Letter: Freedom, as in education?

Published: 08-30-2024 1:59 PM

wilton nh

A free public education is the building block of all post-industrial democracies. It’s what can move anyone up the economic scale and it rewards hard work.

In New Hampshire, the Republican Legislature and Gov. Chris Sununu don’t get it. Twice, our Supreme Court has ruled that we provide inadequate funding at the state level. The response has been appeal, delay, ignore. Local property taxpayers make up the difference or fail their children. It puts property-poor communities at a great disadvantage.

It’s the reason your local taxes are so high. It’s the reason small towns cut programs at their schools. Brilliant students come from all kinds of homes; the lack of funding fails to deliver an “adequate” education to many. That hurts the student, their families, the state, the country and the future.

The state has mistaken Education Freedom Accounts for real help. These accounts funnel the state portion to private schools while not establishing ground rules for which schools actually provide a well-rounded education. They have tried to remove any caps on income. School year 2023-2024 took nearly $25 million from public schools and moved it to private schools. The cost at the local level doesn’t change proportionally because the local cost includes infrastructure’ that’s a fixed cost. Schools close, courses and teachers get cut.

Some people can afford private schools that cost thousands more than the state portion. The rest of us get fleeced. Remember that when you vote in November.

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