Page 6
December 2, 2015
New Prices
Effective
May 1, 2014
O PINION
Martin 50 Years of Making College Achievable
Building future
Cleaning opportunities
Service and success
m arC h. m orial
There is good news
coming from the halls
and classrooms of our
nation’s high schools.
High school grad-
uation rates are on the
rise, which means the
dropout rate has fallen and contin-
ues to fall. For the first time since
states began uniformly calculat-
ing graduation rates in 2008, the
nation’s overall graduation rate
reached a high of 81 percent for the
2012-2013 school year.
While deep achievement gaps
remain the norm, preliminary data
from the Department of Education
for the 2013-2014 school year also
reveals a narrowing of the gradu-
ation gap between white students
and students from low-income
families, students of color, students
with disabilities and English lan-
guage learners.
As we usher greater numbers
of high school graduates into the
workforce, are we prepared to en-
sure that—for those who want it,
but cannot afford it—their journey
in education does not end on a high
school graduation stage?
Today’s technology-fueled, fast-
paced, global economy was not
our nation’s reality when Presi-
dent Lyndon B. Johnson signed the
Higher Education Act of 1965 into
by
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UPHOLSTERY
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law half a century ago, but even
then, Johnson had the foresight to
recognize the value of a post-sec-
ondary education, understanding
that our nation would ultimately,
“reap the rewards of their wiser
citizenship and their greater
productivity for decades to
come.”
In its 50 years of existence,
the Higher Education Act has
offered financial aid, grants,
federally guaranteed loans
and work opportunities to
Act was a powerful cornerstone in
the president’s “War on Poverty”
initiative.
He understood, as we under-
stand, that education continues to
play an integral role in future op-
portunities and success. Our recog-
nition of Johnson’s foresight must
move beyond appreciation and
accolades. We must, and can, con-
tinue to build on the success of the
Higher Education Act.
This current generation has both
the opportunity and the obligation
quality education.
Education has always proven
to be a wise investment—and an
economic imperative. Better edu-
cated citizens and a highly skilled
workforce will always strengthen
our country and our economy and
our global economic standing. We
know that today there are fewer
and fewer viable career options for
individuals who only have a high
school diploma. To deny our rising
numbers of high school graduates
the opportunity to climb the ladder
Like its legislative companion, the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965—created
to close the education achievement gap between
lower- and higher-income children in our nation’s
public schools—the Higher Education Act was a
powerful cornerstone in the president’s “War on
Poverty” initiative.
millions of high school graduates.
It has opened the once closed doors
to higher education to low-income
families, making college afford-
able for millions of families who
could not afford the necessity.
Like its legislative companion,
the Elementary and Secondary Ed-
ucation Act of 1965—created to
close the education achievement
gap between lower- and higher-in-
come children in our nation’s pub-
lic schools—the Higher Education
to be the architect of the next great
advance in higher education. We
must ensure that colleges are held
accountable for skyrocketing tui-
tion hikes. Any reauthorization of
the act must address the growing
problem of students saddled with
outsized student loan debt after
graduation. Funding for Pell grants
should not be compromised and
there are still improvements to the
student loan process that need to be
made to ensure access to affordable
of success because of financial dis-
advantage is unfortunate, unneces-
sary and unwise. When we ensure
equal opportunity to education—
regardless of your background—
we ensure a stronger America com-
mitted to growing its middle-class,
and we remain committed to the
heart and purpose of the Higher
Education Act.
Marc H. Morial is president
and chief executive officer of the
National Urban League.
Poverty a Constant, Heart-Breaking Burden
Shaking my
head in tears
v ivian m. l uCas
Each year, during
this season, I find
myself shaking my
head in wonderment
as holiday advertise-
ments flood the air-
waves.
Messages about the newest tech
gadgets, top-selling toys, smart
TVs, fine jewelry, two-for-one
holiday meal deals, and countless
other alluring tokens, trinkets, and
enticements compete for attention
and dollars daily.
I think, “Am I missing some-
thing? Is there a super holiday elf
flitting about with a magic wand
granting infinite shopping dollars
for the pockets, purses, and bank
accounts of everyone in the U.S.
except me?” Then I think, “What
about those who are barely mak-
by
ing ends meet already? What
about persons living in poverty?”
Poverty is a constant struggle
and heart-breaking burden for
individuals, families and
communities in our coun-
try and around the world.
In 2014, 14.8 percent of
people in the United States
lived in poverty — a whop-
ping 46.7 million people!
The 2014 poverty rate for chil-
dren under age 18 was 21.1 per-
cent.
I am blessed to have a job. But
in the community where I live
and work, the poverty rate is 25
percent, and child poverty is over
45 percent. In this North Carolina
county, unemployment still hov-
ers in the double digits.
Those who have jobs are grate-
ful, but there are still many who
are working for the minimum
wage of $7.25 per hour. I image
these, my sisters and brothers,
shaking their heads as they try
to stretch their dollars to provide
for their families. For no matter
where they shop, what business-
es they support, or services they
patronize, it costs more than they
have to pay.
I see the hurt poverty inflicts.
Poverty affects where people
live, the quality of their educa-
tion, access to healthy food and
medical care, the quality of their
environment –– even longevity
of life. In distressed communi-
ties, housing is scarce and sub-
standard; schools have limited
basic supplies; fresh foods are
unavailable; medical attention
is distant; and chronic disease is
overwhelming. The whole com-
munity hurts because of poverty.
Just recently, I heard about a
veteran who took his own life af-
ter struggling for years to find a
job, care for his needs, provide for
his family, and get medical help.
He suffered from post-traumatic
stress, but his plight was made
worse because the poverty-strick-
en community he returned to
could not offer economic oppor-
tunities for work, for adequate
pay, for a living wage, or for
needed services. I am grateful for
his service and I thank God for
him. But my gratitude will not
make a difference.
The problem of poverty is
complex. There are no easy solu-
tions. But in one of the wealthiest
countries in the world, there is
much that can be done to ensure
that opportunities are available to
those who want to work. There
is more that can be done to make
sure people have jobs and earn a
fair and living wage. This season,
I renew my commitment to work
with the women, men and chil-
dren in my community to fight for
economic justice, more jobs, fair
pay, and a better quality of life.
Vivian M. Lucas is director
at the United Church of Christ’s
Franklinton Center at Bricks.