Money invested in children benefits not only them but the whole community, indeed the whole world.
Which is why Gov. Mike Leavitt's proposals to bolster education need to be supported at all levels -- in and out of the classroom. Unlike so many previous administrations, this one seems committed to finding the money Utah's schools need.In the aftermath of reports that reading skills at the elementary school level are down; that too few Utah students do well in mathematics; too few take challenging courses; and too few go to college or have teachers qualified in the areas they teach; a fresh look at Utah's educational system is absolutely necessary.
That look must not be limited. Such subjects as charter schools and how to rid the public school system of incompetent teachers must be addressed. Heretofore, officials have been reluctant to focus on those areas. That must change.
The governor is particularly concerned about the decline in reading scores. This is the second straight year they have fallen. He's right when he says, "The costs to society of a student not reading are just fundamentally unacceptable."
To derive the most benefit from school programs, as the governor correctly notes, requires parental involvement. Parents need to emphasize education in the home and do their part to prepare their children to learn.
In addition to the focus on reading, the governor unveiled four other education-related initiatives Monday during a sneak preview to what he termed an aggressive education budget. Leavitt wants to refocus on the core mission of education; increase the quality of the learning environment; increase the quality of teaching; and provide a fundamental literacy base in technology.
Exactly how to accomplish those goals is debatable. What isn't debatable is the need to carry them out.
Leavitt, obviously, isn't the only one to recognize the need for improvement in those areas. A report by the Education Trust, a Washington-based research group, that detailed the shortcomings of Utah's students in mathematics and other areas had similar recommendations. Utah's outgoing state superintendent of public instruction, Scott Bean, has voiced them, as well.
The approaches really aren't new. The emphasis being put on them by the governor and others is. We hope that renewed emphasis will lead not only to talk but action.
More details of the governor's education budget will be forthcoming in a few days. Additional funding is only part of the answer. Money needs to be combined with commitment and vision for the various proposals to be successful.
Officials, educators and parents need to work together to provide better learning opportunities for Utah's children.