Two weeks ago, my fourth-grade class and I were discussing Utah's unique geological features. When I asked what fault crosses the Wasatch Front, one of my students responded "asphalt." Later that evening I realized just how prescient this 10 year old was and asked myself, "Where does the fault lie for the inadequate funding of our schools?"
After doing some checking, I learned that Utah's elected officials have made a huge commitment to transportation projects for the next 10 years -- over $2.5 billion from state sources alone. At the same time, we have underfunded public education by spending just 60 percent of the national average on each student. If elected officials were only half as committed to Utah's students as they are to Utah's roads, we could provide so much more for our children -- smaller classes with more individualized instruction, up-to-date textbooks for every student and elementary school specialists.This legislative session, Gov. Leavitt and the Legislature owe it to our children not to de"fault" on the future of Utah's students, and adequately address the needs of our public schools.
Kim Richards
Salt Lake City