LETTERS: JACKSON ISSUE WOULD INCREASE OUR TAX BURDEN

To the editor:

In an effort to persuade Jackson voters to approve the forthcoming $6 million bond proposal for the third time, the Board of Education has conducted personal tours of the schools for civic leaders, retired teachers, grandparents and others. The board also has changed the wording on the November ballot, although the meaning hasn't changed significantly. And the board took away the operational levy increase to reduce the dollar amount of the proposal. Finally, the board has scheduled an old-fashioned debate on the courthouse lawn by the Jackson High School debate team. The debate is sponsored by the Jackson Chamber of Commerce.

Those of us who voted against the bond issue have been severely criticized as being selfish and unwilling to turn loose of a few dollars and as being against providing quality education for our kids. Those two counts are unwarranted and cannot be justified. I can't think of a person I know who is against providing a quality education for our children. But, as I have repeatedly said, education is not predicated on the amount of money pumped into the system.

Nor are lavish facilities -- like multipurpose gymnasiums, tied-in computer networks, oversize classrooms and other similar features -- a necessity for education. Education as I know it is the conveyance of information from a teacher to students in the development of mind knowledge, skill and character.

To those who believe we are so selfish we refuse to turn loose a few dollars, you stand to be corrected. Take a look at last year's tax bill and the portion allocated to schools. It doesn't reflect just a few dollars as many of you have said. It was 68 percent of the total tax bill. Approval of the bond issue would increase it even more.

RICHARD BRUCE

Jackson, Mo.