This week I had the opportunity to reconnect with a friend from rural eastern Iowa. Last year, she decided she wanted to help public schools as she was hearing there was a great need. She became a substitute educational assistant. My friend told me about how she loved working with the students and misses them very much. To paraphrase my friend: “The teachers are working hard; working with young people is enriching, and help is needed in public schools.” Every Sunday, my friend would receive up to five calls asking her to work the next day. Hearing her story confirms for me that public schools need more help from the state.
With vision, a determination to work with all interested parties, and adequate funding, we can provide the same quality public education that I received as a child in Iowa. I agree with the Governor that we need to provide a high quality education to all Iowans. I disagree on how we do that.
Governor Reynolds is giving up on public schools. The governor has proposed a bill to divert tax dollars from public schools to private schools. The governor has underfunded public schools since she was first elected and now blames public schools for not being able to serve all Iowa’s children. Instead of diverting tax dollars to private schools, we should be asking “How can we assure that schools have the funds, flexibility, and resources to serve all children?” The voucher bill is a symbol that the governor is giving up on public education.
In the Governor’s Condition of the State address she gave, as one of her primary examples of the advantages of private schooling, an example of a child being bullied in public schools. But we know bullying is a problem in all schools, both public and private. Bullying is a tough issue which deserves our attention but gutting public schools in favor of private schools is not a solution. If our public schools are failing, it is a result of lack of investment, commitment and leadership from the Governor’s office.
My choice is public schools that benefit all Iowa’s students. Proposals to divert taxpayer dollars from public schools divide us. Don’t let the governor gut our children’s education. Contact her office to let her know how you feel. https://governor.iowa.gov/contact
Some public schools color outside the lines. For example rather than simply teach history honestly, they teach that blacks are minorities and all their problems are due to white supremacy. They want to get into the idea that you should be the opposite sex than you were born with. Simply put they promote their own agenda. School should be about learning skills that will develop young people into responsible adults to carry on for future generations. That stupid stuff they can pick up on their own.