RH Jones: Cut education funding at your peril

From RH Jones, April 2, 2010
To Dave Speas and all:

Dave wrote to me and I thank him for agreeing with me in my message: The time for an employer increase contribution has arrived. But, he did offer some conservative viewpoints. He predicts: “However, the selling of this component to the public is going to have to be strong as many of Ohio’s school districts begin to tighten our belts and move toward Ohio’s minimum standards in course offerings.” Yes, Dave, my selling point is strong. It is this: If American and Ohio families do not get serious and cut back on their over consumption of goods, food, entertainment and energy resources, and sacrifice a much greater chunk of their wealth for education we shall be overcome by a competing foreign power.

We have no choice. Our survival depends on a highly educated population capable of defending itself in a very dangerous world. It is common knowledge that a growing number of citizens, and illegal immigrants, are more interested in short term consumption than desiring to prepare for self-improvement through sacrificing for an education. A “dumbed down” nation will be defeated in battle by a foreign country that has achieved superiority in production and wealth attained by families of citizens who know that sacrificing to provide for education is survival itself.

The huge, undisciplined underclass that America, and Ohio, has allowed to grow unimpeded cannot continue. This class is draining funds of our gross national product in support of addictions that take on several different forms, whether it is drugs, alcohol, sex, excessive foods, or any other “comforts” they value most. With this albatross around our necks, we will never be able to survive as a nation much longer.

As a nation and state, it is get mentally tough or die. Before I was in my late 40s, I had been in 12 foreign countries that included the now “kaput” Soviet Union. I spent 1½ years in Asia. One year in 1952-53 when S. Korea was an agricultural country. Through a strong investment in education, they are now, just 60 years later, a leading industrial nation – I LOVE that new 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS; it’s beautifully sleek, affordable, and very desirable. Uneducated, how can we compete with friendly countries or survive a war with those who are unfriendly, wealthy and educated, albeit educated in “far out” fascist or communist idealisms? Believe me, through survival of the fittest -- and I mean intellectually fittest -- America and Ohio will move forward. And, of course, physical fitness is part of education. Just go to any Wal-Mart and you will see that America certainly is unhealthily unfit. When coming back from the 7 times that I visited Japan, I was always shocked to see the slothful, unkempt manner of dress, lack of disciplined human courtesies to one another, and just disgusting behavior by our citizenry. Frankly, I was ashamed. The real shocker came when I was guiding a group of Japanese on a Washington DC subway. We were lucky to get off without out being robbed -- although, we were verbally abused by some of the ugly Americans aboard.

Good folks, we MUST educate. It’s the only way we’ll survive. If you are unwilling to give up some of our standard of living, and to put a high value on education for your families, God Save Us. For my fellow Christians, have an Easter filled with a new birth for education. For my Jewish friends, have a Passover that continues your admirable family value of education. All others, this springtime, invest more in education for all.

RHJones, retired Ohio educator

Good Friday 2010