FLIPPABLE: Christine Marsh for AZ-SD28
Two years ago, a student asked me if Arizona kids were worth less than kids in other states.
Of course not! I said.
Continuing, he asked, Well, why are Arizonas students funded so far below the national average in per student funding? It sure seems like Arizona values its students less than other states do.
Thats when I realized that weas a stateare failing our children. I didnt know then that Id run for office, but I knew I needed to do more than just focus on helping my own students in the classroomI needed to try to help all Arizona students in every classroom. I needed to get off the sidelines and into the game to make things better for Arizonas kids.
And then, in 2016, after I was named Arizonas Teacher of the Year, I had the opportunity to travel the state and advocate for students and teachers from Sierra Vista to Flagstaff. During that time, I saw firsthand the importance of a highly educated workforce to the future economy of our state, and I realized that current state leadership is irresponsible in its pursuit of short-term gains at the expense of funding our schools.
Yes, we have amazing teachers doing incredible work with students in classrooms all across the state, but we are not supporting our schools in a sustainable way. We are not truly investing in our states future.
We can do better.
Over my 25 years of teaching, Ive taught more than 3500 students; Ive learned how to solve problems and Ive figured out how to reach people who sometimes dont want to be reached. Ive learned that the classroom should be a marketplace for ideas, where every student has the opportunity to learn, to speak and to grow.
Yet, that isnt what we see at the State Capitol. Ive watched year after year, just as you have, a legislature dominated by partisan politics -- and Ive watched legislators promise to get things done while passing a universal voucher bill, undermining our referendum rights and underfunding our public schools.
Well Im tired of watching. Im running.
http://www.christineportermarsh.com