Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Why should anyone pay more taxes to the public school?

1. Freedom.

“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own Governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”

—James Madison

or

“The more the ignorance, the better the slave.”

—Edmund Fairfield, President, Hillsdale College, July 4, 1853

2. Equality of Opportunity.

Public education provides the same instruction regardless of a person’s gender, income, race, religion, sexual orientation or nationality—it levels the playing field.

All the surrounding school districts of our size pay a higher total tax rate for education.

The Federal and State governments are requiring more from public schools without fully funding them.

3. Reduce Poverty.

Support education; raise the socioeconomic status. “46 percent of Americans who grew up in low-income families but failed to earn college degrees stayed in the lowest income quintile, compared to 16 percent for those who earned a college degree.” In order to get a college degree, one must start with the basics that are learned in our public school system.

4. Reduce Crime. (One of the side benefits of reducing poverty. See #3 above.)

“When I was a boy on the Mississippi River there was a proposition in a township there to discontinue public schools because they were too expensive. An old farmer spoke up and said if they stopped building the schools they would not save anything, because every time a school was closed a jail had to be built.”

—Mark Twain

5. Brighten the Future.

Technology funding means more opportunities, more connections with others, and more knowledge faster. (See all of the above.)

“If I have seen further it is by standing on ye shoulders of giants.”

--Sir Isaac Newton

or

“I believe the children are the future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.”

--Lyrics from “The Greatest Love of All” by George Benson; made famous by Whitney Houston.

Please vote yes on February 9th--for the school, for the students, and ultimately for you.

Thank you.

Nyssa Zanger

Dayton