DDN Editorial Wrong on Education

David Bohardt (executive director of the Home Builders Association of Dayton) writes:

At the end of the day, we should be clear on two things.

First, the fate of Ohio’s public schools depends on the state government and state leadership, not on local government and PTAs.

Second, every other challenge we face pales in comparison to the need for radical and equitable reform of public school funding.

Mr. Bohardt, you are wrong on both accounts.

First, while state leadership can help fix the problem; local government and PTAs have a significant role to play in determining the fate of our public schools. More accurately, the school's administrations hold the fate of their schools in their hands and have the responsibility to meet the challenges. If that means they have to take a pay cut and knock off some perks, so be it. When you treat education like a government service, the establishment becomes government employees and the People have the right to be angry at what they are getting for their investment.

Second, every other challenge we face pales in comparison to the need to be safe and secure. National security and homeland defense are the priority issues of the day. Providing for the safety of the citizenry is the government's most important duty. Suggesting otherwise is irresponsible.

It is awful that the failed levies may have hurt your bottom line, Mr. Bohardt, but you are overstating the case. Taking pot-shots at Republicans in general and the President specifically is not going to help your cause.