It Takes A Village

The information reported in your recent articles as well as their tenor leaves one with the impression that local public education is decidedly unremarkable, perhaps below average, and also that the community is rather complacent about it. Both, we are not doing well and we don't care- have long-term dire consequences because the quality of education impacts the community and affects us all.

County planners, who are in the visionary business, could likely paint a glowing picture of a Highlands County that had education as a community priority. As the "Education County" we would eventually gain a more diversified economy and an even better life style. As it stands now, we are moving towards a service economy with most jobs in the retail, hospitality and medical fields. Those are typically low-paying jobs requiring minimal education which serve to change our landscape with the "affordable" housing and rental units those workers require. It is the only economy our education supports.

A recent Highlands Today editorial alluded to the economic ramifications of education quality. It mentioned that when contemplating company expansion and relocation, executives and managers assess the education available at proposed sites for their smart children. The International Baccalaureate program and online classes are just the tickets to attract them.

But firms consider other education-related issues as well, including the general level of education vis a vis job requirements and the dropout rate, which directly correlates to the amount of crime in an area. In a sense, their kids' educational opportunities make or break the business decision.

Companies in crowded, gridlocked Tampa and Orlando would have their tongues hanging out to put regional or even headquarter offices in this well situated, lovely area, bringing quality jobs that will keep our children here and enhance our lifestyle, if only we raised the education bar.

How do we get there, become the Education County? Is it money? Ideas? Involvement of businesses and service organizations? More volunteers from our brilliant senior citizen corps? More parents productively involved? It is all of those things.

John Dyce
Lorida