This is not about self interest (even though I am a high school teacher). This is not about accusations (sort of), political affiliations (I have no interest in the concept), or what some would surmise as a “rant.”
No, this is about the citizens who currently reside in the most gorgeous of all the 50 states and the ridiculous cuts to education currently being debated in our capital. I will not be suggesting any tax increases, Wisconsin-style battles, or any Egyptian inspired revolutions. I refuse to debate student test scores, teacher accountability, the viability of unions, or graduation rates; another place, another time. What I wish to offer is simply this: It is time we change the culture of how we value education.
Somewhere along the line, perhaps going back to a time when TV became popular in households, we experienced a quiet, yet radical shift in our culture: We would rather be entertained than educated.
This sobering realization does not take a lot of imagination; take a look at what happened here on Sunday. A man who was so passionate about what he believed to be the right thing to do managed to organize 40 like minded people and offer their support for a cause they deemed worthy enough to speak out on.
What was this cause? Gay marriage? Abortion rights? Immigration issues? Nope. It was a rally in support of resigning Champ Bailey. Never mind deficit woes or even worse, disproportionate cuts to our education fund; Champ proved to be the crucial activist issue of the day.
If you think I am being extreme, consider this: When was the last time we televised the Rhodes Scholar Awards? The National Honor Society? The last time 70,000 fans and millions of TV viewers cheered on our Valedictorians? I suppose we could have made that happen, but the Oscars, the NCAA basketball tourney, Man vs. Food, the Super Bowl TV ads and repeats of Jersey Shorepretty much took all of the air time. I could cite other grotesque examples of how we have lost our focus, but quite frankly, I’d rather ask you to sit and just think about this: Who are we?
As a teacher, may I challenge you with a quick pop quiz? It won’t take long and you can go right back to texting, tweeting, Netflixing, Ipoding, or fantasy football-a-lizing (it’s a word, Google it).
Here is the first question: Name one other profession more important, more critical to any free nation’s success and future than education. Go ahead, take your time. I am willing to bet my huge teacher salary that 90 percent of you just failed that quiz. Oh, you have an answer?
Well, then, here is the final question: How did they learn those professions? Come on, think it through. Carry the 4. Change the verb tense. Give up? That’s right, they were taught. Please put your names on your papers and hand them into Governor Hickenlooper’s office pronto. I’ll give you extra credit for putting a smiley face and a LOL at the top.
I am a New York transplant and have always thought of the people of this state to be ones that are hard working, easy going, and very willing to help out others in need; a tight and caring community if you will. But how can I not reassess this thought after witnessing our governor offer extremely disproportionate tax cuts to our future and no one seems to have batted an eye?
As many issues as we have within our educational system, is less money going to improve the situation? What are we really demonstrating by even considering this? That we are willing to trade educational standards, quality, and some of the finest professionals this great country has to offer in the name of a budget that will still be very much in the red even if the cuts go through? This is outrageous, irrational thinking and it only further demonstrates that not only have our values shifted from education to entertainment, but from long term investments to short term returns.
In order for education to really be effective, we must change our cultural view and value point when it comes to how we perceive education. It is the responsibility of every citizen to ensure we have an educated society. But when we run into budget woes and the first thing we want to slash is education, doesn’t that reveal where we stand? Is that stand a position you are really comfortable with as a citizen? As a parent? What example does this set for students? Governing is a really simple concept; it is decision making.
Governor Hickenlooper, I urge you to just use a little creativity, some critical thinking, a little imagination and some compromising; you know, the things you were taught when you were in school to get this problem solved.
More importantly, let’s show other states that Colorado does value education and that we have the capacity to support not only our athletes and entertainers, but our educators and students as well. Enough with the lip service. It is time to literally put our money where our mouth is was used to be.
I am confident we can meet fiscal responsibility without sacrificing our civic duty to educate. After all, which culture would you rather be a part of? One that entertains or one that educates? Never mind, forget I asked. I’d rather just update my Facebook status right now instead of talking about this any further
Tom Prest lives in Arvada. EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an online-only column and has not been edited.
