Adult Education Helps Everyone

My husband is a teacher for Oxnard Adult Education. Obviously, we stand to be personally affected by a loss of his job should the program be eliminated. However, since we both have educations, we are the lucky ones; we will find a way to manage.

I’m more concerned though, about the students who are benefiting from the classes. According to the adult education office, there are almost 30,000 students served by this program. These are the people who are attending school by choice and who want to learn. There are the various populations of students, each with unique reasons for being there but all dedicated to improving their own lives as well as to becoming more productive and better citizens in their communities.

Perhaps two of my husband’s jail students stated the benefits of adult education best: “For three days a week, I was blessed . . . to be part of life that’s productive and real. That breeds the freedom, lasting and tangible--the kind you work for, the life I pray to have the strength to hold--when I walk from beyond these walls.”

I encourage the school district and the community to support the adult education program, not only for the students’ sakes but for the enhancement of all of us.

SYLVIA GILMOUR

Ventura