Bricks without Straw

[donco6]

The Bible talks about the Hebrews enslaved in Egypt being forced to make bricks from mud and straw. After Moses appealed to Pharoah to let the Israelites go into the desert to worship, Pharoah retaliated by commanding the Hebrews to continue making their full quota of bricks, but now they would have to gather their own straw.

Here in Colorado, we're facing a cut to our Total Program Funding from 6 to 10 percent (they're still not settled on a figure yet). This is not a cut to a potential INCREASE; this is a cut from one year's funding level to the next. For my small district it amounts to $2.4 to $4 million. They're talking about a similar cut to next year's funding.

At some point, we in education have to cry, "Enough!" This is the last straw (no pun intended). If we're to be cut by these huge amounts, and yet somehow continue to provide the same service for the same number of kids, we've stopped being teachers and have moved to being SLAVES.

We have cut our budget for 3 of the last 4 years already. We have lost bond elections 3 times in a row. We have no fat left to cut - even administrators, believe it or not! We are closing two schools next year and raising class sizes to 30:1 just to try to squeak by one more time, but that's NOT OK. We just cannot continue this charade and call it "education." We have to stand up and do something. Right fucking now!

[earthside]

1. Hey! We're in a Recession!

There is a recession going on here in Colorado ... if you haven't noticed.

In fact, it appears to me that after a bit of an up-tick blip in November and December, it is getting worse again in the metro area.

So, where is the money going to come from? Average working folks in Colorado cannot take a tax increase; we are struggling and worried enough as it is.

With a Democratic legislature and Governor, it's not like the state government is using the recession as an excuse to cut education -- they wouldn't if they didn't have to.

If there isn't any money coming in, then there isn't any money coming in.

Besides, other important programs are being cut, too; it isn't just education.

That's just reality.

[SlingBlade]

2. Hey, We Are at War and ....Oh Never mind

We're ALWAYS in a damned war. And that my friend is where your funding goes.
No bid contracts etc.

But don't worry, Change is on the way.
Scuttlebutt sez the corporate whores are about to lose their majority in Congress.

[babylonsister]

3. This might help...

Administration: Obama to boost education funding by $4 billion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x154706

[donco6]

6. I'll be watching.

Even with strings and testing and everything else I DON'T like about federal grants, I'll jump through whatever hoops I have to to try to save some jobs.

[WhiteTara]

4. you are one of the real heroes

to try to instill some knowledge in your charges. I can't imagine how hard it must be on a good day, with nothing but your own straw and now you have to supply the mud too. This is way too sad. Ignorance is the bedstone of fascism.

[4_TN_TITANS]

5. Teachers here in Tennessee, at least

have screwn themselves by signing away in their TEA negotiations the right to physically strike. If parents were suddenly left to juggle jobs and kids not in school, you'd see some money materialize real fast. The tax burden for education is nothing compared to the cost of private daycare.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Dead issue. Most public employees can't stirke.

If these teachers don't agree to it in negotiations, the state can just make striking illegal.