I support the public school system

To the editor:

I want to thank our Alaska senators and representatives for their service to our great state.

I am a fourth-generation Alaskan. My grandparents, parents, myself, my children and now my grandchildren have all attended public schools in Alaska. I was inspired by my teachers in Wrangell to become a public educator. I support the American style of public school system where we educate all children. I taught English in a Japanese public school, where I admired their emphasis of the arts while being appalled at the system of segregation of those who are disabled and not high achievers.

Those students are sent to other schools and are not included in the national testing pools. In fact, if you don’t test high enough in eighth grade, you are given a job in the community instead of going on to high school. Just keep this fact in mind when comparing international test scores. Our great American school system educates all and gives every student the opportunity to become successful while most foreign schools don’t provide equal opportunities.

First, I would like to voice my displeasure at not being allowed to testify at the scheduled time for testimony on Senate Joint Resolution 9. I showed up at the Legislative Information Office in Wasilla with at least a dozen others in opposition to SJR9, but was amazed to see and hear a local supporter of Senator Dunleavy’s proposal had a direct line to speak, while we all lost our turn to testify. Then the session was cut short and rescheduled for a time when most cannot take another day off of work. I am hearing from others around the state that they, too, could not believe how everyone was cut off and told that they had to reschedule.

I am writing to oppose SJR9, the constitutional amendment to allow public funds for private schools, which is an open door to a voucher system. Public schools are accountable to local, state and federal regulations that require accountability and provide protections for all children and employees. A voucher system would either require bigger government, which means spending more state dollars to ensure accountability and compliance for schools receiving vouchers, or no accountability at all, which is a bad idea.

If the goal of voucher systems is to provide more choice to parents, there is already choice in our public school system with public charter schools, correspondence programs and online learning opportunities. If the point of vouchers is supposed to increase academic achievement, research has shown that vouchers are not any more effective at raising test scores than public schools. The only achievement of vouchers has been to siphon more money from public education. As the chief financial officer for Mat-Su public schools stated when asked how many vouchers it would take to hurt our Mat-Su schools, “every one.”

The Legislature must also consider our rural areas when deciding if we should change our constitution to allow public funds for private schools. Rural areas are losing their population to more urban areas so the amendment could pass a public vote while bringing irreparable harm to rural schools. One or two students using a voucher could be the kiss of death for a rural school, which is usually the lifeblood of the community. Changing our state constitution to benefit a few while harming many is not responsible legislation.

We must wisely weigh all of the benefits and consequences before deciding to bring this to a public vote. Consider who SJR9 would benefit compared to whom it may harm. Let’s continue to work together to improve the wonderful public schools that we have in our great state by raising the base student allocation so schools can continue to make the necessary improvements and keep our class sizes smaller. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Tracey Martin

Wasilla