California's+Perfect+Storm

California's Perfect Storm by: David Bacon from Rethinking Schools Summarized by Jennifer Looser

This article talked about the impact of California's 34 billion dollar budget deficit on education. Prior to the recession California was ranked 49th out of the 50 states on their pupil education funding. It was very clear that the government would use the education budget to decrease the deficit, which in turn would increase tuition and fees. A radical sociologist called for people to strike. At the University level students, community members and faculty set up committee's to set up websites, make posters, send flyers and organize marches and demonstrations. UC and CSU (University of California and California State University) began the largest unified action in the history of the Universities. Universities were not the only ones affected; community colleges were also seeing an increase in fees sometimes at a rate increase of 280%. By increasing fees schools can use the money freely for any pet project they want, unlike government money that must be used in specific ways. Pink slips were given out, class sizes increased, services were cut, and faculties were reduced to part-time. Everyone with an education knows that without Community College people can't get out of the low wage trap. In 2009-2010 over 250,000 students were turned away from Community Colleges and 40,000 were dropped from the University admittance program. The worst crisis was at the k-12th grade level with over 22,000 pink slips being given out around the state. In Watsonville, California there are 19,000 students with 7 nurses, no school psychologists, no counselors, no music, no art and sports are pay if you want to play. Many people forget that California is an agricultural state with un-employment double the states urban rate of 12.6%. in rural communities. The poor have no way out and the California Dream is just that, a dream. The demonstrations have won some small battles across the state with the biggest gain showing in the way of unity between the communities, faculty, and students.


 * The quote below in the article struck a chord with me and I would like to hear what you think about it.**


 * "California, a state that's now down near the bottom in what it spends on education, is far and away the biggest spender on prisons. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to connect the dots." by; Gavin Riley, retired teacher.**

Stephanie- Having dealt with my own child who has been in trouble I feel as if CA. would spend more on education and extra curricular activities to get the students involved they would not have to spend quite as much on their prison systems. They would be giving something for the kids to do other than getting into trouble because they are not in school.

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Irene: I have lived in places where a basic education was out of reach for a great portion of the people. The result is very high crime and much corruption among employees in whatever job they do have. Maybe there should be a Hollywood tax in California, with a portion of movies' profits being given back to the state's education! =====

Amy: It seems to me that this is a matter of priorities. It would seem that the California government does not value education if it would use education money to decrease the deficit. Talk about being short-sighted. It does not take a rocket scientist to see that the future will only show a further increae in crime until they get to the heart of the problem and re-adjust their priorities. Anypne want to explain to me how public education is even allowed to charge fees, let alone increase them by 280%. I realize this was a community college, but how far away is this from trickling down to HS, MS & Elementary schools? We charge book fees every year. The only book purchased for my first graders is a math consumable journal.

Carrie: I have to say that I think Gavin Riley could be very right in his thinking. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to connect the dots between a struggling educational system and prisons that are overcrowded. It's so sad. Administrators, teachers, parents and the public in CA need to realize the importance of education and hold everyone involved (again, the public, administrators, teachers, parents and children) to extrememly high standards. If they do this, I would bet that they would begin seeing more success in schools and less people sent to prisons. At least I would hope this would be the case.

Cheri: Everyone is looking for a QUICK fix. Putting money into education will not provide immediate results but the results will have a greater, longer lasting effect on the economy and society. There are lots of studies and articles documenting the relationship between education and wages, the more education a person has the higher their earning potential. There is also a relationship between crime and education. I really like Irene's idea of a Hollywood tax!!