Teachers Take a Hit

The California budget debacle should come as no surprise to anyone who manages their household budget. Spending more than you make is a recipe for financial disaster.

California law requires an annually balanced budget. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger promised fiscal responsibility, but his method of balancing the budget was to borrow money against the delusion of an ever–growing economy. Place this in a pot with the citizens' unwillingness to pay for anything that doesn't fill their gas tanks, turn down the economic burner, and we have a predictable disaster.

Californians must now tighten their belts. Every state program must take a hit, including foolish items like consumer services, transportation and housing, environmental protection, health and human services, corrections and rehabilitation, labor and workforce development, assistance to local government, mandates, and the greatest investment in the future—the most harebrained program of all—education.

School districts are now hurrying to reduce costs. This translates into larger classes, supply insufficiencies, elimination of many important scholastic programs, and fewer teachers and teachers' aids. In a state with the sixth largest economy in the world, California's annual, per–pupil spending is $7,584, 33rd in the nation, 45.5% less than New York State which spends $12,325 per student.

As usual, the powerless students and those at the bottom of our state's educational hierarchy will pay for the brainlessness of those whose shameful decisions got us into this mess: Governor Schwarzenegger and the California State Legislature.

Teachers don't teach for the money; teaching is a calling. Educators feel obligated to provide our children with a proper education. Imagine that! They're likely to pay for essential classroom supplies—hypothetically prepaid by the taxpayers—out their personal salaries when the school districts stop doing so. It's in their genes.

Feh!

I suggest that the guilty, those responsible, be the ones who pay for their errors. Governor Schwarzenegger and the California State Legislature should have their salaries cut and benefits reduced for not performing their jobs properly, after which they do the civilized thing: apologize, then fall on their swords.