Education is an investment. It is not a gift, free ride or so-called entitlement like food stamps or welfare. Educating all the children is in our own best interest.

In the colonial era, which is to say all of history before the late 18th century, there was a perceived need for obedient slave labor. Beasts of burden with hands, who could do the hard work a donkey could not; no need for literacy in draft animals. Just strong backs to “Lif dat, bar’l tote dat bale;” pick whatever.”

As literacy spread beyond the priesthood, slave owners saw the power and were afraid that literate slaves might organize and revolt. The vast majority of humanity were in a slave-like relationship to those in power, but called something else, like serf, indentured servant, tenant farmer, vassal or subject.

Armed tax collectors just took whatever the king wanted. For thousands of years there was nothing new under the sun. Apprentices learned only by watching and doing.

About 1750, life began to change rapidly. The industrial revolution had created jobs that needed more knowledge and less muscle. Maybe printing led the way. A printer’s devil (apprentice) was of little use if he did not know the alphabet. A musketeer who could not count or measure could not operate his weapon properly. Farmers and millers had to be able to negotiate fees. Businesses like banks and retail stores became common and needed to keep books.

Education became worthwhile. American colonies and cities provided some means. Villages hired a “school-marm” to operate a one room school-house with all grades together, to teach the 3 Rs. Rural people realized that ignorance would be a disadvantage negotiating with businesses and government.

Education becomes more and more important as technology affects our lives. We all need the services of specialists, from our doctor or accountant to the lawnmower mechanic. Someone to fly the jet, and engineers, hundreds of them, to design it to be reliable and economical. Where are we going to get all these educated people? Public schools that take all comers.

Many object to paying for public schools because they have no child of their own to benefit. Who paid for their education? Their parents and neighbors who paid school tax. You pay for your neighbor’s children’s education so that they can make change for you next year. Who, in the future, will be able to fix your computer? We pay collectively to educate every child and youth to provide better service to us all when we need it.

Public education is the key to having a broadly educated young generation ready to step up to the tasks that our predecessors never contemplated. Following in your father’s footsteps is no longer adequate. Those who only teach what they were taught are depriving their pupils of the latest information; old knowledge alone is no longer adequate. There is virtually no vocation today that does not require some of high-school education, and the ability to learn or figure out new things. To deny that to the poor is to deny ourselves the skilled people to provide for our own future needs.

It’s not listed on the curriculum, but a big part of education is critical thinking. The ability to analyze a thought or new idea to determine if it is credible or at least logical. It is worthwhile to be able to entertain two contradictory thoughts at the same time and understand the relationship. The ability to recognize deceit; put two and two together. Much political speech is self-contradictory. It is a valuable ability to recognize that contradiction and resolve it or discount it. There is also input that must be put in the right context to make sense.

Science has questions that may not be answered, critical thinking. Religion often has answers that may not be questioned, blind faith — accepting the first version of a factoid as the ultimate truth. Unfortunately, much education is still by rote. Recite approved answers to standard questions.

The rich can afford to have their offspring spend much of their life in high-priced private schools where they learn critical thinking along with the 3 Rs.

Poor children often have to skip school so they can contribute to the family income. People who do not have access to free public education are condemned to low pay and little opportunity. Free public education began in Boston, Mass., in 1635. The first Pennsylvania Constitution in 1776, called for the state legislature to establish at least one school in every county. Making education available to all really began with Brown v. Board of Education in 1952, but our need for an educated generation grows.

Ken Obenski is a forensic engineer and safety and freedom advocate in South Kona. He writes a biweekly column for West Hawaii Today. Feedback is encouraged at obenskik@gmail.com.