Gov. Paul LePage recently said, “Our school systems are failing.”
His answer is to support private schools with funding meant for state-operated schools. He indicated that we spend $15,000 per child, the current average in the Northeast. Other data show the cost to be between $11,000 and $12,000 per year. The U.S. Census Bureau shows the cost less than $11,000, with indications of varying data tracking cost per student.
The governor said he may not provide additional funding to school systems because of the economy.
This makes me, as a taxpayer, think that LePage does not base his decisions on fact but on play-the-game-my-way-or-hit-the-highway rules.
That attitude reminds me of preschool children, but we know they will grow out of it. LePage’s facts about education are questionable. He also questions a committee he appointed four members to.
The only thing I regret is that Maine doesn’t have a law that says that if a candidate for governor doesn’t win by a majority vote there would be a runoff election between the two candidates who get the most votes. If we had that, we would be dealing with a different governor.
Jerry Day
Augusta
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