To the editor:

Jim Morris’ March 1 letter is another example of baseless ranting that attempts to divide our community on the important issue of education, while exaggerating state taxes and thinly veiling his distaste for taxes in the interest of the state economy.

Mr. Morris asks to see a comparison of costs for education from other states — apparently leaving the research to someone else. Well, it took an hour, but I found a significant relationship between expenditures per pupil and reading and math performance (www.nces.ed.gov). In other words, schools that spend more per student tend to do better. I’m not suggesting that throwing money at a problem will automatically make it better. However, I am saying that my research supports the saying: You get what you pay for.

Mr. Morris’ suggestion that high taxes (presumably due to education) are the reason industry is not attracted to Kansas is oversimplified and exaggerated. Taxes are not the sole reason that determines where a business locates. Furthermore, technology appears to be the base of a successful future economy as more manufacturing jobs head overseas. If you want to bring jobs to Kansas, then supporting the education of our work force, especially in math and science, will reap economic benefits. In response to your assertion that we are overtaxed, Kansas is 25th among states (www.taxfoundation.org/staterankings.html).

If you still think we are overtaxed, you could always move to another state with lower taxes. However, I suggest you research their “quality of life” issues, including education, before you make your move.

Todd Aschenbach,

Lawrence