THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 16, 1996 TAG: 9606130197
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 41 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Another View
SOURCE: BY LARRY DONNITHORNE
LENGTH: 62 lines
I would like to add my voice to that of my friend, Elizabeth City State University interim Chancellor Mickey Burnim, who spoke out recently about the crucial importance of increased investment in education in our state.
Computer-based automation has dramatically changed the nature of work on the farm and in the factory. It is now moving rapidly into the service sector of our economy and is truly transforming the nature of the workplace. The worker of the future must have strong personal skills enhanced by technology with the ability to work in teams, think critically, solve problems and make decisions.
These changes are exciting in many ways, but ominous in others. The disturbing side of these changes is the elevated level of education needed to earn a decent livelihood, particularly with hopes of a rising standard of living over time.
To quote President Clinton, ``The only group in America for which earnings have increased steadily are people who have at least two years of post-high school education and training. The fault line of American society is education. Those who have it are doing well. Those who don't are paying. And the future offers more of the same at a faster rate.''
We, the citizens of North Carolina, must enable every young person to get a solid high school education and then some college beyond that - at least one or two years of college. In the future, unskilled workers will fill no more than 10 percent of the workforce. In contrast, those having technical skills beyond high school but less than four years of college will make up 60 to 70 percent of the work force.
In one or two years beyond high school, College of The Albemarle can put young people to work in high-paying, high-demand jobs. For example, today we offer full-ride scholarships to qualified students in machining technology - paid for by employers who guarantee a job upon graduation.
If we fail to invest in education, our society will continue to divide into two disparate classes: those who have education and thus earn a high quality of life, and those who do not. It has been said that a person's respect for law and order is directly proportional to the size of his or her paycheck. If we fail to educate our people, enabling them to earn a good living, the result will be further division of society, increased lawlessness and a decline in safety and security for all of us.
I believe it is essential to our collective well-being and an urgent priority that we should invest heavily in education. As an example, community colleges in North Carolina are funded well below the national average for community colleges. Other states are banking on their community colleges for jobs for their citizens and for economic development. North Carolina must do so as well.
But the need is not only in community colleges. We need the entire spectrum of education - from pre-kindergarten through graduate schools, to be robustly funded.
As our legislature debates whether to put current revenues away for a rainy day or to invest in education for our citizens, I urge that any lawmaker who invests in education is acting courageously and is taking a statesmanlike, even visionary, stance.
I urge you to support our lawmakers who support increased investment in education. MEMO: Larry Donnithorne is president of College of The Albemarle. by CNB