Talking with Students and Parents
Darcy went to Issaquah High School on Tuesday to talk with an AP Government class about running for office and issues affecting our country. The students expressed similar concerns reflecting what Darcy has been hearing across the district: they were concerned about the economy. Darcy talked about the urgent need to fix the underlying problems that have created the current economic mess, and her determination to make sure that taxpayers are protected in the process.
During the visit the student run news program interviewed her for I Vision, the school's morning news program. Darcy was asked about what she would do to make college more accessible, which is a growing concern given the looming economic downturn. Darcy told the students that everyone who works hard in school and wants to go to college or vocational school should be able to whether they have the money to attend or not. She said that higher education is the key to success in our country and no one should be denied the opportunity solely because they do not have the funds to pay. This means investing in funding for grants and scholarships, low cost loans, and addition opportunities to access higher education.
Later the same day, Darcy went to Renton to meet with Headstart parents to talk about the need for universal access to preschool and early childhood education. Readiness to learn is the key to success in our education system. Studies show that for every one dollar invested in early education society saves seven dollars in preventative costs associated with truancy, school dropout, teen pregnancy and incarceration. Parents shared concerns about struggling to make ends meet and expressed their support for programs like Headstart which give families and children a path to a better life. Darcy assured them she strongly supports investing in early childhood education and making sure we give our children a world class education is one of her top priorities.
Darcy visited one more group of students, this time stopping at the Overlake Squadron Civil Air Patrol meeting at the VFW hall in Bellevue. As a teenager Darcy was a member of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) so visiting with this group of student pilots and future leaders allowed her to share her memories of the important service and leadership training she received as part of CAP. Darcy spoke about learning to overcome obstacles and gaining new skills, not just in aviation but in team work and problem solving from her time in the Civil Air Patrol.
It was a great day of talking about the importance of strengthening our educational system, and about Darcy's commitment to making a high quality education from preschool to college a high priority when she is in Congress.
