LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Column hits mark on educational failings
8/17/2014I strongly agree with the analysis and conclusions that Blade Editor David Kushma made in his Aug. 10 column, “Higher education — and voters — vs. Ohio politicians.”
Ohio is seriously falling behind other states in its support of higher education. This lack of support will become apparent when the state is unable to attract business investors who own innovative companies, or to recruit talented people to work and live here.
On a local and state level, an investment in education, particularly higher education, is crucial. The relationship between higher education and economic development has been well documented.
Failure to make investments in our public universities should be viewed as a flagrant disregard of public will. It weakens Ohio’s economic development strategies, and forces tens of thousands of our young people into student-loan debt for decades to come.
Money used to repay student loans is not being spent on housing, cars, and entertainment. These are dollars that could be used to bolster the state’s broader economy.
DAN JOHNSON
President Emeritus
University of Toledo
Bowling Green