E.J. Erwin: Education should be among highest priorities
Compared to the rest of the world, research tells us that education in the U.S. is falling on its face. We all recognize we are falling behind in such important areas as engineering, math and science. We also know that the cost of a college education is ridiculous.
After WWII, soldiers could get a college education paid for by the government through the GI Bill. Men and women who took advantage of this opportunity were the backbone of the fantastic economic growth of America and our success as the world’s leading industrial nation. Upper-level education of the American people is as important to national security as our military. As such, education should be identified among the highest of government priorities. Since we need engineers, scientists and other specialists, we should pay for American students to go to college and get their degrees – the same as we did under the old G.I. Bill. We pay huge amounts of money to train our military and need to make that same financial commitment to American college students. Our national security and the continued success of the United States as a world leader depends on it.
E.J. Erwin, Ceres
Editor’s note: The current GI Bill offers up to 36 months of college tuition assistance to honorably discharged members of the military.
This story was originally published November 3, 2014 at 6:44 PM with the headline "E.J. Erwin: Education should be among highest priorities."