Education

Investing in our Future

Education is the base on which we build our future. One of Utah’s largest investment banks recently began donating to Utah preschools. When asked why they were spending money on children, the bank explained that in the future they would need an educated workforce. If large companies know they need to invest in our children’s education, then shouldn’t we know it too?

As Granite School District Community Councilman and proud father, I know that an investment in education is an investment in our future. Currently, Utah spends less per student on education than any other state in the nation. Given the current lack of funding, it is a testament to our students’ talent and hard work that they rank near the middle in education outcomes. I believe that Utah students have the potential to become the best in America, but they will need our support in order to get there.

Some lawmakers pride themselves on our minimal school funding, especially because our children tend to do alright anyway. To them, our current system makes fiscal sense. However, I know that a serious investment in education will generate much more growth and wealth for Utah’s future than is saved now by skimping on schools.

Crime Prevention

Education is an investment in security because it offers students a wide spectrum of opportunity. The opposite is also true. Reducing, or not investing in, education takes opportunities away from the next generation. The less opportunity, the more desperation and crime our state will face. Underfunding public schools is directly correlated with an increase of criminal activity.

Spending Wisely

An investment in our children is an investment in our own future. Too much of our education fund is used to pay for programs that do not directly benefit our students. As your senator, I will dismantle unnecessary and unrelated programs dependent on the education fund. And I will always vote to increase our investment in education, our future.