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This is a very important time for Massachusetts. The state’s transition to an economy based on high tech and biotech continues at breakneck speed while too many of our schools are plodding along in providing commensurate levels of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.
Our public school system must improve and make more widely available STEM-based education. In August 2018, US News and World Report noted that by 2025 up to 2 million STEM positions nation-wide may go unfilled.
STEM also offers fulfilling and well compensated careers. The Pew Research Center reported in January 2018, that STEM workers earn 35 percent more than non-STEM workers.
Here in Massachusetts, New American Economy Research Fund in March 2017, wrote that there were more than 20 STEM job postings for each unemployed STEM worker.
Kathy Lynch (Republican candidate for state Representative) understands that quality education, STEM or otherwise, requires properly allocating resources. Raising taxes is not necessarily the source for these resources. Rather, by prioritizing spending, reducing waste and applying efficiency in State government processes is the way.
It also means getting a higher share of Chapter 70 money for the Second Middlesex district by revamping outdated formulas currently shortchanging the district. For 10 years now, incumbent legislators have promised to revamp the foundation budget; these promises have yet to materialize.
Boston Globe columnist, Adrian Walker in his Oct. 10 column lamented, “A generation ago, this state made a serious effort to fund schools in a way that addressed longstanding inequity. Why have we given up on that?” Simply, the Massachusetts legislature does not prioritize education highly enough to do its job.
The time for promises is over. Action is what is required. Kathy Lynch is a person of action. Kathy Lynch will let the results judge her, not a plethora of empty promises.
I’ll take action over promises any day. I’ll take Kathy Lynch over the incumbent any day. — Paul Avella, 94 Grist Mill Road, Littleton
EDITOR’S NOTE: The letter writer is a former Republican candidate for state Representative.
