Dr. Word says: Language, Consistency-challenged Brewer calls education “my No. 1 priority”

by David Safier

Dr. Word would like to begin with a sentence uttered by Governor Jan Brewer in blatant disregard of the use of the proper number of words in the proper order to express her ideas.

"It is a clear need that schools really need to address the unique situation and circumstances of rural Arizona, both for K-12 and higher education.”

It is a typically clumsy Brewer utterance. While Sarah Palin is known for her abuse of the language, her words have a certain wacky lilt which causes Dr. Word to read them over and over in wonderment. Gov. Brewer, on the other hand, stomps on the language with hobnail boots.

Brewer, however, shares Palin's belief that words exist in the present only and have no connection to past words or actions. Witness this statement:

"Education is my No. 1 priority."

Reporter Chris McDaniel of the Yuma Sun does his profession proud by following Brewer's statement with facts giving the lie to her assertion.

Brewer said this despite having approved budget cuts that slashed millions of dollars provided by the state to fund public eduction during the 2012 fiscal year.

The spending plan enacted by state lawmakers and approved by Brewer reduced K-12 spending over the entire fiscal year by at least $134 million. This followed hundreds of millions in cuts to public education in previous years, including elimination of state funding for full-day kindergarten programs.

Additionally, the 2012 budget reduced university funding by about $198 million and took about $70 million away from the community college system.

In one sense, however, Dr. Word must admit, Brewer is being perfectly consistent. She made her statements at a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new Student Resource Center at the University of Phoenix Yuma Learning Center. University of Phoenix is a for profit college which has gotten in trouble recently for its illegal recruiting practices, putting students in lifelong debt and offering them little in the way of useful training and education. Simply add the work "privatizing" at the beginning of her "No. 1 priority" statement, and it rings true: "[Privatizing] education is my No. 1 priority."