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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 2015)
HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. Education continued from page 11 is the goal of true education.” We must develop and support young people who are educated in the King tradition – young people with character and discernment. We cannot do this work without a consciousness of people who are committed to breaking down edu- cational barriers, closing the achievement gap, improving the quality of schools and access to education. But while other coun- tries are increasing their commitment to education, the United States is cutting back. Said King, “The most dangerous criminal may be the man (person) gifted with reason, but no morals.” How moral is it to consign mil- lions to low wages, refusing, even, to increase the minimum wage. How moral is it to cut food stamps and jobs programs in the name of and access to housing should not be bargained over, but automati- cally given. Too many of our legislators are educated, but lack The American School Coun- selors says that many states mandate a ratio of between 500 and 750 students per counselor. While other countries are increasing their commitment to education, the United States is cutting back economic growth, although many are still suffering? The art and sci- ence of politics is about compromise, but how do we com- promise with people’s lives and well-being? There ought to be a floor under which no citizen is allowed to fall. Wages, health career, education, morals. Budget cuts have made educa- tion less obtainable than ever. While many parents hire coaches to help their children write essays and complete their college appli- cations, working class parents don’t have the money to do this kind of hiring. Even at the lower number, a coun- selor can spend just an hour per student per semester, hardly enough to get advice about college attendance, the filling out of appli- cations, and other matters. Some states have no mandate at all. They include (but are not limited to) Florida, Illinois, Kansas, and Ken- tucky. Unless parents or civic organizations are willing to step up, some students face major bar- riers to college attendance and career preparation. President Obama says he wants the US to be a leader in world edu- cation. Others could care less about the education of too many students. Those who fail to care about the next generation are, in Dr. King’s words, “dangerous criminals.” Let’s celebrate the King holiday with a commitment to close the achievement gap and to improve the quality of education in our nation. CELEBRATE AMERICA’S GREATEST CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER 29TH ANNUAL Martin Luther KING, JR. BREAKFAST Keynote speaker: Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., is the current CEO & President of the National Newspaper Publishers Association and reknown civil rights leader. While a freshman at college he served on the advance team for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As one of the Wilmington Ten, Chavis spent nearly a decade in prison before his sentence was overturned in 1980. Tickets available: MLKBreakfast@theskanner.com Monday January 19 , 2015 8:30-10:30 a.m. Oregon Convention Center 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Portland, OR 97232 sponsors: January 14, 2015 The Portland and Seattle Skanner Page 21
