Kelly Ayotte has failed public education
As a lifelong educator, I know that some of the most important moments happen between the lessons: when a student asks a question another student answers, or when there is a collective understanding that what is being discussed does not have an easy solution. I am proud that my students carried what they learned in my classroom into their communities and found ways to contribute and make a difference. Teachers know our priority is to do everything possible to prepare our students for the future.
Today, that goal is incredibly difficult. Kelly Ayotte and New Hampshire Republicans have deliberately chosen to starve public schools of the resources needed to educate the overwhelming majority of New Hampshire children. Instead, Ayotte has been a loyal shepherd for the GOP school voucher scheme. She lifted the income gap, giving wealthy families millions of taxpayer dollars to send their children to private school.
The consequences are enormous. When the state does not adequately support public schools, that burden falls on local taxpayers’ property taxes. Why does Ayotte expect taxpayers to shoulder more of the cost of public education while she expands a program that directs public dollars away from our schools?
Ayotte is making a bad deal worse. She’s taking taxpayer dollars away from the public schools our children actually attend, handing out subsidies to the wealthiest, and sticking local taxpayers with the consequences. New Hampshire can, and should do better.