Robert Hudson Jones' speech to STRS 12/08/05: Do Not Fear
Robert Hudson Jones
STRS Speech of 12/08/05
Do Not Fear
All of you in this audience as Americans are especially entrusted with the future of our country. Here in Ohio, whether you are an STRS employee, board member, active or retired teacher, or a media reporter, you need to support increased funding for public education all the way from preschool through college and beyond. Ladies and gentlemen, as an educator, I have visited 16 different countries, some more than once, and can speak with authority that the well being of our country sets with the value that we put on public tax supported education.
As part of teacher compensation, the STRS OH has traditionally led the nation in offering a quality retirement for educators. Ohio was once an economically leading state in our United States of America. This leadership can be restored if we are not afraid; not afraid of those who would run the public schools “on the cheap;” not afraid of those who disregard schooling; and not afraid of promoting education as a stimulus to the economy. It is the right thing to do.
And, yes, securing our STRS by the strong backing of the 2.5% employer, and the 2.5% employee, rate of contribution for HC/Rx, -- which would free up funds for a Compounded COLA, fully paid eye and dental care insurance, and other expenses at the STRS – is a start in the right direction. Additionally, there will be an increase in funds to attract the best qualified employees into our STRS family.
And, once again, the best of the college graduates will be most certainly attracted to education as a profession. Therefore, the consequential rise in an educated Ohioan will raise the economic level of the economy to become the envy of every other state in the union. And, without a doubt, the rest will surely follow us. An undereducated population of Ohio, and our nation, is not an option. For our national defense those in the private commercial sector must realize this, as well. We should not be afraid to educate them.
A gubernatorial candidate, Bryan Flannery, in his campaign speech mentioned: Ireland as having realized the value of education and their economy has quickly risen to be the number two economy in Europe. And, in Asia, will Japan, China, S. Korea and India trump our economy in the near future? China’s intelligence agents just acquired our most advanced weaponry secrets for ten years in advance of now. My friends of education, are we about to lose it? I can quote my fellow Korean War veterans in saying: Freedom is not Free.
As you can see, we have no choice but to be powerfully, aggressively without fear in moving forward in our quest for better employer funding.
Respectfully submitted by:
Robert Hudson Jones, A proud Concerned Ohio Retired Educator (CORE) Legal Committee, SummitCRTA Legislative CMTE Mem., Life Mem. Of ORTA, AEA, NEOEA-R, OEA/OFT, OEA-R, NEA and NEA-R
As part of teacher compensation, the STRS OH has traditionally led the nation in offering a quality retirement for educators. Ohio was once an economically leading state in our United States of America. This leadership can be restored if we are not afraid; not afraid of those who would run the public schools “on the cheap;” not afraid of those who disregard schooling; and not afraid of promoting education as a stimulus to the economy. It is the right thing to do.
And, yes, securing our STRS by the strong backing of the 2.5% employer, and the 2.5% employee, rate of contribution for HC/Rx, -- which would free up funds for a Compounded COLA, fully paid eye and dental care insurance, and other expenses at the STRS – is a start in the right direction. Additionally, there will be an increase in funds to attract the best qualified employees into our STRS family.
And, once again, the best of the college graduates will be most certainly attracted to education as a profession. Therefore, the consequential rise in an educated Ohioan will raise the economic level of the economy to become the envy of every other state in the union. And, without a doubt, the rest will surely follow us. An undereducated population of Ohio, and our nation, is not an option. For our national defense those in the private commercial sector must realize this, as well. We should not be afraid to educate them.
A gubernatorial candidate, Bryan Flannery, in his campaign speech mentioned: Ireland as having realized the value of education and their economy has quickly risen to be the number two economy in Europe. And, in Asia, will Japan, China, S. Korea and India trump our economy in the near future? China’s intelligence agents just acquired our most advanced weaponry secrets for ten years in advance of now. My friends of education, are we about to lose it? I can quote my fellow Korean War veterans in saying: Freedom is not Free.
As you can see, we have no choice but to be powerfully, aggressively without fear in moving forward in our quest for better employer funding.
Respectfully submitted by:
Robert Hudson Jones, A proud Concerned Ohio Retired Educator (CORE) Legal Committee, SummitCRTA Legislative CMTE Mem., Life Mem. Of ORTA, AEA, NEOEA-R, OEA/OFT, OEA-R, NEA and NEA-R
posted by Kathie Bracy at 8:17 PM
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