The gambling money

Gov. Brad Henry said he wanted to do something “big” for education. Time will tell whether a trio of gambling measures approved by voters this week will prove to be just that. The lottery and gaming at racetracks and Indian casinos eventually will pour more than $200 million annually into education if Henry and Scott Meacham, the state’s finance director, are correct. At the same time, the Legislature is prohibited from reducing education’s other state appropriations. Voter approval of State Questions 705, 706 and 712 were major victories for the Henry administration. Henry’s gubernatorial campaign in 2002 centered on the so-called education lottery and it passed by a wide margin, carrying every county in the state. The gaming question faced more opposition but still managed to carry all but three of the state’s 77 counties. Those are convincing wins, and they prove that many people believe the lottery’s time has come and that provisions directing the money to education are adequate. Henry and Meacham have said the lottery and gaming revenue will help pay for college scholarships and the five-year plan to raise teachers’ salaries that was approved by lawmakers earlier this year. We certainly agree that will be money well spent. But plenty remains to be seen about how much long-term help the gaming compacts and lottery actually provides for education, and whether it will make voters less likely to support bond issues or sales taxes for capital improvements. Money will help education’s cause, but we don’t believe it’s the panacea. Henry must lead the way in convincing Oklahomans to put a greater value on education, setting high standards for a high school diploma and helping ensure all students are academically prepared for college even if they opt to join the work force. We think he’s up to the challenge. The governor also can help elevate the state’s best teachers by pushing for a merit-pay system that rewards teachers for outstanding work instead of the current uniform system that assumes all educators are equal. The Oklahoman