Because education is the backbone of a competitive workforce and

Hear the words of Michael F. Easley, who once declared: “Because education is the backbone of a competitive workforce and successful economy, making it a priority is not uncommon.” Though simple in form, these words are a pillar of truth. They remind us that the strength of a people and the prosperity of a nation are built not upon chance nor wealth alone, but upon the cultivation of the mind. Without education, there is no skill; without skill, there is no industry; without industry, there is no enduring greatness.

To call education the backbone is to name it as the unseen support upon which all else rests. Just as the body cannot stand upright without its spine, so too can no nation stand firm without an enlightened and trained people. The wealth of mines and fields may fade, but the wealth of knowledge multiplies itself endlessly. The armies of the strongest nation may falter, but the wisdom of its people will rise again and again, building anew. Thus, Easley reminds us that education is not merely an ornament for the privileged, but the foundation upon which every successful economy is built.

History testifies to this truth. In the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, England surged ahead of her rivals not only because of coal and iron, but because her people were taught to read, to calculate, to engineer. The steam engine, the spinning jenny, the railway—all were born from minds sharpened by education. Without that backbone, the wealth of resources would have lain dormant. In this we see the living proof of Easley’s words: education makes a nation competitive, resilient, and creative.

Another tale is found in the rise of Japan after the Meiji Restoration. Emerging from centuries of isolation, Japan’s leaders understood that their survival depended not merely on weapons but on knowledge. They sent students across the world, brought teachers into their cities, and made education the lifeblood of their reform. Within a generation, Japan transformed into a modern power. Their workforce became skilled, their economy flourished, and their nation claimed a seat among the strongest. Here is the clear lesson: where education is made a priority, progress follows.

Easley also speaks to the present reality: that making education a priority is “not uncommon.” For across nations, leaders know this truth in their hearts, though not all practice it with equal zeal. Yet the wisdom is ancient: to build a future, invest in the young; to secure prosperity, invest in their minds. For the wealth of nations does not lie in gold or oil alone, but in the capacity of its people to learn, to adapt, and to innovate.

The meaning of this quote, then, is both pragmatic and visionary. Pragmatic, because it points to the clear link between education and economic success. Visionary, because it calls us to see beyond immediate gain and to invest in the generations yet unborn. The man or woman who learns today may create tomorrow’s industry, tomorrow’s art, tomorrow’s healing. To neglect education is to rob the future; to prioritize it is to secure it.

The lesson for us is clear: if we would see our communities strong and our children flourishing, we must make education not a burden, but our highest priority. Support schools, honor teachers, share knowledge, and never cease learning yourselves. For every book opened, every skill taught, every mind awakened adds strength to the backbone of society.

Thus let Easley’s words echo as both reminder and command: “Because education is the backbone of a competitive workforce and successful economy, making it a priority is not uncommon.” Let it be more than common—let it be universal. For in raising the mind, we raise the nation; and in raising the nation, we lift humanity itself.