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Show What's right with education I'url IV By Dr. Wuvne Kcil ."tii)-i-inu'iidf in It is interesting to point out that a 1980 Gallup Poll found 82 of the respondents expressing confidence in public schools. Only 61-70 expressed confidence in other agencies of government. govern-ment. In the same poll 97 said that education is important to one's future success. The American Association of School Administrators estimates that it costs about $10 per student for each school day. It costs about $175 to stay in the hospital for one day and about $330 to keep a person in jail for one day. It is estimated that the Uintah School District schools provide more meals on a school day than all other restaurants in our geographic area combined. Fifty years ago only 60 of our eligible eligi-ble students were in school. Today about 90 of the eligible students are in school. In the Uintah School District 98 of our seniors demonstrate competency in reading, language arts and mathemeaties. This is in addition to meeting other requirements for graduation. Every grade level K-9 in the Uintah School District achieves at or above normative levels. It is estimated by economists , that every dollar spend on public education returns 16 to the gross national product. Fred Hechinger, respected writer for the "New York Times states that, "Schools are the basis for effective political democracy." He also says that schools provide more opportunity for upward mobility in our nation than anywhere else in the world. On the average, teachers in our district teach between 24 and 25 students per day in the elementary school and 130 students per day in the secondary schools. Other statistics reveal our schools have educated more immigrants than any other nation in the world. The National Na-tional Center for Education reports that in 1910 the median grade completed by people 25 years old or older was 8.1. In 1974, it had climbed to 12.4. Ralph Tyler states that "in the last generation, about 50 of Americans moved up at least one step in social status while only about 25 moved down." In our country coun-try 99 of the children aged 7-13 are in school; over 90 of youth in ages 14-17 are in school ; and over 40 of those aged ag-ed 18-19 are in school. These are the highest percentages in any nation in the world. Today's students are reading better at the sixth and tenth grades than of 30 years ago, according to a study conducted con-ducted by Indiana University. Total lifetime income increases as education increases. The higher one goes in school, the more he earns. Education also yields a high rate of return on investmentthe in-vestmentthe monetary returns exceed ex-ceed the cost of education by considerable con-siderable margin. The higher the educational level of the labor force the higher the economic growth of the nation. na-tion. Education is not only an excellent investment in-vestment for the individual. It also yields heavy returns for the total society. socie-ty. A society pays for ignorance the same as if pays for crime. Literacy in the United States is at the highest level in the history of our country. Visit your schools. If you have a pro-'blcm pro-'blcm or question go fight to the sourcrX" Don't rely on the propaganda or misinformation misin-formation of second-hand authorities. We want, and need, you in our schools. Become part of the "proud generation'' of education in the Uintah School District. |