A cartoon that isn't funny

[Martin Eden]

51. I'm not suggesting we spend another $10 billion on education.

I'm suggesting we spend one hundred times that amount.

The things you mention are real problems and the task before us is immense -- but not insurmountable.

Of course we have to do more than throw money at the problem; we have to make quality education of our young citizens from preschool through college our highest societal value and national priority.

Despite the current problems, there are nevertheless many dedicated teachers who strive and occasionally succeed in making a difference in the lives of their students. Sometimes all it takes is consistent mentoring or one spark or the opening of a door for a developing mind to take one small step (read: giant leap) beyond the circumstances of their home, their peers, their poverty.

We have to make the teaching profession an honored, better compensenated, and attractive career for the best among us -- and demand the best from those in whom our future is entrusted.

The effort to improve the lives of human beings at a young age is more possible and less costly than trying to turn lives around after a failed education. The worst failure of all would be to give up without making the greatest possible sustained effort. We would be resigning ourselves and our country to a downward spiral that ultimately takes us all down.