To the Editors:

There’s an election coming up. Not one of the really big ones nationwide, but a big one for Oberlin. On the ballot will be two propositions — 12 and 13 — the passage of which are crucial for the Oberlin School District. Even if they pass, the squeeze will be tight. Without them, the schools’ financial situation will be a disaster.
Last Friday, my wife, daughter and I took an old, yellow sheet, cut it into a long strip and painted on it: “May 6 Vote Yes Yes for our schools.” Then, on Saturday, we stood on the corner of College and Main and held it high for passers by to see. If you see me standing on a corner with a banner, you know things are getting dire.
Many people smiled and we could see their lips forming “Yes Yes” as they rounded the corner in their cars. One man did a thumbs down. Another stood on the corner and harangued my wife, complaining that unionized teachers in the public sector have been getting pay raises all these years, while in the private sector, things were tough. He was voting no.
The “no” votes are really out there.
Last fall, a school levy proposition failed by a narrow margin — if 26 voters had punched “yes” (on their butterfly ballot) instead of “no”, we wouldn’t be in such bad shape now.
On May 6, “Yes” turnout will be the key to the election.
Even if the levies pass, the District will likely still be forced to cut around seven staff positions. If even one of the levies fails, what shall we cut? The athletics that keep some kids going to school? Science in the middle school? The vice principals who are desperately needed to keep the middle and high schools running smoothly? No new textbooks? No more computers? Cut back on kindergarten?
The U.S. needs to educate its children. But if you look closely, you’ll see the federal government leaving children behind — even if the slogans say otherwise. A poorly educated population will make unwise choices about its future and contribute weakly to the nation’s progress.
Here in Oberlin, increasing numbers of College faculty choose to live outside town where they can find better schools, making close contact among faculty and students more difficult.
Ohio’s state education budget is going down. Because of business departures, local business taxes are down. If we don’t vote Yes Yes on May 6, the school district will go down too, finding it even harder to retain dedicated staff and possibly being forced into state receivership. Much more information about the schools’ situation (and a picture of the banner) is available on the Yes Yes campaign web site at <www.oberlinyesyes.com>.
To contribute to the nation, the state, the town and the College, please be sure to vote on May 6, and vote Yes Yes on issues 12 and 13.

—Ben Schiff
Professor of Politics