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March 3, 2010
As FUSD schools continue to issue budget cuts, a heavy cloud of irritation thickens among students, teachers and other school workers alike. The district plans to cut teacher salaries and a counselor, in addition to increasing class sizes, causing the school climate to turn sour.
Beginning this school year, the hike in number of students per class robbed us of the luxury of smaller classes, sometimes with less than 20 students, particularly English classes. Previously, teachers had a larger focus on each student, and in the case of English classes, students generally had more meaningful discussions about the books they read. Now everybody can’t contribute to discussions or ask their questions because there isn’t enough time in a class period to fit that all in. In addition, some classes are so large that there aren’t enough desks for students. As a result, students may not be as content or comfortable as when class sizes were smaller.
In addition, with the possibility that the district may cut salaries or have layoffs, teachers and other school staff members may feel less determined to carry out their jobs. They may not completely stop putting in the effort, but there may be times in which they feel like giving up. This may not be true for all staff members.
We must not point fingers at anyone or any entity, for the state is making an effort to preserve our education. According to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s website, http://gov.ca.gov, our governor’s 2010-11 budget includes keeping educational funding at the same level year over year. Therefore, it seems as though lower levels of government, such as our school district, are at fault for causing distress among students and school staff members.
However, budget cuts are necessary to saving money during these tough economic times. We can do little to improve our conditions, with the exception of convincing our parents to opt for paying additional taxes. However, adults do not feel eager to pay more taxes, even if that means better education for their children.
Aside from that, all we can do is ride it out together and have understanding about the situation. Without understanding that cuts must be made to reduce monetary spending, people may feel inclined to complain without taking things into consideration. Have patience; we can get through it.
Photo illustration by Brian Jeon
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