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CITY OF FENNVILLE | DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY | CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | FENNVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS | GOOSE FESTIVAL FENNVILLE NEWS | LIBRARY | CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | COMMUNITY CALENDAR © 2009-2011 Fennville.com |
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EDUCATION VIEWPOINT
By Dirk Weeldreyer, Fennville Superintendent
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.
By Dirk Weeldreyer, Fennville Superintendent
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.
