We can all agree on a few things. Politicians are in favor of public safety, or say they are.
Prevention is better and cheaper than treatment. Adverse childhood experiences (high ACE scores) correlate with poor outcomes, including criminality. Since 2014, violent crimes of all kinds in Anchorage have increased. Our police force is stretched thin.
Yet since 2013, our politicians have made decisions that have starved schools and teachers of the financial stability they require to thrive in our city, and our educational outcomes are in free fall. Now we have proposals to shutter many beloved neighborhood schools.
A recent study from Michigan showed that investment in schools is the best way a community can help prevent criminal behavior.
So let’s get the politicians to commit to doing the right thing to impact the rising rates of crime: invest in kids and our neighborhoods by fully funding all our schools and our teachers.
Shutter none of them. This is our chance to have small class sizes. At a time when more than 100 languages are spoken by Anchorage School District students, surround them with care and attention.
If we did commit to our schools, retaining and attracting good teachers could be the best way to start reversing our outmigration problem. Connect the dots and fund what works.
— Tina Tomsen
Anchorage
Have something on your mind? Send to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Letters under 200 words have the best chance of being published. Writers should disclose any personal or professional connections with the subjects of their letters. Letters are edited for accuracy, clarity and length.