Two Schools, Two Experiences

By Naria Alam

I’ve had a very privileged experience in public school. However, going to two different high schools, I’ve noticed appalling differences. During my freshman through junior years of high school, I went to a relatively prestigious and new school in my neighborhood. I was met with standard resources such as Chromebooks, spotless textbooks, high-end desks and chairs, and beautifully lit classrooms with comfortable environments. During COVID in my junior year, hybrid learners were met with an abundance of wet-wipes, masks, and hand sanitizers for students and teachers. However, I had to move to another area for my senior year. My new high school is considered academically excellent, but it's doing poorly in funding. The building is very old, so old that water leaks indoors when it rains. The textbooks are tattered, and during this peak of COVID, my school can't afford to transition to online schooling. Seeing this made me realize that money talks.

School funding is imperative for an equitable environment for children. When states invest in public schools by creating an equitable school environment and finance, students have a greater shot at success. On the flip side,  low funding in public schools has dire consequences. The massive funding gap among California  public schools perpetuates modern segregation between wealthy white students and low income students of color. Schools need to be fully funded in order to have an equitable environment for all students and teachers.