When I read and listen to the news these days, I realize that we are living in a confusing time that is much like the period before the Great Depression.

Economic, medical and political issues were as difficult to sort through then as they are now. The “lost generation” came home from World War I, there had been a pandemic, and energy, technology and transportation were changing the economy.

As Volunteer Director of Kump Education Center, I have learned a good deal about ways President F.D. Roosevelt and Governor H.G. Kump dealt with the situation when they were inaugurated March 4, 1933. Kump and Roosevelt took office on the same day, when F.D.R. closed all U.S. banks because many local banks could not function. Roosevelt started his Fireside Chat with the wonderful line:

“We have nothing to fear but fear itself,” said President Franklin DeLano Roosevelt.

That same day Gov. Kump introduced his plan for our home state. After years of overspending by Republicans in West Virginia, Kump would balance the budget using moderation. Most of all, Kump wanted to create a county-unit school system because he was aware of the limitations and uncertainties of totally parent-run school systems.

When young Guy Kump had finished his eighth level reader at his one-room school in rural Hampshire County, the current teacher left to find better opportunities. The parents’ committee solved the problem by asking young Kump to be the teacher. They said: “Now, Guy, you just teach the others everything you know.” Kump did the best he could, but he realized that an educational system needs standards.

We each need to find reasonable standards in this time of confusion when the news reports seem so chaotic. West Virginians have been called “Pill Billies” by pharmaceutical companies, our state has the most victims of fatal four-wheeler accidents, and now political “school choice” advocates want to reduce their taxes by taking money away from public education. The current conundrums make the future uncertain for young West Virginia families.

Nevertheless, the U.S. Stock Market remains at a record high, and the rich get richer while cutting corporate costs by hiring fewer people. Robots and AI seem to be winning while ordinary people cannot afford health care or childcare. We are creating an economy that favors winners and punishes losers. If poorer people become discouraged and use drugs or alcohol, they often end up in jail leaving their kids behind, and now 6,000 WV children are in the WV foster care system that does not meet meaningful standards.

West Virginia must have kinder leadership with the needs of young families in mind, unless we want to continue watching young families leave our state during these changing times.