Inequity of school financing threatens public education's promise of equality of opportunity. Funding for public education is increasingly politicized through a variety of programs which divert public funds from public schools. Instead of working vigorously to make public schools the best they can be, too much is done to find alternatives to public education, such as the development of voucher programs. Some schools are strong, while others do not serve children well. Public education can provide equal opportunity to children irrespective of their backgrounds.
Public education is the most successful anti-poverty program our nation has known.
Millions of children have left poverty as a result of their education in public schools. Public education has successfully prepared millions of us for vocations, college, life-long learning and the tasks of citizenship and public responsibility. Public education has helped millions of us mature as human beings and enabled us to live fruitful and productive lives, and in so doing, has enriched our society as a whole. We have learned from the Talmud that the one who teaches a child should be considered like one who raises a child. Teachers, and other school workers, must be afforded the respect that we, as parents, need.