Letters to the Editor (June 3)
School funding
As our Kansas legislators continue their responsibility to create a budget for next year I want to present an argument for the “more than adequate” funding for pre-K through university education. I will not demean any other initiative in quest for funding, instead I will submit a rationale for what I believe to be a compelling consideration for full and heretofore unprecedented support.
One way to view the budgeting process is to consider expenditures as an investment in Kansas’ future. While I don't pretend to be a financial guru, like all of our legislators I want the most 'bang for the buck.' My approach to assigning limited dollars is to thoroughly identify the alternative demands, i. e. infra-structure, health-related, safety, education.
Then the difficult part must be addressed: the predicting of consequences for the various investments. Legislators are drawn to assigning more or less of our tax dollars according to how confident they are about the short- and long-range improvement in Kansans' quest to become career-ready, thoughtfully knowledgeable, highly competent, proud and confident Kansas citizens.
Obviously, shortchanging the institution that assumes responsibility for assuring the necessary knowledge base for a productive and satisfying career and overall lifestyle will guarantee incomplete citizenship status.
Failing to adequately fund the established education process that is committed to its students acquiring the basic skills in decision-making, critical thinking, computations, electronic media mastery, and more within this skills domain is a sure path to a diminished citizen's greater profile.
Insufficient funding of education in Kansas will produce a population of persons apologetic and defensive about their status and far less likely to enjoy the life experiences they deserve. Young Kansans value and prize their growth and development in our schools as there is support that provides uncompromised curricula and instruction designed to meet the needs and demands of our state's diverse student population.
In my opinion there simply is no better long-range investment of our state's tax supplied funds as is pre-K through university education, producing fully realized citizens, proudly operating within Kansas and the world. This is my plea to our legislators as they think about the weighting of consequences for all funding alternatives. I urge others to submit their rationales for deserving funding, eyes on predicted, prized results to be experienced by the most of our citizenry.
John H. Wilson, Wichita
Climate change
The weather was absolutely perfect this Memorial Day weekend. Cool mornings, warm afternoons, no rain, couldn't have been better. For the first time in 20 years, I've heard nothing from the climate change conspiracy theorists about this being the hottest year on record. Even some of the outdoor pools are still closed. I can therefore only conclude that global warming has been solved. Thank you liberal Democrats, for sending money to Al Gore to purchase carbon credits. Your financial sacrifice has paid big dividends. Now please send him additional money so the weather will stay 75 degrees and sunny all year round.
Michael Mackay, Mulvane
Letters to the Editor
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This story was originally published June 3, 2017 at 5:02 AM with the headline "Letters to the Editor (June 3)."