School vouchers will hurt Idaho

Please contact your representatives and urge them to keep public schools funded at the optimum levels possible. Allowing private schools to take funds away from public schools will only hurt our state, especially the disadvantaged students whose parents can’t afford the extra money likely required to attend religious and other private schools. The selectivity afforded private schools will also further stratify and separate our children’s educational opportunities. We currently have a difficult time attracting and keeping good teachers. To further water down our limited resources will only make a difficult situation worse. Please keep public funding where it will do the most good, with public schools.

Additionally, I live in Post Falls but I teach in Spokane solely because the pay for teachers and financial support for students in Washington state is better than what Idaho provides. I love Idaho, I am a lifelong resident and my children were raised here. I hope that Idaho can provide the education that will foster the type of jobs my kids may want. Please contact your representatives and urge them to vote against diluting public school funding. School vouchers are not the answer.

Bill Bauman

Post Falls