Gov. Jan Brewer brings little personal education to AZ leadership
Comments
by Katherine LaRue on February 19, 2009 at 4:00 am under Opinion
Anyone who understands the value of getting an education would never suggest limiting such an important institution.
Jan Brewer took office as Arizona state governor Jan. 20, when former governor Janet Napolitano departed for Washington to assume her post as the Secretary of Homeland Security. Since then, Brewer has sent a pretty clear message to students and educators across Arizona. Brewer had no problem signing off on the now-infamous budget plan that will take $350 million away from our state’s public education system.
This may be old news, but outrage over Brewer’s decision shouldn’t cease. By giving those budget cuts her approval, Brewer has told Arizonans she doesn’t value education or care about the future of Arizona. There’s a pretty simple reason for this: Brewer may have nearly 30 years of political experience, but there’s one thing she doesn’t have – a college degree.
I’m sure most of the students here at NAU, as well as at universities and colleges across the state, are not pursuing higher education because they desire to go into politics. It is almost certainly guaranteed that when we graduate we won’t be capable of running a state with a population of approximately six million people, but you’d think that with the commitment and work college life requires we’d be better armed than Jan Brewer.
We’re in college because we want to secure a future and to better ourselves. We stick it out, year after year, buying outrageously priced books, pushing ourselves (and our immune systems) through difficult classes and exams in addition to paying tuition every semester. We do it because we value it. We know how good it feels at the end of the semester and, hopefully, how good it will feel when we graduate and get a job.
I suppose it must be easy for someone like Jan Brewer to approve such dangerous and thoughtless budget cuts when she knows next to nothing about the processes, and experience and sacrifices one makes when one attends a university. Nor does it appear she cares. Anyone who understands the value of getting an education would never suggest limiting such an important institution.
Education exists, not as a luxury, but as a tool of personal and societal betterment. Students exit universities more aware and discerning of the world around them, hopefully with the intention of bettering that world. If the oppurtunity to pursue an education is compromised the blue collar workforce — which is already stretched economically thin — will be overwhelmed by an excess of job seekers who might have otherwise gone to college. Also, a society with an uneducated populus won’t be able to critique its leaders or create true progress.
Cutting educational funding isn’t just a financial blunder; it’s a gesture of disrespect toward the students and educators who worked hard to get where they are and who are still working. Furthermore, this has the potential to damage future generations, perhaps damning an entire generation to an uneducated existence.
So what education does Brewer have? Well, she’s a certified radiological technologist, meaning she is certified to create images, like x-rays, which help diagnosis health problems. I’m sure, should I slip on some ice, Brewer would be capable of identifying a fractured tibia. But just because she can see inside a human body doesn’t mean she can see what’s best for Arizona.
If Brewer’s catastrophic decision to take money away from education is any indication, her leadership probably won’t improve. Brewer inherited her lofty position by happenstance. So when election season rolls around let’s make sure she doesn’t get to keep it and vote her out.
Keep telling NAU what you expect from it, and keep telling the state you won’t settle for shoddy politicians who who refuse to represent one of the most important aspects of society: education.
If we expect as much as we do from ourselves as students, we most certainly can expect a lot more from our governor.
16 Comments
Katherine Larue in her article on Governor Jan Brewer was completely off base. Her bias toward people with less formal education is profound. She thinks that a college education is the only way to gain intelligence. Do life and work experiences mean nothing? Is she saying that Bill Gates shouldn’t be running Microsoft because he didn’t graduate from college? Does she mean that Thomas Edison is incompetent because he had little education? Ted Bundy, the infamous serial killer, had a Bachelor’s degree in psychology. Are you saying he has more potential than others listed here? Our nation’s history is filled with people who met the challenges of their times without a formal education. She WAS elected to the position that allowed her to replace the governor. Give her a chance. Half of all General Fund spending in Arizona goes toward education. With a $1.7 billion deficit the new governor inherited, if education shouldn’t be cut, how does Miss Larue propose to balance the budget?
I don’t believe she was saying ALL success and ability comes from higher education, but a large key in qualification for such a job is proof that you have at least studied, if not exceeded, in an institute of higher learning. Obviously a college degree doesn’t automatically qualify you for any job, case and point: George W. Bush. It does however beg to be questioned why our state leader has no formal higher education. I believe it is a legitimate argument, and coming from a student who depends on his degree to get a job, since some jobs do REQUIRE a BA/BS (teaching/law/medical), I believe Jan Brewer needs to see the importance of education not only for today’s students but tomorrow’s as well.
I agree completely with this article.
Education is not everything, however with the current economic crisis we need someone with a business and financial background to steer our state in the right direction. A high school diploma holder can do the job, however she isn’t the most qualified person to do it.
The author of this article will be called elitist and snooty.
But I ask to any detractors, would they want someone managing your retirement who has just the “bare minimum” in education?
Of course not.
I am enraged at jan brewer and her ideas about Education.. For the persons who ask what other way can we balance the budget? Oh my what about the prisons and jail law suits? They are getting more monies than education, but perhaps jan brewer is good for insight… as we definitely will need anincrease in prisons with such edducations cuts. It is statistically proven that when children don’t graduate and things get tough for parents there is only one way out to them.. Plus with the cutting of DES and CPS .. you go jan there is a big need and bigger one to come for prisons!
