Legislature should face education funding now

What sets America apart? Why have we become the greatest civilization in the history of the world?

Of all the reasons -- and there are many -- nothing ranks higher in importance than the guarantee, for all, of a free public education.

After leaving countries that favored the privileged few, America's founders had the common sense to realize that the benefits of education should be shared by all, no matter what their lot in life might be.

And, through the majority of these past 300-plus years, the passion for education has uplifted our society, providing guidance and inspiration for millions upon millions of young men and women.

Never has the belief in education burned more brightly than it did in the hearts of our grandparents and great-grandparents. They had struggled -- during the depressions of the 1890s and 1930s -- and they were determined that their sons and daughters open the doors to opportunity through education.

It worked, wondrously. The accomplishments of this generation are enormous, with stunning developments taking place at an unprecedented pace.

So? What's the point?

The point is this: All across this nation, including in Nebraska and Kansas, citizens' passion for education is diminishing.

Somehow, within the span of the past 30 years, cost has become a more important consideration than educating young people.

Nebraska is a good example of this. For the past five years, we have known that education in this state is nearing a crisis level. School bond issues repeatedly plunge to defeat ... teacher's salaries lag far below the national average ... excellent teachers are being encouraged to retire before they should ... and, for those reasons, many school districts are finding it difficult to fill teacher's vacancies.

Action is needed. It's too late during this year's legislative session. Because of political posturing, with promises of "no new taxes" from the governor and legislative leaders, funding for education has again taken a back seat to a glut of other issues.

But, beginning now, we must return educational support to the top of our list of priorities, both locally and statewide. State Sen. Tom Baker of Trenton, who represents the 44th District in the Nebraska Legislature, told members of the McCook Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee last week that he expects senators to face up to the education funding crisis in 2003.

Let's hope he is right. We must return education to its rightful place of respect and support. We must start now. If we don't, we will be severely penalizing our most precious resource: the young people of Nebraska.