KPBS.org
citizenvoices

An Indecent Proposal

March 26, 2008 @ 04:03 pm by Trina Boice

Despite the colorful pictures hanging on the walls, there is a bleak feeling in the front office of my son's elementary school these days. Teachers and staff, including the principal, received the dreaded pink slip two weeks ago. There is a feeling of uncertainty and frustration in the air. Easy smiles and laughter have been replaced by worried looks, anger and criticism. Approximately 188 Carlsbad Unified School District employees recently received their termination notice for the 2008-2009 school year due to our California budget crisis.

Governor Schwarzenegger has asked that Proposition 98 be suspended in order to cut $4.8 billion in education funding. If passed, class-size reduction could be eliminated in first through third grades and in the freshman year in math and English. Other proposed cuts include music, science, social science, art, theater, second language, librarians, nurses, and even full-time principals.

Voters passed Proposition 98 in 1988, which was supposed to prevent our government from cutting education during economically weak times and provide a minimum protection for education funding. In 2004, however, the legislature passed a suspension of Prop 98 for the first time by a 2/3 vote. This is what they're proposing to do again this year to solve the state deficit of over $15 billion.

Read full article

Posted In: California | 1 Comment
Link to this:

Taking Pot Shots at the Governator

March 14, 2008 @ 07:03 am by Steven Garrett

My wife was laid off in December, right before Christmas. 

She has been looking for work for three months now. She just now found a possible lead. So, imagine her anger when she sees Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in TV commercials on encouraging people to move to California to work.

Right now, California is ranked fifth in the country as one of the WORST states to find work in.

And yet our governor wants to bring MORE people into the state -  thus taking what few jobs there are away from those already living here!

Read full article

Posted In: Local, California, Other | 1 Comment
Link to this:

The ABCs of California Education

March 13, 2008 @ 07:03 am by Trina Boice

A California appeals court last week has ruled that parents without teaching licenses cannot home school their children. Wait a second. What? That decision becomes
Binding on the courts and counties that comprise the Second Appellate District, which are Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura, on March 28. The other five District Courts of Appeals in
California don’t have to view the

Read full article

Posted In: California | 6 Comments
Link to this:
Page 1 of 1 pages