Morgan Hill teachers are joining with counterparts throughout
the state Wednesday for an after-school protest of Gov. Arnold
Schwarnezegger
’s education funding practices. The demonstration is from
4-6pm.
Morgan Hill teachers are joining with counterparts throughout the state Wednesday for an after-school protest of Gov. Arnold Schwarnezegger’s education funding practices. The demonstration is from 4-6pm.
May 25 has been deemed “Lobby Day” by the California Federation of Teachers in an effort to present the educator’s perspective to our state legislators.
School district educators, parents and students will hold signs and shout slogans as they demonstrate at Britton Middle School, Monterey Road and Central Avenue. Other workers in the public sector are expected to be on hand. In recent weeks, similar demonstrations have been held in 50 California cities.
We think it’s only fair to hold Schwarzenegger to his promises and to the will of the voters as expressed by passage of Prop. 98. Passed in 1988, Prop 98 establishes minimum funding levels for public schools and community colleges.
One month after Schwarzenegger won the battle to recall and replace Gov. Gray Davis, he convinced state legislators and education lobbyists to suspend Prop. 98 to help stem the tide of red ink the state faced. He promised to give education more money if state revenue increased, education lobbyists say, and now that the state is raking in more money with a rebounding economy, they say they’re not getting what they’re due.
Schwarzenegger has a different memory of what promises were made to secure the coup of suspending Prop. 98.
This much is clear: California ranks near the bottom of the states in per student spending, and even lower on standardized tests. The state’s education system has lost nearly $10 billion the past four years due to budget cuts.
We don’t much like budgeting by proposition. We think it’s a recipe for disaster, one that relieves legislators who are paid very well to make difficult decisions, of one of their most important responsibilities: Wisely spending taxpayer dollars.
But, given that California voters passed Prop. 98, we think the Governor and state Legislature ought to abide by it.
Schwarzenegger ought to do what is right, both politically and morally: He ought to fully restore Prop. 98 funding. Education is truly the key to a successful future for California, and it ought to be fully funded.
