This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The lead op-ed on Sept. 11 ("All viable solutions to teacher shortage ...") indicates that more money is all we need to solve the teacher shortage. There's an easier solution to the problem which costs no money and actually saves money for everyone: have smaller families.

Forty years ago, when my children were in school here, everyone bemoaned how Utah had the second most crowded classrooms in the nation. Now, 40 years later, my children have children and we all still bemoan the same issue of overcrowding.

During these past four decades, if parents were encouraged (or allowed!) to have two children instead of four, five or six, our schools would definitely not be overcrowded. When will Utahns bite the bullet and have fewer babies? Of course teachers don't want to lead overcrowded classrooms, so let's just have smaller families and funnel less children into the system.

This doesn't cost the state anything. And the problem gets solved.

To protect and preserve what is wonderful about Utah, we must stop having such large families and we must stop being so pro-growth. Let's join other states and nations, please, by encouraging two-child families.

Nancy Van Allmen

Salt Lake City