Musings at graduation time

Musings at graduation time

This is an exciting time for thou- sands of young graduates, as stories and photos on the front page of the paper have chronicled in recent days, including today.

The quality — and cost — of education is a serious topic of debate. It has been for years and will continue to be for years to come.

The United States is still struggling with the need to adapt education to fit needs and meet challenges that have been changing.

Are we giving the next generation the tools they need to succeed, and are we producing educated adults who will serve the needs of society? Sometimes yes, and when that happens, schools, parents and students alike are happy to take the credit. When the answer is no, very few want to take even a share of the blame.

That is, perhaps, as good a message to impart to the graduates of 2011 as any. Success has many fathers but failure is an orphan.

But as this year’s graduates flip their tassels from one side of the mortarboard to the other, they can enjoy the feeling that comes with reaching a long-sought goal. And each knows whom to thank for their personal success.