My work as a museum curator provides the public with opportunities for lifelong learning and an understanding of our shared history. I pursued a career in the field of arts and humanities because of my passion for learning and sharing knowledge with others, especially future generations. It is a privilege to serve the public good by encouraging curiosity and conversation, but I would not be able to do this work if it weren’t for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, or PSLF — a program that national lawmakers may eliminate under the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform, or PROSPER, Act.
Signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2007, PSLF allows borrowers to earn forgiveness on their federal student loans after 10 years of qualified public service employment and 120 on-time payments. Yes, during this entire time, we too are paying back our student debt. Public service comes in an incredible number of forms (e.g., teaching, providing health services, and keeping communities safe) and PSLF is the only program that makes public service positions accessible and affordable. This is particularly important in Alaska considering our high cost of living and the need for public service positions across so many disparate small communities.
Many public service positions require advanced degrees, like the Master of Arts I earned, which are increasingly an expensive prerequisite to enter and/or advance in these fields. Despite scholarships, grants and part-time jobs, I had no choice but to take out federal and private student loans in order to finance the education needed for this work. Without PSLF, it would have been extraordinarily difficult for me to enter the public sector and remain in the position I have now.
Seven years after earning my graduate degree and making 48 of the 120 required payments, my household income is still precariously close to Alaska’s federal poverty level. While I don’t expect to make significantly more in my current position, neither do I want to leave it nor have to leave Alaska because I can’t make ends meet. And besides, where would I go? This work is my calling and this place is my home.
I have the pleasure of working with artists, historians and scientists; hosting community conversations with our diverse and sometimes divided population; and collaborating with numerous partners including the five Alaska Native villages and tribes surrounding Kachemak Bay. It has been my honor to both facilitate dialogue within our communities and to introduce visitors to this magical place. This work, which boils down to public education and inspiring stewardship for the well-being of cultural and natural resources, is both extremely challenging and deeply rewarding.
Eliminating PSLF would hurt museum workers here in Alaska and across the nation and all the people who visit these educational institutions. Museums engage with schools, families and communities; they play a vital role in fostering critical thinking and effective dialogue. In these divisive times, museums are avenues of immersive learning that encourage us to view the world through a broad, more empathetic lens.
The PSLF program has allowed many individuals like me to enter fields where we can have a positive impact on our communities. Removing this program would threaten the core values that Americans believe are true and important. It would hurt the prospects of future public service candidates, and the impact upon Alaskan communities could be catastrophic.
I strongly urge lawmakers from Alaska to consider the hard, important work public servants do every day, and to follow through on their promise to invest in our communities by preserving public service loan forgiveness.
• Scott Bartlett is the curator of exhibits at the Pratt Museum in Homer.
