Gunner Myrdal once said, “Education has in America’s whole historybeen the major hope for improving the individual and society.”
Iinquire because it is right for man to inquire. I feel my right toinquire is being threatened by the state of education in America. Ifeel as though our leaders have forgotten that the true wealth ofAmerica lies not in our materialism, religion or massive military,but in our people.
Many of us have a supreme confidence in our education system,especially higher education. Recently however, educational directorssuch as Scott Lay, the director of state budget issues for theCalifornia community college group, conceded the state universitysystem is not sure what to expect from these new budget cuts. Sadly,he does expect this: “These budget cuts and tuition hikes will changewho can attend, but not necessarily the number of people attendingour university systems.” While attendance may remain constant, thosewho are already disenfranchised will have the principle door toadvancement slammed in their face.
Not only is the education of Americans being threatened by thesetuition hikes, another blow to diversity is being delivered at thehands of this increase. The easiest way to create a path to a morediverse education is to remove the financial barriers that blockaccess to education. While recent Supreme Court rulings have allowedfor race to be a factor in academic admittance, it is not the soleroute or solution to the lack of diversity in American highereducation. Throughout the CSU system, students will pay an averageincrease of $474 each year. For many, this may be a completeimpediment to their ability to attain higher education. For others,it may mean larger classrooms and more years spent in acquiring theireducation.
Students in financial need will see the increase picked up byfinancial aid, so say the officials. However, the blow is expected tofall the hardest on those who work to support themselves and whosefamilies are middle-class. About 80 percent of CSU students workwhile attending classes, with more than one-third working full time,according to CSU statistics. Two in five students also havedependents to support. These students are the ones expected to bemost affected by a lack of funding for financial aid. It’s hard tofind an avenue for advancement while being denied your education andattempting to support a family.
The reality of the situation is that this increase is equivalentto at least one month’s pay for working students. This, while oureconomy is experiencing a jobless “recovery,” is making it evenharder for students to find work, especially work with manageablehours. Things are tough everywhere.
While the state budget needs to be balanced, the backs of studentsare far too important a surface for the cuts being imposed. We arenot facing a new financial situation – America has been a globalpower for decades and our market is still expanding. And with theever-growing number of graduates – currently at a record high – forour job market, we are not facing a scarcity of education. We are,however, delivering a massive blow to our most important resource.No, not oil, but information, ideas, education and in essence,thought. Conceivably it may be this new obstruction to thought thatspurs new thought, new growth and most importantly, greaterunderstanding.
Perhaps this new obstruction to thought will spur the Americanpeople to take a greater role in politics in an effort to bettertheir own situation. Education is the cornerstone of democracy -without it, our electorate is stripped of its effectiveness. Withoutit, the wealth of our nation, our people, will not be able to achievetheir full potential. Perhaps life, liberty and the pursuit ofhappiness are reserved for those with the affluence to achieve it.
Perhaps it is time for us to learn from Mark Twain, who never lethis schooling interfere with his education.
– Bill Luecke is a history junior and a senior staff writer forThe Daily Aztec.
– This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of TheDaily Aztec. Send e-mail toletters@thedailyaztec.com. Anonymous letters will not be printed- include your full name, major and year in school.
