Proposition Education
Ethan Ahlstrom
It is
well known that this nation is facing a financial crisis, leading to cuts in
valuable and programs that not only help our nation progress, but bring more
money back into our economy. California is a shining example of how improper
usage of funds and mismanagement of essential programs has lead to devastating
cuts. Everyday schools seem to lose more than they give. With class sizes
shrinking, course offerings disappearing and tuition exploding the education
system is enduring a problem that has never been seen before, at this
magnitude. Governor Jerry Brown has taken the role of foreman for the
California redemption job site by advocating Proposition 30 hopefully bringing
billions of dollars back to our schools. With voting day within sight, it is
important for residents of this great state to see the issues and realize what
will happen to our schools should Prop 30 not pass. Education needs to be our
priority, it is the key to a future of plenty for Californians and everyone
needs to do their part to save our most important commodity, an educated
populace.
What we
as a state face on November 6th is a chance to save our schools from
a near $6 billion cut affecting K-12, Community Colleges, CSU and UC school
systems. This gives us a chance to save thousands of jobs for instructors and
administrators, saving courses and resources and enrollment cuts. Prop 30
avoids a $250 million cut to CSU and UC each and stops an additional $150
tuition increase for this coming spring. CSU tuition has increased 300% in the
past decade and At Cabrillo College we have seen in the past few years 400
classes dropped, roughly 95 staff jobs lost and a tuition hike from $26/unit to
$46/unit. These classes are too expensive as it is and we can expect more loans
for students and a drop-out rate increase due to simply a lack of means as
opposed to a lack of motivation or need.
In
recent years we have seen numerous ballots to raise taxes fail under California
voters. This is due to the lack of concise assurances that these tax raises
will go to what is needed, not for the state government, high/low income
families, cancer research, state parks, but for the entire population and
future of the state. Yes, these are all factors in a healthy economy and
thriving community but in order for a population to willingly vote to pay more,
they must be convinced that there is no alternative to enhancing their lives
and the lives of their children. Proposition 30 is what the state has been
waiting for, we have the need, the representation and the means. The means
include an increase on sales tax for .25% for 4 years and an income tax
increase for 1%-3% for high income earners of over $250,000 annually for 7
years. These earners make up 3% of the population and yet would generate 90% of
the Proposition’s revenue, should it pass.
Now, in
the past Californians have not been keen on the idea of taxing those who can
afford it, is it their responsibility? Are they simply putting their hard
earned dollars to programs that are destined to fail? To politicians and
administrators who are not doing their jobs? Perhaps in the past, but now in
2012 as we see the rich get richer and poor, poorer, with unemployment rising,
college degrees decreasing and all the while schools losing money. It is
evident that this tax increase is not only necessary it is ethically proper. It
is in the best interests of those who can afford it to give to those in need
for the success of our state community. As Governor Jerry Brown stated, “If
people say no, we don’t want to tax the most rewarded and blessed among us, we
want to close schools, Ok. I’ll manage the best we can”. Taxing the rich has
become California’s fail-safe. The state is on
the shoulders of these high income earners and it is time for them to make the
difference. Voters need to understand that without this tax increase our
schools will continue to take cuts, lose jobs and paint a grim picture for the
future and generations to come.
On top
of the seemingly unacceptable cuts our schools are taking currently, we can
expect much worse should this Prop not pass. California is preparing for either
outcome from the measure and the motions that have been set are disturbing for
any involved in the schooling system. H.D. Palmer, spokesman for the state
department of finance explains that if the measure doesn’t pass “we still have
an obligation to maintain spending closely to the revenues we take in, so the
legislature pre-approved a package of so-called trigger cuts, reductions in
state spending, that will automatically take effect on Jan 1 of next year”.
Together, K-12 and College school systems make up over half of the California
state budget meaning these “trigger cuts” will result in $5.4 billion being cut
from K-12 schools and Community Colleges. Alternatively Proposition 30 states
that temporary tax revenues from the measure will be applied specifically to
K-12 at 89% and Community Colleges at 11%. Meaning the failing of Proposition
30 will result in not only a massive cut, but a loss of much needed funding.
As a
Community College student and future CSU student, I find myself jumping from
one cut to the next. College has changed in the way that not only do you need
more units and a broader spectrum of subjects in order to get a degree, you
have to wrestle to get into these classes
as well as paying a minimum of $70 per textbook on top of the near doubled tuition since 2009. It seems an
uphill battle has turned into a rock climb with no equipment, and the only way
to continue is take loans from one source or another, making every student stop
and wonder “Is this worth my time?” I’ve gone through semesters where I haven’t
gotten over 9 units simply because I was sitting on the floor with 10 other
hopefuls. This does not make for a good learning atmosphere. There is plenty of
competition after college, seeing this much now in the beginning stages of my
adult life and the reality of the importance of succeeding and the consequences
of not, when there is only so much in your power is simply depressing.
The
future of California is at stake. We need to show support for students,
teachers and administrators so they can make our education system as meaningful
and effective as it used to be. In K-12 we are seeing the lowest SAT scores in
history, grades are down, teachers are losing jobs and resources and we are
facing a 3 week cut in all schools, while the rest of the world seems to be
excelling. I went to boarding school in Great Britain for 8th grade.
I was 13 years old, went to school at 7 am, took twelve classes per day and
finished class around 5 pm. This was normal to most students, most of them got
off class and immediately started working on course work. They were introduced
to critical thinking and argumentation long before I arrived and I found myself
overwhelmed and under-prepared. We simply cannot afford to be making cuts on
these schools that are teaching our children how to live and grow and succeed
in the real world. There is no question why we are outsourcing jobs and
degrading our own achievements when we are facing a world that is steaming
ahead. I see Proposition 30 as the beginning of the new education system in
California, where children go to school with books and motivated teachers,
where college students find their goals are not being prohibited by obstacles
they cannot defeat and where we create a more unified state with the sole
purpose of improving our future.
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