Opinion: If public schools weaken, Alaska could become more like Hawaii.that’s not a good thing

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Having grown up in Hawaii’s biased education system, I am an avid fan of Alaska’s public education. Hawaii’s private schools dominate the island’s educational ecosystem, and families who enroll their children there spend tens of thousands of dollars in tuition each year. That’s life in Hawaii, where most parents spend a fortune to avoid sending their children to public school. The more Alaska’s legislators and governor starve its public schools, the more it may look like Hawaii, where individual schools are world-class but the education system is not.

Let’s say our state legislature continues to take much-needed funding away from Alaska’s public school system. Eventually, families with means will look for other options. The most obvious choice in Alaska is private schools, most of which are Christian. While I attended her 13 years at her private Christian school in Hawaii, attending her services once a week and hosting an elaborate Christmas pageant, I was impressed by her educational approach. I don’t object. I loved my school. And I am confident that we have achieved great results. But dear Lord, it’s all very expensive.

Below is a sample of tuition per student for private schools in Hawaii for the 2023-24 school year. It might be a good idea to sit down. Punahou School: $30,480. Iolani School: $28,250. Seabury Hall: $22,290. So, if you enroll your first child this year, it will cost you approximately $1 million to send two children to school in Hawaii from kindergarten through 12th grade. Parents work long hours and grandparents dip into their retirement savings to pay for these. Competition for jobs at these schools is fierce, as employees are eligible for free or reduced tuition. In addition to serving as faculty, it is not uncommon for parents to work as janitors, cafeteria servers, or campus security.

Average private school tuition in Alaska is lower than in Hawaii, but if Alaska parents decide to forgo public school and attend a private school, prices will naturally rise to meet demand. New families can expect to pay anything from $0 to thousands of dollars for education. Families already enrolled in private schools will also see their costs increase. And Permanent Fund dividends cannot make up the difference. Parents, say goodbye to snow machines, fat tire bikes, and other Alaskan fancy toys, not to mention the annual family trip to Maui.

Additionally, the Christian character and philosophy of Alaska’s private schools may well change with the influx of new families. Through selective admissions, Hawaii’s private schools handpick the state’s brightest students, helping them achieve higher grades, scores, and gain admission to prestigious universities than public schools. Their success has captivated the public, and the school, although rooted in Christian principles, has become far more secular and attracts a far more diverse student body than at its founding. Punahou, a top private school founded by Christian missionaries, has reinterpreted its approach to Christianity as its students’ religious beliefs and values ​​become more diverse. Incidentally, President Barack Obama is also an alumnus. It’s entirely possible that Alaska’s private schools will see similar changes due to the influx of former public school families.

Speaking of Obama, Democratic-leaning states are at the top when it comes to the percentage of students enrolled in private schools. Of the top 10 states with the highest percentage of K-12 students attending private schools, nine, including the deep blue District of Columbia, vote reliably Democratic in national elections. Hawaii leads the way, with 19% of K-12 students attending private schools, according to Private School Review, an information site about private education.

In Alaska, Republicans are pushing for stronger private schools, while Democrats are showing stronger support for public schools. It is impossible to know whether political parties are unwittingly working against their political interests. So let’s stick to the economic argument. Living in Alaska is already expensive. Squeezing public schools and increasing education spending will only make the situation worse.

When I moved here from Hawaii nearly 20 years ago, I was thrilled to see how deeply Alaskans of all backgrounds are united by their love for their homeland. Let’s agree on this too. Feel free to bring back pineapples, coffee, and tans from your visit to Hawaii, but leave behind the Hawaiian education system.

Janet Leigh He is an Anchorage School District parent and former business reporter for the Associated Press and Anchorage Daily News.

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