Thank You and Yes, Seattle Does Care About Public Education
From the Seattle Times editorial page:
"Labor Day ends The Seattle Times Fund for the Needy school-supply drive that began on July 4. Reader contributions pay for the pencils, pens, notebooks and other tools of learning that help students begin a new year with optimism and confidence.
Three excellent agencies screen applicants, and buy, organize and distribute the supplies: Hopelink, the Seattle-King County Coalition on Homelessness and the YWCA of Seattle-King County-Snohomish County. We are grateful for all they do.
In the midst of economic uncertainty, a record 551 donors have given more than $50,000, which is nearing another record. In our 10th school-supply drive, total contributions exceed $308,000. Thank you.
We continue to look to the words and spirit of President Thomas Jefferson as our guide. He believed educated citizens were necessary to sustain democracy. He also understood the consequences of unschooled children were more expensive than a good education.
Jefferson also provides the most appropriate expression of thanks to our readers and contributors:
"The reward of esteem, respect and gratitude (is) due those who devote their time and efforts to render the youths of every successive age fit governors for the next."
Comments
For the Times for organizing this yearly drive to help provide the very basics in school supllies;
for Hopelink, the Seattle-King County Coalition on Homelessness and the YWCA of Seattle-King County-Snohomish County for vetting and distributing;
for the hundreds of people who donated their rare dollars (these days) to fund the whole thing and make many children even more excited as they enter a new school year;
and I'd add, recognizing those others whom Jefferson recognized,
those who "devote their time and efforts to...youths": Volunteers in schools and in the community, pro bono wonks, and everyone else who keeps education in the public eye and relevant.
Yea, Times! Yea, public education!Yea, Seattle!