To the editor:

If we listen to or watch the recent news, we are fully aware of the problems facing the economy of not only the United States but also our beloved state of Kansas.

It is my understanding that there will be a shortfall of millions of dollars this fiscal year in the state and it could build into over $1 billion in the next fiscal year.

I understand one of our greatest costs of running government is the cost of education. Could we more than balance the budget by making a few basic, but hard, decisions that would cut the cost of educating each student sufficiently?

First, cut the administrative overhead. It appears that the system is grossly top heavy.

Second, we must get back to the basic idea that we must teach students the needs to make a living in the work force after they finish their formal education. Not everyone can sit behind a desk; some of us must do physical labor.

What is the cost of the extra activities outside of the basic educational curriculum? What percentage of the total cost of administration is the cost of outside activities? Let’s just say the extra activities were narrowed down to three activities for boys and girls. How much could be saved for each school district? Are we teaching our students their ABC’s or how to play?

Third, pay our teachers a living wage so we can draw the cream of the crop, not someone that just wants to get by and doesn’t care about the true education of each and every student.

Ralph Gagnon,
Lawrence