Unimportant

It's not just because it's the profession I've chosen. It's not just because I am having a hard time finding a job in it. And it's not just because. But I am wondering why here in California, the largest state in the union, the most populated, the one with the most schools and students and teachers, why is education unimportant to the policy makers here?

It seems that over the last few years education in Sacramento has been the one thing that it seems ok to cut back on and not really give much attention to. From there, the school districts make their cuts and set their agendas to meet the actions of those in Sacramento who are saying, education isn't that important to us.

When I finished my credential program in 2003, there was a booming need for teachers. It was the best time to be a teacher and the best time to get a teaching credential. Now, it's not the case.

I understand that there is an economic crisis, I understand that. However, why do young people who don't pay taxes have to be the ones who take the hit? Teachers are being let go, class sizes are being increased and the work load for teachers are being increased to match the needs of the school where they have let go of people who were doing those jobs.

It is hard enough to be a teacher in California where there are on average 30-35 students per class. Now you want to make that number closer to 40. What teacher has the time to get to know 40 students? More if you take into account middle and high school teachers who may have 4-5 classes of that many students. Imagine the grading that takes place.

Several teachers I know are having to amend their lesson styles to accommodate such a change. Tests are now more multiple choice rather than ones that reflect thinking and analytical thought because who wants to take the time reading 200 essays when you can run a scantron through a machine and have it over in about 10 minutes?

It's not just the quantity of education that is changing, it's also the quality. Good teachers are being let go, so that districts and schools can hire teachers for the lowest price possible. They no longer want the best, they want the one that they feel can get by.

Education in the fourth largest economy in the world, California, doesn't seem to be important enough to law makers anymore. Education seems to be the thing that people up in Sacramento think, "that's where we can make our cuts."

This should be the most important issue facing California. Especially when you take into consideration the fact that we are the largest state in terms of population so it might also be considered that we need teachers, we need classrooms to be a fair size, and we need to think of the students first.

Think of those students who have a hard time comprehending and need to be able to raise their hand and say to their teacher, "I don't get it." If you increase his or her class size, how does the teacher take the time to meet with that student and help them out? They are too busy making copies of assignments and tests and meeting with other students who asked that question to find the time. The ones who are being hurt the most aren't necessarily the teachers who are losing their jobs, it's the students who aren't getting the education they deserve.

Reward your hard working teachers who have earned the salary. Don't pink slip them just so that you can hire someone else for less money who isn't quite as qualified. And this is coming from an out of work teacher who desperately wants to do what he was trained to do.

It's time to make education important in California. Way more important than it is right now.

Until next time
P