School Funding

On the way home from my daughter-in-laws graduation I heard a commercial on the radio. This commercial was about a movement in Idaho called "raise your hand". They feel that no cut backs should be made in education. They are angry that the legislature cut funding from schools. I went to their web-site. Every one of their ideas was to increase taxes. I especially liked the one to do away with the grocery tax credit. (the one that helps low income families?) Or how about increasing sales tax by a penny? Both of these will hurt Idaho families who are already struggling. Did you know that 51% of the state budget goes to paying for Idaho schools? Where do people think the state revenues come from? To get income taxes people have to be employed. We need to put our energy into attracting jobs to the state and keeping the jobs we have. The other thing we need to remember is other important state organizations have been impacted by the budget cuts, education isn't the only place that is suffering. I have a good friend who worked for the juvenile detention system. He is highly educated (Phd.), had a very important job, worked hard, had been with the state for about 10 years, etc. His job was cut last year. I think we can all agree that juvenile detention is pretty important. This man was highly qualified for the job and had done a great job for the state. However, because of budget cuts his job was eliminated. These are the realities of our times. The reality is that a lot of people are suffering right now. Though my husband doesn't work for the state, his company has let go 50% of their work force in the last 2 years. He currently does the work that was done by three people in the past. My point is that everyone is struggling; private and public sector.

Instead of acting like these terrible people are trying to hurt kids, we need to be working with them to find ways to cut costs, avoid waste, and generate more income for the state. There is too much finger pointing and blame. Educators are smart people and we need to join the discussion; find innovative ways to help children. Show we are aware of where state revenues come from, volunteer ways to save money, encourage efforts to create jobs in Idaho.

I am not exempt from the stress of cutting spending to education. I don't think it should be the first thing legislators do. However, if they have exhausted other avenues then I know they will have to pull some funds from education. I don't like this and am sickened that it will probably keep me from getting a job. The thought of working at Walmart or McDonalds to pay my student loans off makes me literally sick to my stomach. I have wanted to be a teacher for so long and it breaks my heart that there is a good possibility that I will graduate and not be able to get a job.