It’s Not About the Money. It’s About the Kids – Page 16

We have been talking about the impact on the future of students who do not have comprehensive educational opportunity. But how does it affect the rest of us?

Contrasting with the higher per puil costs in smaller schools, substantial evidence supports the link between the academic opportunity in larger schools and economic growth.

Larger schools with more learning opportunities contribute skilled workers to a job market that
     brings business and investment
     raises property values
     increases the tax base
     results n a lower and/or stable tax rate.

Opportunities for the college-bound student have been protected and even increased as our culture has become more technological. Unfortunately, opportunities for the skilled workers who will keep our communities functioning have been eliminated.

Yes, we need to prepare our students who will become engineers, architects, computer programmers, researchers, and others talented in math and science.

But our economy requires talented tradesmen and women whose skills build our houses, and those who keep our cars running, our homes heated, and our utilities functioning, among other practical needs.

A community of one without the other will not bring workers into the economy that supports our way of life. Good schools are large enough to produce both.