Your Opinion: Act to be part of the solution

Dear Editor:

In the Wednesday, Oct. 30 News Tribune, Mr. Horstmann tells us how our education system has seen 40 years of failures and proceeds to blame it on "the most unqualified and inept president ever." I don't understand how 40 years of failure equals a failure of one president who has been in office four full years and I don't understand how one single person can be responsible for the failure of our education system.

I'm not convinced our education system has failed but I do believe it is much more challenging than it was 40 years ago. Mr. Horstmann suggests we should turn control to local parents and teachers. I agree, in order for an education system to be successful, it needs to be supported by its community. I believe it is the communities' responsibility to help provide the best education system it can. When I refer to the education system, I speak of all education, not just public education.

On a bigger scale, I believe the biggest failure in this country comes from blaming other people for problems. As a society, we spend a lot of time sitting at our computers, writing letters to editors about the failures of our Congress, our president, our local officials, our schools board. What are we doing, as citizens, to create solutions? I read these letters every day and there are some of you who write in often. My question to you is: what are you doing to be part of the solution? If all of us spent a little more time on positive, constructive solutions and less time complaining about how other people failed, our country would be in a much better position. Plus, you would be doing your part to educate our children on how to be positive, constructive adults.

Complaining doesn't seem to be solving any of our problems.

I challenge each reader to take one positive, constructive step towards solving a community problem. If you feel comfortable doing so write a letter to the editor stating what you are doing to be part of a solution. I'll start.

I am on a committee to help solve our facility issues in the Jefferson City Public Schools. I encourage you to do your part by attending our upcoming Town Hall meetings. The first one is Nov. 17 at the Jefferson City High School from 3:00-4:30. Be part of a solution in our community.