Mitch Daniels recently proposed to freeze basic funding for public schools, K-12 and higher education. The freeze in funding is one of the governor's measures to overcome the state's fiscal crisis. I do believe it is important for Daniels to address the state's massive budget deficit. However, selling out the state's educational system to solve the government's fiscal mistakes will be detrimental to the people of Indiana.
First, let's look at Indiana's educational system. We have teachers who are dedicated to ensure Indiana's children gain the education they deserve and need. However, state spending on education is less than adequate. According to the Children's Defense Fund, Indiana ranks 18th in state spending per pupil. In fact, Indiana spends 3.1 times more on prisoners than on public school students. This is indicative of how the state has not prioritized education. The lack of funding has resulted in larger class sizes, poor school conditions, lower tests scores and ultimately a lower quality education for Indiana's children.
The state government has also neglected retention for college graduates. Although we have some of the finest public universities in the nation, according to a Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology study, Indiana ranks 48th in state citizens who hold a bachelor's degree. One of the major factors in deciding whether a graduate will remain in Indiana involves the state's support for education. This lack of support pushes the state's finest minds to other parts of the country.
The effect of freezing funds for schools that are already under-funded will be disastrous. The budgets for Indiana's public schools are already spread as thin as possible. A freeze in funding will result in teacher layoffs, cuts in student activities and in school curriculum. Teachers will suffer in layoffs and salary cuts. Students will lose essential educational resources that are necessary for success. Finally, our society as a whole will suffer because one of the most significant factors that ensure a community's stability depends on how well the citizens are educated.
Public schools continuously face extremely tight budgets. It would be understandable to freeze funding if public schools were inefficient, money guzzling bureaucracies that poorly performed on a continual basis (hmmm, that sounds like our state government). This is not the case for Indiana public schools. Schools, with few exceptions, squeeze every cent out of their budget to provide the best education possible. A freeze in spending would not result in more efficient spending. Rather schools would be forced to cut essential programs.
If Gov. Daniels is committed to solve the state's fiscal crisis, then he should increase rather than freeze public school funding. The Children's Defense Fund reports that every dollar invested on education saves seven dollars for state budgets. This is because citizens who are literate, high school graduates and/or enrolled in some form of higher education provide social and economic stability.
I believe that Gov. Daniels is a strong leader who has the potential to provide a significant positive contribution to Indiana. Turning his back on education is not the way to show responsible leadership or fiscal responsibility. I hope that either Gov. Daniels will change his position, or the Indiana Legislature will have good enough sense to reject any freeze on educational funding.
Write to Donny at djpeters@bsu.edu
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