The U.S. Congress is currently considering appropriating $10 billion to help state and territorial governments maintain school funding. With revenue shortfalls in almost all states and territories now, the federal government is a last hope to preserve jobs for teachers and keep schools open five days a week. I believe that it is precisely when the economy is down that we should be investing more in educating ourselves and others in our society.
It’s a well-documented fact: when the economy goes south, more people decide to go to school. They know that bringing their skills up-to-date, or investing in new skills, makes them more employable when the economy picks up. They know that investing in their own education will reap financial benefits for them in the future.
So it seems strange that when the economy goes south, governments do just the opposite of what individuals do.
Governments start cutting expenditures for education. Of course, governments don’t have unlimited funds. And when revenues are short, something has to be cut. But education?
I think that in times of economic crisis like this, when funds are limited, it is more important than ever for government to spend wisely and invest in public services, like education, that give the best return.
It’s not easy to have that discipline. The immediate benefits of education are hard to see, unless you have a child in school and can watch them grow in learning week by week.
And the benefits of education are spread wide to many people. While government often responds to the few who have influence or the loudest voices.
Yet an educated workforce is what propels our economy forward, driving innovation, and keeping us competitive in the regional and global markets. And an educated community is healthier, happier, and more able to make the decisions that will keep our islands — and our island culture — alive and well throughout the challenges of the twenty-first century.
I know that money is tight right now for everyone. Our families as well as our commonwealth government are struggling to pay for basic services.
But cutting funding for education is not the solution. That’s why we are working in the U.S. Congress to provide $10 billion in emergency education aid that can be used to save teachers’ jobs, keep schools open five days a week, and make sure curriculums provide the skills our children will need when they enter the workforce.
It’s a lot of money, but it’s also a great investment, and only a fraction of what the big banks and brokerage houses got to prop themselves up.
Sure it’s important that the large financial institutions don’t fall apart. But it’s just as important to support the smallest financial institutions — individual households and families. And nothing ensures their prosperity better than making sure those families have access to good education.
So when you hear people say we can’t afford to spend on education, just tell them: we can’t afford not to.
GREGORIO KILILI
CAMACHO SABLAN
Member, U.S. Congress
