Soap Box: Educate Our State
Ok, I will admit I’ve gone a little nutty lately and am totally passionate obsessed with what is going on with California’s budget and our state of education. Problem is, I’ve had my head in the sand for the last 4 years and now that my kids are of elementary school age, I see what all the hubbub is about and I’m totally riled up.
In our school district, in order to offset the forthcoming budget deficit, the school board has proposed to cut a whole list of services and activities that in my opinion should never be eliminated. For example, the school board is recommending cutting PE teachers for elementary students.
WAIT… WHAT?! No physical education?
Doesn’t this completely contradict the First Lady’s platform of trying to get America’s youth healthy again with her Let’s Move campaign? My kids are never going to learn a sport in elementary school? Unacceptable.
And that’s JUST the start… there are lots of other proposed cuts on the table to offset the looming deficit: cutting supplies, shortening the middle school day by one period, cutting administrative staff, and it goes on and on…
Now that I’m exposed to it all, I’ll admit that I’m totally overwhelmed. Getting caught up on current events has been challenging, so many headlines, so many bills and propositions. Where to start?!
Luckily, I’ve stumbled onto Educate Our State, a great volunteer led organization that has simplified it all and keeps me informed with what’s going on and what actions I can take. This is a group of PTA mom volunteers, all with kids currently in the K-12 system across the state, that take turns writing press releases and updating their site to keep the rest of us informed. They post on facebook and twitter and I see their updates as part of my regular stream.
If you care, I HIGHLY recommend you follow them on Facebook by clicking “Like” here. And if you tweet you can follow them on Twitter @EducateOurState.
Ok, getting off my soap box for the moment but go check them out… Seriously… Go… Now!
Good job, Sara! Yes, it’s getting a bit scary. Library went from 5-4 days this year and that’s already been a hard adjustment – I pray it doesn’t go to 2.5!
You can imagine how frustrated the teachers are! It’s nice that parents are starting to realize the effects all of these cuts are having on the schools. All the cuts not only hurt the students, but it makes it harder for the teachers to do the jobs they are there to do. Cutting administration means the teachers are put in charge more when we don’t even have enough time to teach! I agree… cutting P.E. is the worst idea! My 7th graders NEEDED that time to run around and be active. Not only for those students who don’t get any other exercise, but for those that have oodles of energy… like my little Charlie!
It’s really hard to think about going back into teaching after I am done getting the kids to the school age. It just keeps getting worse and worse!