NPG Deputy Director Tracy Canada can be reached by email at tcanada@npg.org.

As millions of Americans make plans for barbecues and trips to the pool, all of us looking forward to the long Labor Day weekend… reality sets in – the holiday always marks the official end of summer in the U.S.

Right now state and local governments are preparing for the onset of winter, dusting off their snow plows and stocking up on road salt. Children are beginning to count the days until the Holiday Season. And millions of families are beginning the dance of morning routines which always accompany a new school year.

As students file into schools across the country this fall, they may be faced with a new reality. As U.S. population tops 324 million(and continues to grow by 1 person every 11 seconds), our children have more classmates than they’ve had in the past.From coast to coast, they’re crammed into classrooms with more students than their schools were designed to accommodate.

Anne Arundel County (MD) Public Schools released a statement that they will accept “a record number of students” this school year. In Ellensburg School District, WA portable classrooms are becoming the new normal with school enrollment continuing to rise each year. Children are forced to ride on overcrowded buses in Berkeley County, SC – buses so crowded, parents feel they’ve become dangerous. To accommodate overcrowding, the Napa Valley (CA) school district needs $447 million by 2025. These are just a few of the dozens, if not hundreds, of stories covering school crowding from recent weeks.

After reading these disturbing reports, another statistic caught my eye. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, as of August 30th, 2016 the total outstanding U.S. debt was $19,483,788,594,328.27 (that’s 19.4 TRILLION). That same day, the Census Bureau estimated our population at 324,361,065. And as we continue to grow, we continue to build more schools, roads, and hospitals. We spend more tax dollars on public services and entitlement programs. As we grow in numbers, we add to our debt. Yet every man, woman, and child in America is already saddled with huge public debt.

As our children grab their bookbags and head off to overcrowded schools, each of them is also carrying a crippling national debt share of $59,785.75.

Yet –despite all of the evidence of overpopulation, and the serious consequences we face because of it – America’s elected officials and the national media still continue to ignore our population growth.

Regardless of the resistance we face – whether on Capitol Hill or in the national media – NPG will continue our work to educate Americans regarding the true consequences of U.S. population growth. As we work towards a smaller, truly sustainable population, NPG greatly appreciates the work of those who stand beside us in the fight for America’s future. We extend our thanks to our dedicated supporters like you.

Remember – NPG receives absolutely no government funding of any kind. We rely entirely on you – your loyal dedication and generous financial support – to continue our critical mission. Your contributions go directly towards our vital educational and outreach programs, getting our valuable materials into the hands of America’s students, teachers, elected officials, journalists, and the public. We appreciate your activism, and your continued support of NPG.

Thank you again for all you do!