Defending Vermont’s public schools

Dear Editor,

The most alarming thing about Governor Scott’s education transformation proposal is that it follows the playbook of conservative billionaires who are funding a coordinated effort to dismantle public education. Americans for Prosperity, a political advocacy group founded by the Koch Brothers, recently confirmed this when they singled out and praised Governor Scott’s efforts. Under the false promise of school choice, the governor wants to expand tuition payments to private schools. This will further drain dollars from the state budget and our public education system to fund unaccountable private schools.

Part of the strategy of these conservative billionaires is to politicize and dismantle trust in our public schools. They try pitting parents against public schools and teachers, thus dividing communities. These efforts to vilify educators are simply attempts to justify diverting taxpayer dollars away from public education.

Public education is a cornerstone of our nation’s democracy, and public schools are essential to providing youth with the skills and knowledge to be engaged participants in our society. Two hundred fifty years ago, Vermont’s founders knew that a well-educated population was the only way to ensure Vermont’s future and protect us from autocrats and tyranny. This is highlighted by the fact that education is the only government service mentioned in the Vermont Constitution. The framers knew precisely what they were doing with the education clause, the common benefit clause, and the compelled support clause of the Vermont Constitution.

Public education’s importance in preserving our democracy is as important today as it was 250 ago. We will need to find common ground as we look for solutions to our problems. I would like to suggest that the Legislature ignore the conservative billionaires and stay grounded in Vermont’s Constitutional history.

Greg Hughes, Bethel