The Norms of Public Education

By: Caitlin Clift

As an individual who has attended public schools my entire life, the system has impacted me immensely. Growing up, 40 students per classroom was the norm. I can recall a time when we had to bring in extra desks from another classroom because we didn’t have enough to fit every student. I didn’t know the names of half, if not most, of the students in my classes. My school had only a single mental health counselor, and I recall sitting outside her office for what felt like an hour just waiting my turn. Not to mention, there were little to no resources for first generation students and students of color. Looking back on it, I realize how many flaws the public school system has. Yet, at the time, it was simply the norm. It was all we knew. As a product of the public school system, it is clear that public schools do not have enough resources to adequately care for students. I was lucky enough to have the support I needed to pursue higher education, but it was clear that not everyone had the resources that they needed and deserved. Growing up in Orange County public schools, where education funding was much more abundant than in other counties, it is alarming that there were still so little resources available to us. This ultimately means that, for lower income communities and school districts across the state, matters are worse off than any of my own experiences. The reality is that public education is severely underfunded in general, especially disproportionately worse for communities who often need support and resources the most.