As a former School Board member and now as a state representative, I've been showered for years with a number of ideas "for the children" because they are our "most precious resource." In spite of all the good suggestions, our young people are routinely shortchanged where it counts: in the funding of their early education and job training.
Every dollar we spend on preschool programs saves Alaska about seven dollars later down the line as fewer Alaskans land on welfare or in prison. Pre-K education results in more kids graduating high school and a better chance they'll go on to college or trade school. They'll earn more as adults, have a better standard of living, and raise more prosperous children.
There is simply no down side to making an early and lasting commitment to our littlest Alaskans. For this reason, I have introduced legislation -- House Bills 59 and 69 -- which will establish guidelines for early childhood development and provide assistance to parents who are working on early childhood development at home.
The legislation I've introduced dovetails neatly with Gov. Sean Parnell's proposed 2011 budget, which makes education a priority and seeks to forward fund school budgets. In addition, other legislators have introduced a bill to encourage students to finish high school, and a second bill that will provide student loan relief to those students who return to their Alaska home after completing their higher education.
The governor's budget is a step in the right direction, but there's still much to do. Higher education is the foundation for a good life, but building that foundation doesn't always mean college. Some of the highest-paying jobs in the state are skilled trades in the construction, mining and oil and gas sectors.
Alaska is powered by the skills and hard work of those who swing hammers, join pipes, weld steel and build our infrastructure. We Alaskans value the talents and work ethic of our tradespeople, perhaps more than anywhere else. Why then do we import these tradespeople from Outside instead of teaching our children these skills? It is absurd that we deny our children access such high-paying jobs in our state by not creating better access to quality trades and vocational training opportunities right here in Alaska.
A natural gas pipeline may now be closer than ever before. That's why there's no time to waste. Many of our young people would love to enjoy the opportunity their parents had when they built the oil pipeline. Now is the time to offer those strong, young hands the training they need to build our next great project, and to build a brighter future for them in the process. If this means fewer outsiders commuting to lucrative Slope jobs from the Lower 48, then so be it.
As a proud father of a senior at West High School, I have been looking back on my family's experiences in Alaska's public school system. Like most Alaskans, I approached my son's education with a lot of hopes for a bright future and expecting our public school system to prepare students for a competitive, fast-moving world and to open as many doors of opportunity as possible. I'm proud and confident he'll find opportunities to make a good life for himself.
Alaska's future is also wide open and full of opportunity. To reach our full potential we must prepare future generations to meet every challenge equipped with creative minds and skilled hands.
Alaska's best investment is in our future generations. After all, the welders, doctors and teachers of tomorrow are the children in our neighborhoods today. Together, we can boost the skills and God-given ingenuity of our youth, to point the way to Alaska's prosperity.
Chris Tuck is a Democratic state representative from Anchorage.
By REP. CHRIS TUCK