.
Yet, when it comes to rebuilding the economy and growing more jobs, most
politicians pitch
Band-Aid solutions such as stimulus checks or tax breaks for wealthy corporations.
Instead,
investing in our public schools would yield far greater returns for both
our economy and our students.
What we need in America right now is a one-point plan of action to fix the
economy and
create more jobs: great public schools for all students.
Consider these points:
• Research shows investments in education
have a greater net impact on job growth, income
growth, income distribution and productivity than tax cuts and business
subsidies.
• Businesses are attracted to states
with skilled workers. When Google moved to Ann Arbor in
2006, company officials said they wanted to locate in a community with trained
workers.
• Ask any real estate agent about the
impact of effective schools on home sales. People want
to live where the good schools are.
We've heard a lot about change this year. Voters want it. Candidates promise
it. Change can
be good, especially when it comes from the ground up. If enough of us believe
schools are the proving grounds for workers and the foundation of a healthy
economy, then candidates will change the focus of this campaign and provide
solutions to strengthen public education for all students.
That's change we can all believe in.
Iris Salters is president of the Michigan
Education Association, a union that represents
teachers and education support staff. Mail letters to The Detroit News,
Editorial Page, 615 W.
Lafayette, Detroit, MI 48226, fax them to (313) 222-6417 or e-mail them
to
letters@detnews.com.
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http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080627/OPINION01/806270316
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© Copyright 2008 The Detroit News. All rights reserved.
6/30/2008
