A True Maine Field of Dreams

In Maine's efforts to rebuild their state into a "field of dreams" for business we must not forget a very important precept of construction: Build upon a firm foundation.

That foundation has repeatedly been shown to be education; build upon it and "they will come". http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/ruralamerica/ra154/ra154d.pdf

Does Maine have work to do in this area? You bet it does.

David Robinson in the Morning Sentinel on April 5^th points out that companies already in Maine are searching for workers, but not enough Mainers are getting the education and training needed to do the work. http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/job-seekers-skills-not-meeting--employers-needs-say-officials_2011-04-04.html

John Dorrer, a program director for Jobs for the Future, a not-for-profit organization in Boston that develops labor and education strategies and who also recently served as director of the Center for Workforce Research and Information for the labor department in Maine stated, "Maine is losing young people and has an aging workforce that lacks the skills to fill many of the jobs in the emerging fields."

A Georgetown University study concludes that by 2018, 59 percent of Maine jobs will require a post-secondary education.

On April 6^th, Jay Field, reporting for MPBN quoted Rob Brown of Opportunity Maine as saying, "High-wage, high-skilled businesses rarely locate or grow in a state like Maine. … Maine has the lowest education levels and the lowest incomes in New England. … And nationally, we have the oldest workforce, the highest percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds who are neither working nor pursuing education, the third highest student debt loads in the country, one of the lowest percentages of adults pursuing any form of post-secondary education." http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineNewsArchive/tabid/181/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3475/ItemId/15910/Default.aspx

"Only 37 percent of our citizens hold a college degree," says Community College President John Fitzsimmons, "compared to 46 percent for the rest of New England. And that's the primary reason Maine has the lowest per capita income in New England." http://www.wlbz2.com/news/article/153797/3/Maine-education-leaders-address-legislature

Startling: Maine was 27th in a recent national education ranking by the publication Education Week; is 39th nationally in average teacher salary, according to a legislative study; and its salary comfort score by online service TeacherPortal is 47th.

Paraphrasing former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley, J. Duke Albanese, former Maine Education Commissioner, recently stated, "Education is a national priority, a state responsibility and a local function," and added, "We have to understand all those levels in our system." (BDN--Andrew Neff, BDN Staff)

To address the educational needs at hand, Maine's new Administration is trying, but often taking steps forward and then back.

Governor LePage takes a step forward by endorsing a fifth year of high school to better prepare students for college. Understanding him to mean offering more and better educational possibilities to students in high school, notably the national baccalaureate program (only two high schools in Maine are currently minimally involved) I applaud him. But at the same time to launch an all out attack on public sector employees including teachers, sets him two steps back.

Our Governor says, "Go and try to find a plumber. These jobs aren't going away. Roofing jobs aren't going to China."

But the apprentice programs, vocational school and junior college offerings in our state are not up to the challenge. What classes exist are full to overflowing. The push toward more online learning is consistent with efforts to make education more accessible, however it also raises concerns about compromised educational quality. Expansion and upgrading of vocational and other forms of post secondary education will take political will and money, will and money that come simultaneously as Governor LePage and some members of the legislature are proposing to reduce class time, allow students to work (eliminate or revise Child labor laws), do away with tenure (experienced teachers), reduce teacher pay/benefits and reduce or eliminate funding to schools.

Step back.

Lowering funding to education and creating antagonism toward educators does not provide the investment in education that is needed in order to improve student achievement and lay the necessary foundation for economic growth. We must invest more in education, not less, in order to create a system that produces Maine students who are competitive.

Is Maine up to the challenge of building a true "field of dreams"?

Many questions need be addressed in order to answer that question. Maine is running out of time.