I am a pro-life conservative. I believe in lower taxes, less government, etc.

This time, I support tax increases — but only if the state fully funds education.

I have had the honor to volunteer at my fourth-grade daughter’s school. I have tutored. I have raised money. I saw a need, and I filled it.

However, I’ve seen this obsession with testing at the expense of learning. I have seen this obsession with passing the WASL. I have seen elementary school students use calculators to answer WASL test questions — and had a teacher tell me, “Don’t write about this.” I have seen teachers pay for school supplies out of their own pockets.

Shame on a society and political figures who allow that to happen.

We blame the teachers too much. They are already overburdened. We expect them to teach as well as be a social worker, mom and dad — and do all this before the end of the day.

Lawmakers decided one more time to have another study — to study the other 10 studies on how to fix education.

I have a suggestion. Let’s vote on banning more studies on how to fix education. We know what we need to do, for heaven’s sake.

Washington state ranks 45th out of 50 states in per-pupil funding, according to the Evergreen Freedom Foundation.

The Washington state constitution requires the government to fully fund education. We have never fully funded education. Just look at our test scores compared to other states. You’ll be shocked at the results.

There have been Democratic governors for more than 20 years. They always say “We’re doing it for the kids” because they know if you say those magic words (“for the kids”), you will see tears. Then you will see votes. What you won’t see is the money.

We live in dangerous times filled with obstacles, but they are also filled with opportunities. Instead of retreating and letting fear take over, why not show some courage, take a deep breath and act like adults?

I am unwilling to support higher taxes to hire more state employees at the expense of our children, who must read history books from the 1990s. Likewise, there are only two reasons to raise taxes. The first reason is to fight the war on terror. The second is to fight the war on substandard education.

Most politicians don’t have the courage to say yes to new taxes. I suggest that we put a tax hike on the ballot, targeted to fully fund education. Those taxes will help secure our children’s educational future so that they can compete on a level playing field.

If our children are not worth it, whose children are? If now is not the time, how long should we tell them to wait?

It is not enough just to raise taxes and have business as usual. This money should come with strings attached.

I have talked to school administrators, politicians and even teachers. The teachers union has been a roadblock to true educational reform because of its stance on seniority. For example, regardless of whether you’re a good teacher, the teachers with seniority will get the pay raises. It should be based on ability, not the time you have been teaching. Seniority counts for everything in unions, which are a roadblock to removing lousy teachers. That is wrong because the kids suffer.

We no longer can afford to have business as usual. Far too long, politicians have given us a bunch of smoke and mirrors, and we bought it.

The stakes are too high. The institutions we thought we could believe in, we can’t. I believe in the good sense and common decency of the American people, especially when they understand the cost of doing nothing will be at the expense of our children.

When the politicians ask you to vote yes, why not ask them, “What are you going to do different?”

You will then know how to vote.

And when your child asks, “Mom and dad, did you say, yes?” — you will be able to look them in the eye and say, “I did it for you.”

No excuses.

Federal Way writer Walter Backstrom can be contacted at wkbackstrom@aim.com