As the new school year begins, I find myself nostalgic. This year is no ordinary year. I recently attended an ISU Alumni Dinner in the wake of their homecoming, celebrating 125 years as an institution. We, as Americans, just celebrated our 250th anniversary. We should remember everything that has happened up to this point. History matters, and it has not been without challenges.
Education has considerably long-lasting value within my family’s history and at present, so much so that I do concern myself with its future. For the purpose of nostalgia, I will date myself by reminiscing. I remember receiving citizenship grades in elementary school. This citizenship grade evaluated how an individual affected the classroom as a whole. For instance, if you were tardy, absent, spoke in/out turn, lined up (orderly/disciplined) for recess, lunch, etc, and “treated others as you would like to be treated” (you know, the golden rule). I bring this up not just to be the old geezer, like my parents and grandparents before me, complaining about “kids these days,” but because being a citizen requires responsible actions in public service. I bring it up because all citizens should participate in our representative democracy through exercising their right to vote within their local communities. After all, our founders fought a Revolution because they weren’t allowed representation. They paid a price in blood, sweat and tears. It is our duty to uphold those rights through action, not be complacent through inaction.
Federal funding for the Department of Education already took a pretty big hit to public schools because of DOGE. Yet, public schools locally are being hit by further budget cuts at the state level to accommodate private schools and homeschooling by diverting money from public education through the recently passed voucher scheme. Our state policymakers complain that the cost of one child a day in school is approximately $2.50 per day. You pay more for a gallon of gas. The wealthiest still get tax breaks, and now they get an added benefit to fund their children’s private school by spreading the public school budget thinner than ever. The average Idahoan takes the brunt of these funding cuts, while the wealthiest continue in comfort.
Communities do better when everyone does better, and public schools are necessary within a community. All taxpaying citizens should all be concerned with how and where their tax dollars are spent in public service. Our local representatives are accountable to us for this financial management. Complaints about the way things are could be reaching critical mass. It is the responsibility of citizens to take part in the issues that face their community, regardless of whether they affect you directly. Vote for representatives that will account for dollars and sense (I leave you with a pun).
Kamber Weninger was born and raised in Idaho Falls and has worked in education and as a representative for the Census. She volunteers with the Bonneville County Democratic Central Committee.