After voters rejected a levy increase last year that resulted in $1.1 million in Albert Lea School District cuts, a survey was taken.

If you speculated, you would think the age groups that voted against the proposed levy last year were elderly folks and young adults. Not so.

The survey found that the age group with the highest percentage of no voters was 45 to 60 &8212; the baby boomers.

That&8217;s surprising, considering how good they had it. Their parents grew up in the Great Depression, fought in World War II and gave generously to the education of their many children. The Greatest Generation knew it is an American tradition for one generation to pay for the education of the next generation. That&8217;s how the system works.

Now that baby boomers&8217; children are in college or beyond and now that baby boomers are empty-nesters, apparently they don&8217;t want to pay for the education of the next generation, according to the survey results.

But it really isn&8217;t surprising if you believe that baby-boomers here are just like baby-boomers all over the United States. There are countless media reports that say the boomers have a reputation of being selfish. National surveys even show volunteerism percentages are higher among older and younger generations than baby boomers.

We think this reputation is wrong here. Baby boomers in Albert Lea are very much part of the community and are found volunteering most everywhere, including in the schools. The baby boomers in Albert Lea on Election Day have an opportunity to prove the national trends incorrect by voting in favor of the school levy.

Indeed, even if we look at the levy for selfish reasons, homeowners stand to lose home values by not supporting schools &8212; try selling your house when parents don&8217;t want to move here &8212; and companies are less inclined to locate here &8212; try attracting quality labor with bad schools. A rising tide lifts all boats.

Most local voters don&8217;t like the funding situation the state government has left local school districts in. If you don&8217;t like the situation for school funding, blame the state leaders, vote the bums out, but don&8217;t hurt the local kids. Don&8217;t be selfish. Vote to support your schools on Nov. 6.