Further budget cuts for California education

Schwarzenegger's promise of a reprisal not met?

By: Dominique Dumadaug

Posted: 2/10/05

People in California are upset at the governor over his proposed budget cuts in education. Does any of this sound familiar?

In 2003, the people of California were in an uproar over then-governor Gray Davis' budget cuts. He was soon recalled from office and replaced by the charismatic Hollywood action star Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Schwarzenegger was supposed to make everything better; he promised he would. He promised if education sacrificed $2 billion, schools would be paid back, they would receive a share of any additional state revenues and would be spared any additional budget cuts. Now Schwarzenegger is proposing to cut education by $2.3 billion further breaking his promise to California students.

The "Governator" affectionately called by some Californians, plans to take even more money from schools and students and not pay them back. The citizens of California are in an uproar over the proposed budget cuts. It's déjà vu all over again.

California schools have suffered more than $9.8 billion in cuts the past four years. With the governor's proposed cuts, it looks like education will continue to suffer from more cuts.

It's a shame. According to a "Quality Counts 2005" report by Education Week, California's academic standards are amongst the highest in the country (top three), but ranks among the lowest (44th) in per-pupil funding.

How can anyone expect so much from students when they don't have any funding? Due to increased budget cuts to public schools, faculty members have been fired, libraries closed down, and teachers' benefits and pension plans are cut off.

Outreach programs like GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) are being taken away, art, music, and physical education programs are cut, maintenance on schools is stopped, schools are closing down, and those schools' students are being sent to other schools where they face overcrowding.

Colleges and community colleges are having a hard time as well. Students will see another rise in enrollment fees and book prices.

Many programs colleges were hoping to bring back will have to take a backseat until they can get the proper funding needed.

California students are losing big. How are they going to cope with prolonged budget cuts to their education? If their future isn't going to be bright, how will ours be?

Shame on Governor Schwarzenegger for lying to students, but shame on voters as well. Voters should have known quick fixes don't solve problems, they just make them worse.