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 Arizona’s 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.”
That’s when I realized that we—as a state—are failing our children. I didn’t know then that I’d run for office, but I knew I needed to do more than just focus on helping my own students in the classroom—I 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 Arizona’s kids.
And then, in 2016, after I was named Arizona’s 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 state’s future.
We can do better.
Over my 25 years of teaching, I’ve taught more than 3500 students; I’ve learned how to solve problems and I’ve figured out how to reach people who sometimes don’t want to be reached. I’ve 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 isn’t what we see at the State Capitol. I’ve watched year after year, just as you have, a legislature dominated by partisan politics -- and I’ve watched legislators promise to “get things done” while passing a universal voucher bill, undermining our referendum rights and underfunding our public schools.
Well I’m tired of watching. I’m running.
http://www.christineportermarsh.com
