Where California's Economy Has Gotten Us - Teacher Stikes

Note to Mods: I didn't put this in Education, solely because it also has a large part to do with the California economy.

Placer County, just north of Sacramento, is one of the wealthier counties in California. With wealth, comes a great education. Rocklin in particular, has achieved high API Test scores, and continue to be leaders as one of California's most educated districts, the Rocklin Unified School District.

http://www.placerherald.com/detail/83570.html

However, due to the problems in California's economy, namely it's recent tax cuts, legislators are finding it more difficult to send money where it's needed: the education system. In recent years, we've seen the education budget slightly weakening, with less money going to schools. In a globalized economy, the youth need to be as educated as possible.

A good example is the Rocklin Unified School District. With high test scores, motivated teachers, and several extra-curricular activities including clubs, music, theater and more, money for these once-prosperous programs is now dwindling. The Rocklin School Board is currently negotiating contracts - contracts that should have been decided on a long time ago. The Board's excuse is that there is less money coming from the government because of the California economy. As a result, teacher are considering a strike. For teachers in one of the "smartest" districts in the state to go on strike over pay would be enormous, as it would set the stage for other districts to follow suit and begin to protest the way that the state legislators budget the education system.

First part: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AWlhP8bvqw
Second Part: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7C5vq39jdY

Not to mention, No Child Left Behind has made it even tougher for these wonderful teachers to achieve as highly as they used to. The education of the children has been compromised.

As it becomes tougher to keep money in the extra programs which make our district great, teacher's contracts have also been affected. These tax cuts that been been enacted over the past years have taken money away from public education, and kept it in the pockets of the rich. Ultimately, to solve California's budget crisis, we will need to go back and raise taxes. Remember 1990 and 1993 when taxes were raised? Not only did we still continue to feel the effects of the 90s economic boom, but public education prospered as well.

Thank you, and remember to support your local teachers and public education!

K.C. et al vs CDE and the educational needs of diabetic kids and others with medical conditions requiring medical care while at school, you recall the state requires kids to attend school, says the state and districts must find a way to make it safe for these otherwise normal and healthy kids to go to school When are the teachers going to put school nurses ahead of their contract issues? But of course I do recall we will never see enough school nurses to do the work needed.

should be supporting school nurses too.