Education Budget for California 2008 (Los Angeles, San Diego: felons, unemployment, school districts)

[Snort]

Well, didn't I hear the governator stating that he'd pull out all stops to make sure education is fully funded and that he'd put an end to the need for layoffs statewide for educators? Any thoughts on the current budget crisis and the possible layoff of teachers?
I see packed classrooms (34 kids per class) right now. How would they reduce staff and not go over the 'legal' teacher to pupil ratio?
I just couldn't see how they could do this, even before Arnold spoke.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Snort

Well, didn't I hear the governator stating that he'd pull out all stops to make sure education is fully funded and that he'd put an end to the need for layoffs statewide for educators? Any thoughts on the current budget crisis and the possible layoff of teachers?
I see packed classrooms (34 kids per class) right now. How would they reduce staff and not go over the 'legal' teacher to pupil ratio?
I just couldn't see how they could do this, even before Arnold spoke.

It's pretty bad..


California budget deficit up to $16B, governor's balancing plan called 'flawed' - East Bay Business Times:

[cobmw]

I read newspapers from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. School districts everywhere are laying off teachers.

[NYSD1995]

No one has been laid off yet. They are just sending the notices which they are required to by the union.

Don't worry. Taxes will get raised and schools will not get cut. It won't happen until the last minute.

[Snort]

If they were to lay off all those teachers and not re-hire them, hasn't anybody figured out that a lot will go straight to unemployment because there won't be any jobs in their profession?
Again, with classes already at the limit, there is simply no way they can let go of teachers.
Maybe districts will be forced to downsize administration, and that might not be a bad place to start.

[SailAwaySunset23]

Well, I'm a student in California. A sophomore in high school to be exact. I'm really concerned about the education my peers and I will be getting in the years to come. My school had to let go of 16 teachers because we can't afford them. Our class sizes will be increasing dramatically because of this. They're already in the 30's and 40's, and we're not even a very populous town. Most of our teachers only have the credentials to be a substitute teacher anyway, so our educations are already threatened. Most of the money our school will have after the cuts will be going to our athletic department anyway, because they practically own the school. I'm allowed to present propositions to my Student Council on how we should handle the money situation, because our Board of Directors and Superintendent aren't doing much about the whole Athletics issue. Any suggestions or further information on what's to come??

[Charles]

Originally Posted by SailAwaySunset23

Well, I'm a student in California. A sophomore in high school to be exact. I'm really concerned about the education my peers and I will be getting in the years to come. My school had to let go of 16 teachers because we can't afford them. Our class sizes will be increasing dramatically because of this. They're already in the 30's and 40's, and we're not even a very populous town. Most of our teachers only have the credentials to be a substitute teacher anyway, so our educations are already threatened. Most of the money our school will have after the cuts will be going to our athletic department anyway, because they practically own the school. I'm allowed to present propositions to my Student Council on how we should handle the money situation, because our Board of Directors and Superintendent aren't doing much about the whole Athletics issue. Any suggestions or further information on what's to come??

Suggest to the Student Council that government (aka public) education be abolished. Float the free market approach to education. Ask them if they would like property taxes to be lower. Ask them if they would prefer educators running the schools rather than politicians. Ask them why government education is costlier per pupil than private education. Busing, religion, sexual orientation issues, racial quotas, Title IX and many other problems and controversies would instantly disappear.

Also, mention that you as a free citizen (even though 16 or so years old) do not appreciate the government forcing you to go to school.

[missionhome]

Our school district (Capistrano Unified, 12th largest in CA) is cutting over 200 teachers from the district. It is going to be traumatic if it all goes through. Also, I got a letter in the mail on Friday stating that the district was cutting its 70 something bus routes down to 16. My oldest relied on that bus route his freshman and sophomore years, good thing he can drive now. Too bad for other families though because many people live over six miles from their school due to awkward boundaries.

[SailAwaySunset23]

Originally Posted by SailAwaySunset23

Well, I'm a student in California. A sophomore in high school to be exact. I'm really concerned about the education my peers and I will be getting in the years to come. My school had to let go of 16 teachers because we can't afford them. Our class sizes will be increasing dramatically because of this. They're already in the 30's and 40's, and we're not even a very populous town. Most of our teachers only have the credentials to be a substitute teacher anyway, so our educations are already threatened. Most of the money our school will have after the cuts will be going to our athletic department anyway, because they practically own the school. I'm allowed to present propositions to my Student Council on how we should handle the money situation, because our Board of Directors and Superintendent aren't doing much about the whole Athletics issue. Any suggestions or further information on what's to come??

Originally Posted by Charles

Suggest to the Student Council that public education be abolished. Float the free market approach to education. Ask them if they would like property taxes to be lower. Ask them if they would prefer educators running the schools rather than politicians. Ask them why public education is costlier per pupil than private education. Busing, religion, sexual orientation issues, racial quotas, Title IX and many other problems and controversies would instantly disappear.

Can our whole system really transition into private education? We need the buses. Not everyone in my town can afford a car to get to school. I live 15 miles from school, and my parents commute, so they're gone before I wake up and I make the school bus on my own. We're so close to Los Angeles all of the ex-felons and poverty stricken families[no offense intended to anyone] make their way up here somehow. To me, the whole place is corrupted. The racial, sexual, religious and whatever else tension has always existed. Our school officials have the ability to make changes, they're just too lazy or prefer not to because of all of the changes that will be coming soon. I sit in class and listen to our teachers ridicule them, yet they aren't taking any stands either. Most of the teachers think they're wasting their time being there anyway. They have no faith in the students, because none of our kids want to be there. They're there simply because they have to be, because it's the 'law'. As for the athletics, we sort of need them. Most of our teams compete in and win the State Championships. The athletes simply have good grades and keep our AYP and average GPA up because a reasonable individual GPA is required to play on the teams. Actually, our school statistics are so low, it's threatened to be taken over and completely run by the State of California.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by SailAwaySunset23

Can our whole system really transition into private education? We need the buses. Not everyone in my town can afford a car to get to school. I live 15 miles from school, and my parents commute, so they're gone before I wake up and I make the school bus on my own. We're so close to Los Angeles all of the ex-felons and poverty stricken families[no offense intended to anyone] make their way up here somehow. To me, the whole place is corrupted. The racial, sexual, religious and whatever else tension has always existed. Our school officials have the ability to make changes, they're just too lazy or prefer not to because of all of the changes that will be coming soon. I sit in class and listen to our teachers ridicule them, yet they aren't taking any stands either. Most of the teachers think they're wasting their time being there anyway. They have no faith in the students, because none of our kids want to be there. They're there simply because they have to be, because it's the 'law'. As for the athletics, we sort of need them. Most of our teams compete in and win the State Championships. The athletes simply have good grades and keep our AYP and average GPA up because a reasonable individual GPA is required to play on the teams. Actually, our school statistics are so low, it's threatened to be taken over and completely run by the State of California.

Doesn't sound like government education is working for you.