Dear Lucas,
Sharpen your pencils and choose your lunchbox carefully: It's back-to-school
time here in Minnesota!
The first day of school is always exciting for students (maybe even a
little overwhelming): new teachers, new subjects, new haircuts.
But Franni and I know that the day is even more exhilarating (and even
more overwhelming) for parents and grandparents watching their suddenly-not-so-little
ones take yet another step on their long educational journey.
The last thing these parents need is more worry -- worry about whether
their child will be safe at school, worry about whether he or she will
be ready to get into a great college, and, of course, worry about how
they'll pay for that college.
As a Senator, I can't help alleviate every worry a parent has when
their child gets on that bus for the first day of school. No law can help
make your son's hair stop sticking out on photo day or help your daughter
make the swim team.
But I am working hard to make their school a safer place, especially for
LGBT students who are often the target of bullying and harassment. I'm
working hard to support the teachers and other professionals who do so
much for our kids (and, boy, do they deserve our support -- and our thanks).
I'm also working hard to answer some of the difficult questions that
this year's incoming high school juniors and seniors are going to
face about college. I think it should be easier for families to sit down
and compare financial aid packages, apples to apples, so you understand
what college is really going to cost.
And I'm fighting to bring that cost down, as well as to make it easier
to deal with student debt so that graduates who have worked so hard aren't
bogged down as they enter the working world.
There's nothing more important than our kids' education. And as
parents who have watched two of our own go off on a lot of first days
of school (and grandparents eagerly awaiting little Joe's first day
of school in a few years), Franni and I want to wish you and your kids
a great school year.
Thanks,
Al