Recently, the construction and funding of Lexington High School have come under significant debate ahead of the Dec. 8 debt exclusion vote. As a resident of this town, I believe it’s clear that the right choice is to support the debt exclusion, ensuring that the next generation of Lexington children has access to a larger building and the tools to equip them for further success. However, as a supporter of the Borgen Project, my studies of poverty across the globe have shown me that education is a priceless opportunity and have only reinforced my view that this project is worth pursuing at any cost necessary.
Here in Lexington, our public education is freely available and is one of the best in the nation by quality. But in towns, states, provinces and countries around the world, this level of education is but a distant dream. Recent conflicts in Sudan have made education nearly inaccessible amid the humanitarian crisis. In Afghanistan, the average student is only able to complete 2.5 out of 10.8 expected years of schooling. Therefore, with the resources at hand, ensuring that the high school is expanded to support many more generations of students to come in their education becomes our responsibility.
I strongly urge voting “YES” on the debt exclusion, since providing a strong high school education not only empowers the children of our town, but also teaches them the value of that same education. In the future, these will be the same minds working to shape a world where those facing poverty and with minimal resources will be able to move towards receiving an education comparable to the students here.