On Friday’s edition of Idaho Public Television’s “Idaho Reports,” I talked about our in-depth series on the state’s struggles to get high school graduates to continue their education.

I’m part of a pundits’  panel discussion with Boise School District Superintendent Don Coberly; State Board of Education member David Hill; Betsy Russell of the Spokane Spokesman-Review; and “Idaho Reports” host Melissa Davlin.

It was a good discussion — focused, in part, on the value of a liberal arts college education as a public good.

And that, in turn, made me think about a report that started me thinking about this series: the “Idaho’s Future Initiative” report issued in August. When the State Board and the University of Idaho convened 31 college and career counselors and advisers to discuss Idaho’s postsecondary challenges, U of I student Madison Jackson sat in on the meetings. In an essay included in the report, Jackson says Idaho needs to emphasize the intellectual and social growth that comes through higher education.

“We must make college more than an expensive investment required to make more money in the vague period labeled ‘some day,'” Jackson wrote.

I didn’t write about Jackson’s essay in the series, but it’s been on my mind.

Click here to start reading our “Life After High School” series, and click here to watch “Idaho Reports.”