Letters

Need more education

What are our nation's most valuable assets? Our young people! A hundred years ago most states made the decision to require six more years of public education, 12 years in all. Had we not done this, I believe we might have lost World War II. We had the most educated military and work force in the world at the time. Now we are falling behind. It is past time to require all young people to complete 16 years of public education.

The human brain does not really mature until about age 25. The immature person is characterized by thoughtless, impulsive, and reckless behavior. All of us were immature before we grew up and became responsible citizens. Some never grow up. We all know people like that.

Now is the time to require 16 years of public education for all young people. We all need to understand what happened in the 20th century if we are to avoid the worst of it in the future. When I was young, the 20th century was usually covered in the last week of American History. We should teach the history of the 20th century in a separate course. Most of the important things happened in the 20th century. I realized that in law school.

The average young person should be able to get an advanced degree or complete trade school by age 25. Republicans say, "Where will you get the money?" We will get it the same way we won WWII and became the world's most advanced nation. We should re-impose the graduated income tax, which is necessary to keep capital invested here, not abroad. We have to do this if we want to leave our children the most advanced nation in the world. If we do not do this, our children will live in a Third World country of a few rich people and the rest, poor and wretched, with low-paying jobs and no way out.

RUUD DuVALL

Fayetteville

Priorities of district

A short piece in the paper, years ago, announced the fiscal troubles facing a small Arkansas school district. My memory fails as to the specific district, but I believe it was located in the Arkansas Delta. The superintendent of that district announced that to maintain the viability of the district he intended to curtail all extracurricular activities. He intended for the district to concentrate on its primary function, which was the education of its students.

The Little Rock School District now finds itself in financial difficulties with the need to make cutbacks. District leaders announced the intended reduction of 80 positions, almost all of which deal with curricular activities or support of curricular activities. There is a silver lining to this dark cloud, Superintendent Michael Poore told the advisory board. He said that if these academic reductions were sufficient, he may be able to adjust (raise) the coaches' stipends.

Wow, we really know what the priorities are in the Little Rock School District.

SCOTT D. STUBENRAUCH

Roland

Editorial on 04/30/2018

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