Kulongoski says education key to ending poverty cycle

from the Statesman Journal

Governor to kick off tour to talk about new finance plan

EUNICE KIM
Statesman Journal

Gov. Ted Kulongoski thinks there's a way out of the cycle of poverty, and he can explain it in one word: education.

Kulongoski spoke about education being the "pathway out of poverty" during a speech Wednesday at Chemeketa Community College. An auditorium full of students, faculty members and others listened to his lecture "Addressing Poverty Through Education," which included a question and answer session.

"A good higher education system is critical to ending the cycle of poverty in Oregon," Kulongoski said. "You cannot escape poverty without a job ... and in today's economy, you can't get that family-wage job with just a high school diploma or GED."

The governor said he plans to kick off a statewide tour this month to talk about a new education finance plan that would help Oregon students and their families pay for higher education. The program, he said, would be geared to help middle-class families -- those often left behind when it comes to financial aid -- and would be based on a model of "shared responsibility."

"This new plan will ensure that if you live in Oregon, use the resources that are available to you and are willing to work hard for your education, you will be given the opportunity to go to college and obtain a profession or skill," Kulongoski said.

During the next 10 years, it's projected that Oregon will have to fill more than 663,000 job openings, he said. Eighty percent of those jobs will require education and skills training beyond high school.

Chemeketa student Elizabeth Grace, 18, said Kulongoski's speech was informative. She said students don't often sit around thinking about poverty in Oregon, so it was good the governor got their minds churning.

The lecture was sponsored by Chemeketa's Multicultural Committee, which hosts events that highlight issues around race, ethnicity, disability and other cultural differences. Committee member David Hardesty said poverty is a relevant issue for many Chemeketa students. He hopes to spark a larger discussion around poverty and education on campus.

"A college is a place for students to question policies," said Hardesty, an instructor in adult basic education and GED preparation at Chemeketa. "It is the center for new ideas and thinking."

ekim@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6721