Randy Watson had an earful for folks in Ottawa recently.

The Kansas commissioner of education told them emphasis on college education and advanced degrees wasn’t for every high school student and a multitude of careers awaited those who opted for less training and quicker entrance to the work-a-day world.

“We are going to raise the bar beyond what anyone has ever seen,” he declared. “We are going to lead the world. … The challenge today is ‘how do we help every kid and every family be successful?’” the Ottawa Herald reported Watson as saying. “And ‘how do we do that while facing uncertainty about funding?’ We are going to have to challenge our existing models so that every kid is successful.”

If that sound familiar, it is much of what is going in schools in Iola, Moran and Humboldt.

A several-days session drew dozens of USD 257 patrons and staff to formulate precisely what Watson mentioned. Ways to give kids educations that would prepare them for careers after high school, not just professional positions but also jobs that are required everyday to keep society in Iola, Kansas and the nation on an even keel.

Practitioners who know how to repair plumbing problems, or get the power back on, or even tend lawns are indispensable. So are clerks who know merchandise and are willing and able to give a helping hand. Few homeowners have the knowledge or the stamina to roof their homes; thankfully there are workers who can step up.

And, how distressing would it be not to have trash and garbage removed here twice a week?

 A part of several school districts’ plan to help kids find their niche in the world will open before long in the old Diebolt Lumber building southeast of LaHarpe. At the start a handful of vocational courses will be offered — thanks to the generosity of Ray Maloney, who understands working with your hands is a noble pursuit — and expanded as time goes on.

Construction courses in all three Allen County districts have produced workers who make good livings with local companies. And those who found other careers have the skills for many do-yourself projects at home.

“Young men and women who go on to be an electrician, physical  therapy assistant, radiology tech, welder, an app developer; they deserve our honor and our recognition just as much as the kid who is going to KU to major in pre-pharmacy,” Watson said, punctuating his comments by noting a statewide survey found 70 percent of responses about what makes up successful people were non-academic in nature.

— Bob Johnson

“It’s … a certainty that aliens will be allowed to vote in this primary election …” Secretary of State Kris Kobach said, after Shawnee County District Court Judge Larry Hendricks ruled votes of people who registered without proof of citizenship documentation must be counted.

The ruling, in response to an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit, means 17,600 people who registered at motor vehicle offices will be affected. About 50,000 Kansans would vote on Nov. 8, if another hearing bears the same results.

Their votes would have counted regardless in national elections, and now do in local and state races.

Kobach has railed about violations and found the means to put into place strict regulations for voters, including photographic proof of identity. The outcome has been fewer registrations, and votes.

Kobach’s rationale is that illegals — Hispanics who have crossed the border to work in the United States — are clamoring for the right to vote.

Really?

Only a meager number of violations of election laws have surfaced in recent years, mostly because of an oversight on the part of the voter and with no nefarious intent.

Further, why an “alien” — Kobach loves to denigrate with the term — would want to vote if he or she is uncertain, or knows, they are in the country illegally? Trying to register, much less vote, under any circumstances would lead to them being found out, and face deportation.

Non-citizens here legally with work or visitor permits might like the opportunity to vote, but if they have done all the right things to be in the U.S. why would they jeopardize their stay?

The answer is obvious to any thoughtful person. 

Meanwhile, without doubt Kobach has used the illegal-voting strategy — fear of the unknown, don’t you know — as a campaign tool to be elected to the statewide position he holds and the skinny from Topeka is he will try to capitalize on it again in two years to go after the governorship.

Our great hope is when the campaign for governor rolls around — it can come none too soon — whoever files is more moderate than Sam Brownback, and Kobach, both of whom are a little to the right of Attila the Hun.

— Bob Johnson

Maybe what we need more than anything else over the next 100 days is a good dose of Will Rogers.

Those 100 days are how long until the general election occurs and our fervent hope is a huge number of Americans will exercise their franchise and decide whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump will be president for the next four years.

Rogers had a funny line for every thing political and perhaps one not so funny that went something like this: “This nation is bigger than any man (or woman) or party. They couldn’t ruin it even if they tried.”

In the minds of many pundits, on both sides of the political abyss, ruining the country is exactly what each candidate will do if elected. Not likely. Too many checks and balances stand in the way, and with either their ultimate aim, we have to think, is to carry on the nation’s role as being where the buck stops. And, just as importantly, to have the U.S. remain the land of the free, home of the brave and where social and cultural advantages accrue at an accelerated pace.

During the next 14 weeks, we’ll witness contentiousness and acrimony far more often than we’d prefer. Charges, counter-charges and downright kicking and screaming will fill the airways, and be found in many published pieces having to do with the campaigns.

Accept what you will, but be careful to temper that with a little fact-checking and listen to rebuttals. Sometimes what is said is done for effect, and skips the taste test.

MEANWHILE, we’ve local elections to decide.

We will pick Republican candidates that in at least two primaries Tuesday will produce eventual winners.

Facing off for Allen County attorney are the incumbent, Jerry Hathaway, and his opponent, Linus Thuston. For  the District 2 county commission seat, incumbent Tom Williams is opposed by Ron Ballard.

The race for sheriff has drawn three to the primary and a fourth may enter the race today.

Incumbent Bryan Murphy is opposed in the primary by Kelley Zellner and Jared Froggette. If his petition numbers are sufficient — County Clerk Sherrie Riebel will check them — Mike Aronson, an Iola police officer, will have his name on the Nov. 8 as an independent candidate.

Tuesday’s election is important to folks throughout the county and it would behoove every Republican who hasn’t voted in the advance phase to do so Tuesday. Polls open at 7 p.m. and will remain open until 7 p.m.

— Bob Johnson