Republicans cripple public schools

America’s founding fathers realized that democracy requires citizens to be educated and informed. Yet Iowa’s governor and legislature continue to cripple our state’s public schools with inadequate funding, anti-science directives, book censorship, dress code requirements, anti-LGBTQ mandates, vaccination skepticism, and money diverted to unaccountable private schools. Legislative leaders and Kim Reynolds also want to restrict what’s available in public libraries.

Where does that leave our once proud state, which formerly ranked near the top in the nation for education quality? Will Iowa’s future citizens lose the essential knowledge and ability to vote intelligently?

Thomas Jefferson had a prediction: “Any nation that expects to be ignorant and free,” he said, “expects what never was and never will be.”

Donald Trump, during his 2016 presidential campaign, boasted“ I love the poorly educated.”

Are Iowans to the point where ignorance is bliss?

Larry A. Stone

Elkader