Gov. Sam Brownback said in a newspaper column published last Fridaythat he wants policymakers and educators to work together for educational solutions that benefit students, their parents, and their teachers.
The governor noted that he has invited some unnamed leaders from the educational community to work in creating a new funding system for education. He said that it is important how and where funding is invested. Governor Brownback indicated that he wants a high-quality education for students and that it is time to develop a system that allows students to do well in a competitive world through an increased focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and to develop collaboration between educators and the business community.
Noticeably absent from what the governor said is anything about the importance of early childhood education, the study of the humanities and the social sciences, and the development of citizens and their responsibilities. Also, nothing was said about the study of the English language and having students develop thinking and writing skills, which any professor requiring any significant writing assignment knows are often lacking. Even some holders of the Ph.D. have trouble with the English language. Congressman Mike Pompeo has told me that he has difficulty finding staffers who can write well.
Francis Bacon, the English philosopher and author had it right when he said: “Reading maketh the full man, writing maketh the exact man, and speaking maketh the ready man.”