Lack of full funding means our schools need help | Letter to the Editor

Published 12:35 pm Tuesday, April 3, 2012

I would like to encourage Islanders to join me in contributing what they can to the Vashon Public Schools Foundation.

This goes against everything I believe public education should be, as I believe our federal and state government should fully fund a high-quality education through tax dollars alone, for every child in every county in the United States. The sad fact is that Washington, D.C., and Washington state have never fully funded education in fat times, much less in these lean times. If we want our high school students to have an education that prepares them for college, we have to fund it ourselves. The state funding provides a minimum education, which means no state funding for classes in foreign language, art, music, upper-level science, math, English and social studies.

In the past, levy dollars have been enough to bridge the gap. But today, thanks to further cuts by the state Legislature, it is not enough. Please, Vashon, come through again, for the sake of our children. If contributions are made in the month of April, we will be able to plan for next school year, which will help my colleagues and me to do our best to teach Vashon’s children.

— Martha Woodard, Vashon Island High School teacher