Prioritize higher education
To the editor:
As one of 4 million others who obtained four years of college under the G.I. Bill, I saw the growth and expansion of our middle class in post World War II. Today, higher education is more important,, than ever in our global economy.
We lament our loss of factory jobs, but fail to recognize that factory jobs will never return to past numbers. Technology improvement is eliminating factory employment everywhere, even in China where labor costs are low. Fifteen years ago it took Boeing in Seattle more than three weeks to build a 737 jet airliner. Today it takes only 12 days thanks to better technology.
Higher education is critical to America’s future. Regrettably, however, nationwide we are not only not expanding our college enrollments, but are substantially increasing its cost. It is now most disappointing to hear some members in Congress complain of one aspect of recent legislation that would increase student loans for higher education. Our focus and priority today must be on education. I well remember the late Sam Card, a M.I.T. graduate,. telling me that in pre World War II and for a short period thereafter America led the world in scientific patents, but that was no longer true today. We cannot afford to go backwards on education in America. It is difficult to understand the reasoning of some members of Congress who are criticizing the new increased students loan plan for higher education. In the long run, more college graduates will cost society less because individuals with a college education are better suited to look after themselves rather than asking government to subsidize them. Higher education will promote higher productivity which is essential for us to compete in a growing global economy.
Arnold E. Kempe
Cape Coral