In any other circumstance, Senate Bills and Governors would be far from the talk of the school, but with the recent actions of Governor Sam Brownback, the entire school is braced for the worst and students are starting to speak up.

Brownback recently took further action against public education funding by signing Senate Bill 7 into law; the law repealed the current school finance formula and has replaced it with a block grant system. The block grant system is meant to be a temporary funding measure while Kansas legislature determines a new funding formula.

“Together we will build on our past success and not jeopardize funding because of flaws in the previous formula,” Brownback said in a statement regarding SB7.

Many MHS students see the bill as a way to compensate for Brownback’s earlier tax cuts.

“It’s a farce of an attempt to fix Kansas’ budget. Brownback dug us into this hole by making major tax cuts and now is doing more damage by undermining the schools that are preparing the future members of the workforce,” senior Miranda Hairgrove said. “He’s not doing his part to ensure Kansas has a bright future. He just seems to care about making Kansas be an experiment for Republican ideology in the present.”

Other students feel similarly about SB7 and other education budget cuts.

“I am in disbelief on his school finance policies,” junior Krista Burton said. “There are hundreds of different ways to eradicate a deficit and cutting social services is definitely the worst way. I have heard rumors of how class sizes will rise at MHS, and that certain electives will disappear, but that is all just speculation. We will just have to wait to see how the education block grant bill affects our senior year.”

As such, worries about the quality of public education in the future and the effects of such have made appearances among students.

“He is destroying an education system that was already not the best,” junior Peter Gruenbacher said. “We will become brainwashed to the wills of tyrants like him if we are not properly educated. The quality of education will descend not because of the teacher but because of the resources that they will have to cut back on. Several classes are potentially being cut those of which greatly impact the lives of the students that they facilitate. Along with affecting the lives of students, their intellect will be affected as a transition from being well rounded to only having select classes to provide knowledge allowed. Without public education our whole society would fall behind or even apart. In private education there is not equal opportunity, specifically to those that don’t fit the requirements of the school, financially and otherwise. Public schooling gives that opportunity for everyone. As children and young adults we are told that we are the future; we should not advocate to jeopardize such by tearing the education system. Public education helps develop minds, young and old, to better the world.”

In fact, to many it seems the entire future of Kansas is at risk because of Brownback’s actions against public education.

“Kansas needs schools to prepare its children for a future in the global economy. With budget cuts, our students may not get the edge that’s needed to compete with other students who attended well-funded school for future jobs,” Hairgrove said. “If Kansas falls behind in education, which is very possible, it may prevent business expansion in the state, cause outsourcing and be an ultimate detriment to the state economy. Because realistically, no business will want to be located in a state where the possible employees are under-educated compared to the next state over.”

State University funding cuts may also have immediate effects on students and the state.

“Cutting education funding – including for state universities – means that good students will often elect to leave Kansas, thus bringing their skills and paying their taxes elsewhere,” senior Danny Aramouni said.

Junior Israel Wheatley is leaving Kansas for college specifically for that reason.

“Because of his plans to cut budgets for public universities, I’m already planning on attending out of state,” Wheatley said. “I find it [the situation] very disappointing.”

With fears about nearly every aspect of their education, Gruenbacher and Burton, among others, have taken action and encourage others to do the same.

“I have written to my representative and I urge other students to do the same,” Gruenbacher said.

Burton’s sentiments are similar.

“I personally have written a variety of Kansas politicians, and I’m aware many of my fellow students also have,” Burton said. “I think public education is crucial. It is the key to having an educated society. I believe all Kansas students should educate themselves on Brownback’s current education policies. Be vocal to your local politicians and, if you can, vote.”