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I love Michigan. I love the serenity of its wilderness areas and the wide expanses of the Lake Michigan shore. I love the cultural opportunities of its cities and the rich diversity of its people. I even love the Detroit Lions. And while our state’s not winless, it does seem like we’ve been on a Lions-esque losing streak for the last three decades. We’ve endured plant closings and the struggles of the Big Three. Many are leaving the state looking for work and our property values are stagnant. So how do we break out of that mold? How can we turn our state around?
We can begin by looking back to our history. What was it that made Michigan prosper and grow into a leader in our nation? It was done by creatively blending our state’s unique resources with the innovative spirit of its people. But it was also done through Michigan’s historic leadership in education dating back to our first days as a state in 1837. Our state’s founders had a ground-breaking vision of education that encompassed primary grades through the university level. Their support established a K-12 education system second to none, and Michigan became the first in the nation to have a constitutionally-established State Superintendent of Education. By the mid-1800s the University of Michigan was also the nation’s leading state university. Ours was the first state west of the Appalachians to establish a state university dedicated to the education of teachers, and Michigan State is the nation’s oldest land grant university. We brought prosperity and an educated society out of the wilderness. If we overcame those challenges, we can overcome what faces us today. I believe the start of Michigan’s rebirth is underway. Our citizens have come to the collective realization that Michigan must become a leader in innovation just as Henry Ford and the automotive industry did one hundred years ago. But such innovation will not come without a creative, well-educated citizenry. Therefore, it is imperative that we invest in education at all levels despite the current economic downturn. While our K-12 system has made dramatic strides in recent years, these gains are in danger of being lost due to a lack of funding. Similarly, Michigan, Michigan State, and the other state universities which exemplify our historical leadership in education must be given the resources necessary to remain attractive to the best minds in the world. The research they conduct will provide the economic engine for our state’s recovery. Without such an investment, our best and brightest will leave to pursue their dreams and create a better future elsewhere. We need to make sure that opportunities are here—in Michigan—for our young people. In the last few years our students have come to understand that the jobs of yesterday are gone. They know that they will need to be more flexible in order to adjust to changing times. What we must do is to make sure we have the educational system in place to support their ambitions. Like our state’s founders, we need to have the vision and commitment to invest in the future of Michigan through our students. Let’s do what it takes to make Michigan a leader again. Dirk Weeldreyer is Superintendent of Fennville Public Schools |
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