For the person whom also accused napolitano.. let us remember Jan Brewer was part of congress and the State office during those times.. let us also remember that it wasn’t napoloitano and before you push blame may you look at the past and realize the political truth. For the State reps my dear ones you have been quiet and why not when you are the contributing factors to our present budget failures but stand tall in supporting cuts in education.. HOW CARELESS AND BLIND AND TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE IN ALL OF YOUR JUDGEMENTS YOU SHOULD ALL BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES TAKING FROM INNOCENT CHILDREN WH WILL SOMEDAY BE OUR FUTURE.. HOW DARE YOU! FURTHERMORE JAN AND HER CREW HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE SPENT A DAY IN KINDERGARTEN OR ANY CLAASSROOM AND TELL ME JUST HOW MANY HAVE WALKED IN THE SHOES OF OUR TEACHERS WHO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF NOT ONLY PARENTS BUT THE LEGISLAURES WHO PROCLAIM TO CARE AND LOVE OUR GREAT STATE arizona.. i’m appaled at your expertise so you say and lack of knowledge you have in education , but more the future of all our CHILDREN.
Rebecca, your choice of Bill Gates was unfortunate…for you. It has been definitively established that, due to his lack of formal computer education, Bill Gates was forced to STEAL the technology on which Microsoft’s early success was based. He stole it (and this has been documented and proven) from a man with the very thorough education in computer science. An education he received at the University of Washington in Seattle.
So, you have neatly proven Katherine’s point for her. Good job. Maybe you should have educated yourself about the facts first.
You morons. She lacks intelligence, eh? She just did the smartest thing ever. Passed such a controversial law that says if you break the law then we will do something about it.
Having a college education is highly overrated. If just plodding along by going to classes, buying books, and paying ridiculously high tuition actually means something then just going to work on time everyday for a low paying job qualifies one in the same way.
Try serving your country and getting a highly technical education.
I respect Jan Brewer more for not having a college education since those who do seem to have a tendency toward socialism. A very high percentage of educators are far left Liberals. Those are not the kind of people I would want to learn higher learning through.
It’s good to have someone in office, like Jan Brewer, who has good common sense and the courage of her convictions.
Re: RLM
Wow. Truly spoken like a person with no more than a GED, and a serious lack of critical thinking skills. very sad.
Little education Little knowledge. That is how dumb laws are made. Need I say more?
OH, my Gatos, no wonder Arizona is going down. What a way to show that those in power can do whatever they want. This is worst than a dictatorship.. Most typically when ignorants are in power they abuse it and make desicion out of her mind. They lack the critical analysis of the world and society. She first reduced the educational budget drastically and then threw pro 100 to save her incompetency out of the back of people.
You may want to check the educational background of Arpaio and many others senators and congresmen/women. You’ll be surprised!
Arozona the High Schoolers state……
RE: RLM
“A very high percentage of educators are far left Liberals. Those are not the kind of people I would want to learn higher learning through.”
I suppose you prefer to get an education from the likes of Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck, and that Motley Crew in Texas. You know, the one that voted on a curriculem that presents THEIR distorted views of history as fact.
RE: su
If the smartest thing that Gov. Jan Brewer has ever done is to pass that highly controversial and confounded law, then it’s very clear that she lacks the ability of critical thinking and analysis; abilities that she obviously didn’t aquire through life/work experience but, in all likelyhood, would have gained through higher education (isn’t this the crux of higher education?).
Mind you that I am not dismissing the value of life/work experience, however, you should recognize that higher education is indisputably key to a more prosperous life for the masses. But if your prerogative is to dispute this, then I suggest you do a little research.
As for Gov. Brewer, well, I’m of the opinion that she’s more concerned with her approval ratings especially in an election year. I mean, she doesn’t seem like she’s governing the state as much as her pugnacious and disagreeable Republican colleagues.
John Robinson, Bill Gates still would not have succeeded if it were not for being a sound business man. And to continue the company as a successful one, run without being in debt as other companies do, is one that I believe politicians should strive for. Further, he is an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He has continued to give money away to help others. If I had a company, I would tend to pick Bill Gates to make the business decisions rather than Kildall would was extremely smart but dumber than a box of rocks when it can to business decisions. Now, if you want to speak of moralities since you insist that the shrewd business deal of Gates was stealing, how about the president of the US offering fed jobs to 2 dem. candidates in return for them bowing out of the race against dem. Incumbents? It is an impeachable offense. Or the lack of qualifications of Obama in general for the position he holds. His lack of ability shows greatly in his (mis)handling of the gulf oil debacle.
Maybe if we get rid of the illegal aliens, we will have plenty of money to spend on education. As Margaret Thatcher said, “The problem with socialism is that after a while we run out of everyone else’s money” We cannot continue getting water from a dry well. We as a country cannot be all things to all people. That is how Rome fell, trying to be all things, stretching their reach to the brink. A 2009 Zogby International poll shows that Florida voters think that illegal immigration is hurting the Sunshine State by an overwhelming margin. A new FAIR study confirms the poll, finding that illegal immigration costs Florida taxpayers $3.8 billion annually, which is double from 2005. That could pay for a lot of education.
To Neko Shousui
FAIR is an extremist organization that is highly anti-immigration (legal and “illegal”). So check your “facts” first, and also verify where you are getting your information from (something you would learn in college). As far as Jan Brewer goes, she probably doesn’t know what she’s doing (or perhaps she does and does not care as long as she gets re-elected). Education is the key to a better life (personal, socio-economic, etc) and the betterment of communities, but Jan could give a damn, she’s all in for popularity and getting re-elected. Anyway, how’s this for a laugh?? Another idiot in our state legislature exhibiting his governing skills….check it out as J. Hyppenthal gets schooled by a high schooler
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz4cO3DzPc4&feature=player_embedded
Why would any state vote for an uneducated reactionary?
I simply do not understand. The parallel to Bill Gates is absurd. Leadership in government requires other skills than just making money.