I Saw the Cost of Privatization & Now I’m Fighting for Public Schools

Having gone to a private school that was extremely underfunded throughout the majority of my education and transferring to a private school with much more funding opened my eyes to the importance of accessible public education for all students. There were many funding and capacity related challenges throughout my education. There weren’t enough teachers, so grades had to be combined in one classroom and in high school, I would have three teachers teaching me eight different subjects.There were no AP courses, no advanced programs, no college counseling or prep and extracurriculars were extremely limited. The lack of resources didn’t come from a lack of effort, but it came from a lack of funding for my school. No matter how much tuition families paid, students and parents volunteered, the school still couldn’t offer the opportunities that students needed to grow and reach their full potential.

The truth is, private schools are not the solution to students not having access to adequate resources – they are part of the problem.This experience made me realize that families should never have to choose between paying thousands on private school, or even more for outside tutors, sports, and test prep, just so their kids can have access to opportunities. A system in which our public education is fought for and invested in allows for all students from all backgrounds to have equal access to these opportunities.

This is why I believe the solution to improving education for all is funding our public schools, not allowing the narrative of privatization or “school choice” to continue. This means supporting teachers, ensuring students have access to advanced classes to enrich their knowledge, and funding extracurricular activities in schools that will allow students to discover and pursue their passions. These are basic needs for students and should never be only accessible to those who can afford the best private schools in the area, and parents should not have to feel pressured to stretch their finances in order to offer their kids a shot at a decent education and future.

My experience showed me that private school shouldn’t be the only option for supportive education. What matters is building a system where every student has access to quality learning and opportunities to succeed. That starts with investing in public education, which starts with reforming Prop. 13!