Your Opinion: Don't understand proposition opposition

Dear Editor:

I moved to Jefferson City 20 years ago because I had never seen a community that people loved so much and supported. Therefore, I do not understand the opposition to the school bonds. Schools are the backbone of a community and should be supported.

I'd like to make two points. First, I've been disappointed in the articles in the paper because they have focused on only hard dollars not on the value of human capital either gained or lost depending on the election outcome. How much richer our community will be if we invest in our children to excel. This is a community where children stay on as adults to raise another generation. They want superior education for their children. This is a win-win for the community invested adults and coming generations that will enhance the community. But if the bond issues fail, we could face a lose-lose situation. Losses first in the people that move out of the community because they want better than an inferior education for their children. And then the potential loss of people that never even move into the community because of poor education opportunities. How could our community possibly advance and prosper after these losses?

The second point I want to make is very simple for supporting the school bonds pay it forward. If you are reading this letter, then you have received an education of some kind. It doesn't matter if it was a public, private or parochial education. Someone that never knew you, but had foresight and an understanding of community values, paid for your education. It's now time to pay it forward yourself. We have in this town one of the most profound examples of "pay it forward" that I have ever seen. That is the founding of Lincoln University by those exceptional gentlemen. They knew the school would not be for them, but for future generations. They wanted their children, and other peoples' children, to have the opportunity for excel and succeed. Do we want less today?