Soapbox Warning

If you have children, grandchildren or are just concerned with the fate of education in our country, then wake up and smell the disaster! Funding for education in our state is being cut even deeper this year. In my district, any teacher with seven years in the district or less will be CUT COMPLETELY. We are talking about new, enthusiastic, highly trained teachers, ready to change the world...CUT! Just on my campus, 24 teachers will be whittled down to 20 (including me, who will be forced to change campuses after 10 years). We will not have fewer students on campus, just just fewer teachers! Children will be packed into larger classes despite the fact that research has PROVEN that smaller class sizes are better for student learning. Kinder - third grade, plan for 30+ students. Fourth grade and up, plan for 35-40 students per class. There is NO MAXIMUM! Additionally, students will often be combined into mixed grade classes to cut costs. Having taught combination classes most of my career, I can assure you that it is NOT in the best interest of the students! Even the BEST teachers are stretched beyond their capabilities, and the bottom line is we already have too little time to give students the individual attention they need for optimal success. Please contact your representatives in the state and let them know that education is supremely important and you won't stand for them balancing their budgets on the shoulders of innocent children!