EC / K-12 NEWS

• Organizing victory for N. CA early childhood educators
• "No Child Left Behind" reauthorization info
• CFT participates in Ed Source "Convening" October 19
• "No public education by corporation," by George Martinez
• New research supports investing in effective pre-K
• "No Time to Quit," by Miles Myers
• CFT Position Paper on Charter Schools (pdf)
• What CFT members can do about the state budget crisis

Education leaders spoke at a press conference organized by State Superintendent of Instruction Jack O'Connell at Prescott Elementary School in West Oakland on February 22 against the governor's proposed education budget cuts. From left, CTA vice-president Dean Vogel, CFT president Marty Hittelman, Alameda County Superintendent of Schools Sheila Jordan, O'Connell, and CSBA president Paul Chatman. Click here for Hittelman's videotaped remarks (2 minutes, QuickTime). Hittelman called for fair, progressive tax policies in order to increase state revenues and stave off the governor's proposed massive reductions in funding for public education and other necessary social services. The press conference, held at Prescott Elementary School, was one of three Hittelman and other education leaders held during the day to help acquaint the public with the severity of the threat. Click here for press release from Superintendent O'Connell's office. Fred Glass photo

"Yacht owners don't need his help; students do"
Statement by CFT president Marty Hittelman
February 22, 1008

The California Federation of Teachers (CFT) opposes the cuts made to current-year funding for schools and other vital public services, and we propose new progressive tax revenues be enacted to protect funding in the face of additional proposed deep cuts to next year’s school budget. CFT opposes the cuts to education funding because we recognize that education is currently extremely under funded and cuts will make matters just that much worse. The cuts are even harder to swallow when one considers Republican legislators’ insistence on keeping the tax loophole for yacht owners, and other regressive tax breaks. We will continue to fight against any move to suspend Proposition 98's minimum funding guarantee, and we believe that before cuts in any social programs are considered, increased revenue sources need to be a major component of that discussion.

Our students did not cause this crisis. Cutting public education in the middle of the academic year is going to be disruptive, and devastating in many communities. We won’t agree that students be penalized so that SUV drivers, oil companies and yacht owners can get tax breaks.

There is a long list of progressive tax increases and tax break eliminations that could fund education and other key programs. The governor and Republican legislators’ position that there should be no new taxes is not tenable in the current budget crisis.The people of California rely on their schools and other vital public services. Progressive tax policies that ask the people who have benefited the most from living in California to pay their fair share are the most reasonable alternative to program cuts.

There are numerous potential funding sources that can lift California from near the bottom of the states in providing school and community college funding.

My experience in teaching for more than 30 years has taught me that taking funds from students’ education sets them back. That is the reality of budget cuts made this week and those proposed for next year – they impact a student’s education. A first or second-grader can never recover the lost chance to experience a smaller class, or a music program, or the assistance of a classroom aide. That student will carry that deficit forward and most likely achieve less than he or she would have. When the governor and other politicians talk about “autopilot spending,” they’re talking about our students. When they talk about cutting funds, they mean they’re whacking away at the core of quality education.

I’ve seen the results of past budget cuts. I’ve seen the loss of access to community colleges for hundreds of thousands of students. There is real damage done by the cuts made to schools. Meanwhile, yacht owners, oil companies and corporate property owners pocket billions that could better be used to properly fund education and other public services, and in the process, help all Californians instead of just the advantaged few.

This governor was elected on his promise never to cut Prop. 98 – “over my dead body” were his exact words. I hope the governor will remember his promise and honor it. Yacht owners don’t need his help; our students do.

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