The big picture (and the local picture)
“The best means of forming a . . . virtuous and happy people will be found in the right education of youth. Without this foundation, every other means, in my opinion, must fail."
K-12 public education in America undergirds our nation's democratic society, social mobility, and economic competitiveness. By providing universal, free access to more than 50 million students, public education ensures that children from all backgrounds have the opportunity to acquire foundational knowledge, critical thinking skills, and the values required for engaged citizenship. K-12 public education in America is built upon three pillars:
1. Economic Competitiveness and Workforce Readiness
A Record of Success: U.S. investment in public education over the past 150 years has created a well-educated workforce that has fueled innovation and unparalleled prosperity.
Skill Development: Elementary and secondary schools are where students learn to read, write, do math, and develop the skills, knowledge, and abilities needed to prosper.
Career and College Preparedness: An educated workforce directly drives higher wages, lower unemployment rates, and overall national prosperity.
Lifelong Earning: Higher educational attainment—rooted in a strong K-12 foundation—directly correlates with reduced unemployment and higher lifetime earnings.
2. Civic Engagement
Democratic Values: Public schools in America are founded on the "common school" ideal—educating children of diverse backgrounds together to instill American democratic ideals, liberty, and the common good.
Democratic Skills: Public schools foster interpersonal skills and a broad knowledge base to help young adults make informed judgments and decisions as citizens.
3. Societal Health and Social Cohesion
Equality of Opportunity: Public education in America is an equalizer, aiming to break systemic cycles of poverty by giving all children access to high-quality learning opportunities.
Wraparound Support: Traditional public schools act as community hubs, offering essential services like nutritional programs, mental health support, and after-school care.
Social Stability: Research shows that children with access to quality education throughout primary and secondary school are more likely to find gainful employment, have stable families, and be active and productive citizens. They are also less likely to commit serious crimes, less likely to place high demands on the public health care system, and less likely to be enrolled in welfare assistance programs.
In today’s global economy, a high-quality education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity—it’s a prerequisite for national and personal success.
“The true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children.”
Yarmouth’s kids – all of them – are our kids:
Yarmouth’s kids will grow up to be workers, taxpayers, scientists, engineers, nurses, doctors, caring for today’s homeowners both individually and collectively.
Yarmouth’s kids – our collective future – are not just competing with kids from Falmouth and Cape; they’re competing with kids from Seoul and Shanghai.
Their success is our success.
Yarmouth’s schools educate the next generation – extremely well:
Yarmouth schools are the best in the State; we’re building on a tradition of excellence.
Highest AP participation rate among our peer schools.
Highest AP passings score rate (i.e. 3 or better) among our peer schools.
The budget sustains a strong community for all of us:
Yarmouth is a wonderful place to live and work because of our schools and the quality of its graduates, many of whom choose to remain or return here.
Our schools bind us together. Strong schools = strong sense of community = strong Yarmouth.
New residents come here because of our reputation.
The schools sustain our property values – a critical nest egg for retirees and seniors:
Stronger schools attract buyers, keeping the market strong.
If our schools fail, our property values will drop.
I.e. We all benefit from strong schools.
Saying “yes” to the budget is saying “yes” to kids:
Despite the critical need for this budget, a handful of opponents have organized a “no” campaign.
A no vote or any effort to chip away at this budget would be awful for Yarmouth – for its kids, its residents, and its reputation.
A “yes” vote will reinforce our collective commitment – and solidify our reputation as a leader in Maine.
