This Letter to the Editor was originally published in the South Bend Tribune on Sept. 28.

It is a commonplace to say that public education is the bedrock of democracy. If we believe that, then the foundations in Indiana are crumbling, and democracy is on shaky ground.

Defunding public education began in 2011 when Indiana launched its voucher system, now the nation’s model under Betsy DeVos’s Department of Education and school choice advocates like Rep. Jackie Walorski. In a recent report, Indiana’s voucher program cost taxpayers $173 million in scholarships awarded to 36,707 students to attend private schools in 2019. Just under 40% of the students awarded scholarships were previously attending an Indiana public school. Only .7% of recipients were attending F-rated public schools. Public schools have not failed our students; our elected officials have failed public schools.

Hoosiers need public education that prepares them for the workplace and the civic arena here in Hoosierland. That’s why I support Pat Hackett for Congress. She will support budgets that fund early childhood education, STEAM curriculum, and policies that improve retention and graduation rates. Congress is responsible for appropriating funds for public education and for oversight. Hackett will restore protections for students with disabilities and those defrauded by corrupt for-profit colleges. We need Hackett representing us in Indiana’s 2nd district.

Dr. Virginia B. Calvin

Granger

Dr. Calvin is former superintendent of the South Bend Community School Corp. and former chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College.

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