Public education is a right for all

Debating whether or not the U.S. government should educate illegal immigrants’ children is nothing new. After all, should the government spend time and money putting a non-citizen through public school? 

The simple answer is yes. Education is a basic human right, and there isn’t a single person who shouldn’t be given the right to attend public schools. The U.S. government spending tax dollars  on these children in our school systems is not only providing them with a chance at a bright future, but is also keeping them off the streets and minimizing their chances of ending up in our prison system. Educating every child in the United States, no matter their citizenship, is an absolute necessity.

Every man, woman and child deserves the privilege to attend school. There is no reason anyone should be denied an education. There are endless examples of education benefiting those who are frowned upon by many in society. A prime example of education’s benefits is shown in our prison system. Studies over the past few decades have conclusively shown that educating inmates has a direct correlation to reducing repeat offenses. A study performed in 2005 by the Institute for Higher Education Policy showed that incarcerated people who had gone through prison education programs were 46 percent less likely to be re-incarcerated after they served their time. A 2010 article on Pioneer Press’ Twincities.com stated that a staggering 85 percent of juveniles who are involved in the juvenile court system are illiterate, along with 60 percent of all prison inmates. 

Furthermore, sending these immigrants through public school is much less expensive than sending them through our prison system. Right now, the U.S. government is spending at least $18.6 million every day to keep about 400,000 immigrants in our prisons. Although, of course, not all educated people stay out of prison and not all uneducated people are inherently criminals, there is a correlation between education and incarceration, with nearly 70 percent of all inmates lacking a high school diploma. In Pennsylvania, it costs just more than $10,000 to send a student through school, whereas it costs more than $40,000 to house an inmate. In fact, there isn’t a single state in the country in which it is more cost-effective to send someone to jail than it is to send them to school. 

Additionally, in 2012, the Obama administration spent a staggering $32.4 billion on immigration enforcement, which is $18 billion more than the money spent on all of the other law enforcement agencies combined. Allowing immigrants to go through our school system is actually less expensive than spending all the money and manpower used to keep them out of the country.

The easiest way to reduce crime rates — which would then reduce taxes — is to not restrict illegal immigrant children from attending our public schools. With more than 25 percent of our prison population comprised of illegal immigrants, it is not only beneficial, but imperative that we educate them. If we educate these children, we can prevent some of them from getting involved in our prison system and give them the chance to truly live the American Dream — something every man, woman and child is born with the right to pursue. 

To ensure that this system isn’t abused, there should be certain requirements that students would have to fulfill to be allowed to remain in the U.S. For one, they should maintain a certain GPA and high attendance rate. Although the specifics of these numbers are up for debate, an attendance rate of 95 percent and a minimum GPA of 2.5 seem like reasonable and obtainable goals. This ensures that any immigrant that comes to the U.S. in search of a better education is being held accountable. If an immigrant does not maintain the requirements, he or she will face the threat of education officials removing them from the school system and possibly being deported. 

Time and again we have seen the benefits of education. It keeps children off the streets while minimizing their chances of ending up in the court system. Educating our youth, citizens or not, is a standard to which this country should hold itself. 

With almost 12 million illegal immigrants residing in the United States, it is our moral obligation to give these children a chance at a brighter future and help keep them out of our prison system. Giving these children a proper education gives them the chance to live the American Dream.

 Write to Ben at bdm46@pitt.edu.