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How does education benefit me? How do I, as a retired 66-year-old, benefit from paying for someone else's kids' education?

There are, of course, the “feel good” benefits — the joy of learning, the excitement and positive energy of purpose and challenge and achievement. But what about the “real world,” the “practical world?”

What are the dollar-and-cents benefits for me? Is education just another expense, another tax burden? Or is education an investment, a wise use of my hard-earned tax money that brings a significant return?

Some numbers to consider:

High school graduates earn on average $700,000 more in their working lifetime than dropouts. That means they pay $100,000 more in taxes that support my Social Security, Medicare, etc. It also means they are 10 times less likely to go to prison or be on welfare. Prisoners cost taxpayers $26,000 per year, and people on welfare cost taxpayers $17,000 per year.

The numbers are even more significant with training/education beyond high school.

Apprenticeships in trades (welding, electrician, plumbing, mechanical, carpentry, etc.), academic (medicine, education, law, etc.) and vocational technical all lead to significantly higher incomes — and more taxes paid into society. And much less likely to be a drag on society (i.e. prison).

In 1900, an eighth-grade education was considered to be adequate. In 1950, a high school education was considered to be adequate. This is 2016. It is time to raise the bar. It is in my best interest to support training and education beyond high school. It is in our society's best interest.

STEVE JOHNSON

Sandpoint