By Lauren Michelle

As we move forward to the upcoming election there are many questions to be pondered. One of controversy and interest is the idea to implement a “Pay it Forward/Pay it Back” program in the state of Maine. This proposal could help families and students who may not be able to afford a higher education attain one. Elliot Cutler believes that if Maine residents were not concerned with the cost of attending school beyond high school we may have a stronger workforce leading to a more stable economy. However, the state of Maine does not currently support a need for a more educated work force as the state continues to turn away big business; such as the casino proposal for Southern Maine and the more recent lost opportunity with Statoil. It is these businesses that have a need for more qualified employees.

The idea that one needs a higher education in order to receive a higher level of pay is not supported by the state. Our salaries are some of the lowest in the country and that is just one of the reason students may not find the inherent need to further their education; especially if they wish to reside here in Maine indefinitely. Before a program like this can proven successful Maine must look at what a higher education is worth in dollars here; not throughout the country. This needs to be concrete due to the effort and commitment it takes to complete a two, or four-year degree program.

Kids at the age of eighteen are not necessarily concerned with the cost of the education, but whether or not the payoff is worth the effort. Maine is a tough place to live and raise a family due to the cost of living and the pay that is based on this cost. It does not equal out; we must first make this adjustment, then and only then, will we find an influx in college graduates and others looking to live and work in Maine. The education system here is poor for many reasons. Teacher’s salaries in the state of Maine are far below that of other states and more often than not schools are laying-off those with higher degrees to rehire those less qualified with less experience. This is supported by the state and local cities in order to lower education spending and maintain budgets.

We must have a program in place to keep these highly qualified professionals in our schools in order to improve upon the elementary school system. It must start at the core and K-12 is just that. If we want a higher graduation rate and wish to see our future generation go on to achieve a higher degree we must ensure a promise of the best education possible as well as the opportunity to attain employment upon graduation. “The way life should be” cannot exist without the necessary changes to support living; this needs to be our concentration.