A Call for School Reform? No, a Demand for School Reform!

Citizens of Utah have just witnessed a healthy, dynamic phenomenon. A coming together in powerful unity in proclaiming loud and clear a mandate to “Fix Our Schools.” Let their voices be heard by our elected representatives.
They do not want their trusted and empowered state officials to pass the buck in this most important and sacred trust to private commerce. No! Too long the state has neglected this awesome duty; looked the other way; passed by on the other side; given lip service and token attention only to this most valuable and dynamic responsibility of any democracy: the education and training of our precious youth, our children; our vitality, our future leaders.
For too long—much too long—Utah has limped along at or near the bottom of the 50 states when, if it were in keeping with our people’s philosophy, we should be in the lead. There have been some bright spots in the past. But where are the bright spots now?
For shame, our trusted duly elected representatives want to divert tax money from this Most Important Government Responsibility to subsidize private enterprise, so they can salve the combined consciences that they have done a good deed for Utah education, and need not concern their conscience longer about the poor condition of Utah public education.
With all the spin our trusted officials put on the voucher idea, it did not fool the people. It would not help most Utah families, but would indeed placate the rich families, thus abating and furthering class distinction among this people. What are our lawmakers thinking? Why are we “dumbing down” our schools; our citizens; our children? Our children are our jewels; they are our most precious possessions. We must not neglect, ignore, or set them aside, but we must bring them into the light. We must brighten them, polish them, make them shine forth in brilliance, entrust them to save, promote, and extend our freedom and democracy.
What is more valuable than these? Are roads, are programs, are buildings, are vehicles?
Things are not more important than people! Nothing is! Let us, as a people, get our priorities straight. Let us craft the strongest, smartest, most talented, most creative, greatest generation of children the earth has seen. Let us revive, rejuvenate, reform, and polish Utah Public Education, so that others will be hastening to Utah to see this miracle. We can do it! We only need to make up our minds and shoulder the task at hand. Make our schools (our precious children) our first and greatest priority. Other needed state responsibilities need not be neglected. They will surely fall in line, but must not take priority over this greatest of government responsibilities.
We the people have spoken loud and clear. Now, let us hold our elected state officials to the task of reforming (fixing) our degenerate Utah Public School system! Don’t let them off the hook! They have brought this into the open. Let us insist they perform their public school duty now!

Ernel Anderson
Orem, Utah