Those who decide not to take advanced course work are just as smart, just as hard-working, just as deserving as college-bound youngsters, but somewhere along the way, society failed them. Maybe it was their homes. Maybe it was their churches. Maybe it was their neighborhoods. Maybe it was their schools. In the past, uneducated Utahns found rewarding job opportunities. But that has changed. Our complex world demands knowledgeable citizens. That's another truth we cannot dismiss if Utah wants to succeed in today's high-tech world. (Simply learning high-tech is not enough; our work force must be able to conceive, develop and apply high-technology solutions to existing problems.)

Citizens of Utah and their elected representatives can continue to see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil . . . or we can face the truths of today's world and make necessary adjustments.

First, increase opportunities in higher education so supply exceeds demand. It's better to have institutions competing for students than to have students competing for limited "slots."

Second, increase public financing for higher education. No student should have to weigh the cost of tuition against the cost of food, shelter and family.

Third, focus more energy and attention on those public schools where advanced education is not a primary value in classrooms, homes and lifestyles.

Fourth, expand opportunities for all young people to understand and experience the lifestyles of educated citizens. Begin in early grades, intensify the exposure in middle schools, and give it priority in the high school curriculum. Students will not seek advanced learning until they recognize self-interest in making the effort. (It need not be financial self-interest; service is equally enticing to sensitive youngsters.)

Fifth, stretch educational opportunities on both ends of the age spectrum.

At some point we must have public preschool education and public lifelong learning. The sooner, the better.

The state of Utah, its people and their lawmakers can begin to make these required changes now . . . or, like the three often-depicted monkeys, we can continue to see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil.

As a longtime Utah observer, I worry we will not do any of these things until a crisis forces us to face the truth. The crisis has arrived.

---

G. Donald Gale is president of Words, Words, Words Inc. He was formerly editorial director at KSL. He earned a doctorate at the University of Utah and was awarded an honorary doctorate by Southern Utah University. E-mail: dongale@words3.com