Virginia's economic rise proves investment in education pays, but U.S. must reverse educational decline, Kaine tells University of Richmond graduates
May 11, 2009
Virginia's 30-year growth in economic power and prosperity proves that investment in education at every level pays, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine told graduates at University of Richmond's 179th commencement.
But, college graduates must work with their parents and professors to reverse the backsliding of America's educational system, if the country is to continue to remain prosperous, he said.
"If the power and the accomplishments and the opportunities of our state and our nation rest deeply on the kinds of investments that we make in education, we've got to do a lot better at it than we have been," Kaine warned.
The governor compared Virginia's education and economy today with that of 50 years ago, when a smaller percentage of children went to school "than virtually any other state," the higher education attainment rate — the percentage of adults with college degrees — was less than half the national average, and the commonwealth was 36th in per capita income.
"As a state, in terms of opportunities for people, we were at the back of the pack," he said. Since then, Virginia's strong investment in education has produced a K-12 system and network of private and public colleges that are among the country's best.
"No state has moved farther from back to front in terms of its economic power in the last 50 years in this country than the Commonwealth of Virginia, and it's almost all been because we have finally got it and realized that investments in education pay off," Kaine said.
However, the United States has lost its lead in educational investment, he said, noting that around 30 years ago, the American higher education attainment rate was greater than any other nation's.
"We were No. 1, and there was no close No. 2. Ten or 15 years ago, Canada caught up with us and has now gone ahead of us. But by today, there's eight or nine nations in the world that educate more of their adult populations with higher ed degrees than the United States. And there's another 10 or 15 that are dramatically accelerating higher ed.
"And guess what's happening in the United States? Each generation was doing better than the previous generation, but about 15 years it flattened out, and actually in the last five years it's started to decline. And so we're kind of stuck on a plateau...we are educating fewer of our adults with higher ed degrees than we were about 10 years ago," he said.
"I don't see any scenario under which we can stay on that path and continue to be as successful as we need to be as a nation," Kaine said.
Expecting to leave elected office next January for the first time since winning a Richmond city council seat 16 years ago, Kaine said he wanted to look back on what he has learned from observing and working with college students while a councilman, mayor, lieutenant governor and governor.
He said the current generation of college students leaves him "a lot more optimistic about the world" because of its openness to diversity, commitment to public service, and sense of resilience.
"I see you as a very open, tolerant and diverse bunch who understands that it's okay for people to be different … that different varieties of people are something that we can celebrate,"
Kaine said. "The good news is, as I look at you, this generation, I can see people that are much more comfortable dealing with folks from all parts of the world and all backgrounds," he said.
Kaine also observed a greater commitment to public service among today's college students than those of his college years, not only with organizations like Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Teach for America, but also in ROTC and other military service.
Finally, Kaine noted the resilience of college students, despite economic hard times and campus tragedies, such as the April 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech. He related that, while waiting for a flight back to Virginia after word of the shootings reached Japan, he watched student reaction to reporters' questions about who to blame.
"What the kids were saying was, ‘Wait a minute. We're a community here. It isn't about who we blame. It's about coming together to support one another, it's about grieving our losses and bearing up the family members who experienced deep loss in their lives," he recalled, thinking that the students' reaction was more mature than those of some adults.
"Education matters — that's what you have taught me," Kaine said.
Following Kaine's address, university President Edward L. Ayers presented special honors to Pamela W. Spence, retiring dean of admission, and E. Claiborne Robins Jr. of Richmond, alumnus and benefactor of the university.
Spence received the title of dean emerita of admission. She has been dean since 1993 and worked at the university's admission office since 1975.
Robins received the university President's Medal. A 1968 graduate and 1986 honorary degree recipient, he has served more than 40 years on the university's Board of Trustees. He and his family have provided extensive financial and personal support of the university's facilities, programs and scholarships.