The Columbian’s Feb. 19 editorial, “Reconsider Initiative 1351,”Reasonable class size is our duty about voter-approved I-1351, ignores the impact that overcrowded class sizes have on our community’s students, especially high-poverty students. Kids in our poorest schools are the ones who will benefit first from the smaller class sizes required by I-1351. The Columbian editorial board is focused on political machinations in Olympia rather than this sad reality: Washington’s kids are packed into class sizes that are 47th out of 50 states.
Investing in our K-12 public schools is the state’s paramount duty. Reasonable class sizes are an essential part of providing a quality education. As long as kids are stuck in overcrowded classrooms, legislators can’t claim they are fully funding public education as McCleary and the state constitution require. If, in one day, the Legislature can find $8.7 billion in tax breaks for Boeing, surely we can find a way to fund smaller class sizes for all students.
Voters understand the long-term cost of ignoring this problem and underfunding education. They made lower class sizes the law because our kids deserve better.
Mary Howes
Seattle
