School board member Chuck Sambar hopes our local representatives to the state legislature will be able to preserve vital funds for our children’s education, even as Gov. Schwarznegger and others contemplate cutting school days to cope with the state’s fiscal crisis.
Glendale parents hope the GUSD school board can do more than hope.
Many teachers are not able to cover their curriculum and meet state instructional standards in the 180 school days they currently have. Hoover High teacher and author Brian Crosby advocates a longer school year of 220 days and longer school days within that schedule, to better balance children’s lives and fully educate them.
Elementary to high school public teachers can’t cover their material, administer tests, and keep up with onerous paperwork under the current regime. Why not cut the state requirements for reporting and testing during this budget crisis? How much does annual testing cost the state of California? Wouldn’t that money be better spent on more classroom time for instruction and assistance for struggling students?
Where is the grand vision for creating an excellent educational system that serves parents, children, and the future of our country? Are we going to lose it completely as we react to a temporary loss in funds? Is there no better way to allocate resources so we can preserve or extend classroom time?