Our public schools are in danger

As a former educator, I am very concerned about our pubic schools due to the lack of sufficient funding provided by the state. Teachers are dealing with higher numbers in their classrooms, an increased workload, and smaller increases in salaries. Now with the pandemic, teachers are working longer hours to create lessons to meet the needs of in-person and virtual learners. They are completely exhausted and many are now deciding to retire early. There are younger teachers who are now preparing to leave the teaching profession all together.

With this crisis in our public education, the Iowa Senate is proposing taking funding away from our public schools to provide 'vouchers” for private education. Instead of helping struggling schools to perform better and help teachers, our governor and legislators want to do further punish the public schools system in Iowa. We used to have one of the best educational systems in Iowa, but these bills will further erode our stellar reputation of a good quality education for all students in Iowa.

Terese Grant

Grinnell