‘Education is the only sure way out of poverty.’

We Californians are fast approaching the time when Latinos will be the majority population in the state. What will life be like when this happens?

Will we all be expected to speak Spanish with correct pronunciation and to like the music, art and cuisine of the varied Hispanic cultures in California? Probably not, although it would be very useful if everyone spoke at least some Spanish, as Mexico and the other Spanish-speaking countries of this hemisphere are very important neighbors of the United States.

California is a state of vibrant and diverse ethnic cultures. We need to see the positive aspects of this reality as the world becomes a smaller place. California’s Hispanic heritage and influence are products of historical and geographic facts of life that contribute to its vitality in a global economy. California is a Spanish word. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all respect and appreciate each other’s cultures and backgrounds without fear and misunderstanding?

Some aspects of Latino culture will not be as important as other issues however, as we approach a shift in numbers. The quality of life for all Californians and the health of our economy will depend very much on the ability of our Latino population to become educated, skilled and achieve economic success in our society. It is more than obvious that all of our young people need to have access to the best education that they can get, including high school, college and post-graduate studies in all fields.

While access to college is improving among Latinos, it is not keeping pace with population growth. Because Latinos are the fastest growing minority--in California and in the nation--it is critical that every effort be made to improve their educational success for the good of the entire country.

A Rand Corp. study released in September concludes that California will require a $9-billion investment for Latinos and African Americans to get college degrees at the same rate as white students. But for each dollar spent in education, long-term savings and increased tax revenues would be gained, more than recapturing the expenditures.

The positive financial impact would be even more beneficial nationally. We must not be penny-wise and pound foolish. Nancy Cole, the president of the Educational Testing Service, says it best: “America loses billions by not improving education for Latinos. But more importantly, it also loses fresh, diverse talents and perspectives.”

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Here in Ventura County, we are many leaps closer to our educational goals with with the establishment of Cal State Channel Islands. The existence of this university means that Latino as well as non-Latino students, many of whom have children and jobs, will have easier access to a college education because they will not have to commute to a public university in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara or some other county. This signifies a great deal to the continuing health of Ventura’s County’s economy.

Education is what most Latino families want for their children. Education is the only sure way out of poverty to a better job and a higher standard of living than what one’s parents have. This, the American dream, is what most people want. Latinos then are not very different from any other population in our state in the goals that are the most important.