Public Education

Most of us are products of the American system of public education. Therefore, most of us know what the system is like, and we know the quality of education that our children can get from this system.

The cry today from all quarters is to increase per-pupil funding. There are several ways to accomplish this goal.

First, we can increase revenue by raising taxes. This option however has been overused in the past and is especially inappropriate with the current decline in our economy.

A second alternative to increase per-pupil funding is to divert existing revenue from other public programs. This will require carefully examining the state budget and eliminating expenses that are not needed or that are not within the purview of the state.

The program was not implemented in Utah for a number of reasons. But the concept of freedom of choice is still sound. The one-size-fits-all school system in the U.S. does not work for all of our students. Giving all parents - not just the rich - the freedom of choice for how and where their children are educated can benefit many children. The gifted, the challenged, and kids being bullied can all benefit for the opportunity to find a better solution. Parental choice in the form of vouchers increase the chance of children being successful.

A fourth way we can increase per pupil funding is to lobby congress to allow for the utilization of natural resources within the school trust lands. President Clinton locked up millions of tons of the cleanest burning coal available when he created the Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument. If this coal could be used, our air would be cleaner and millions of dollars in revenue could be generated that would increase per pupil funding and decrease the already high taxes we pay. As a legislator, I will lobby for changes such as these that will assist in adequately funding our schools.

A fifth way we can increase per-pupil classroom funding is outlined on the web site Utahsright.com. Go oto this web site and follow the link for Public Employee Salaries. Look up your school district. It shows everyone's salary. Look at how many administrators and directors there are at the district level. You will see that all of the administrators make really good money. The teachers, who are in the classrooms with your children, are at the bottom of the list. If we want to really increase per-pupil funding in the classroom, let's put the money in the classroom instead of into district administrators' pockets. If we want to pay teachers better without increasing our taxes, we can reduce the high salaries of administrators.