State Education Labor Leaders Call for Full Funding of Public Education in 2010/11 Budget
By Alice SunshineCalifornia Faculty Association
Everyone in California is painfully aware that public education in California is being dismantled. In nearly every ranking at every level -- from preschool to university -- California is sinking compared to other states.
Yet, the very forces we should expect to be in the forefront of fighting for public education, including businesses that need educated workers and even the leaders of our educational segments, speak of the problems, but are strangely timid at key moments when public action is needed to stop the wrecking crew at work on our schools.
So, a group of education labor leaders have decided to make a public commitment to work together to fight for the future of our schools, colleges and universities, even if those nominally in charge do not.
Over the holidays, education labor groups teamed up for an “e-March” on Gov. Schwarzenegger, sending 5,000 messages telling him to include appropriate funding for public education from pre-school through Ph.D. in his 2010/11 budget proposal slated for release later this week.
On Jan. 5, leaders of five of the labor groups – who collectively