Sarah Emmert, Bruce Fihe, Regina Langhout, Pallas Stanford
A high-quality education is only for the rich. This is the message that California is sending our students, from elementary school through higher education, thanks to the state's divestment of public education.
The signs in our county are clear: janitors have been laid off and overworked teachers have to clean as well as teach; there is no summer school for students who need it; books are being replaced less often; rats have been seen in dining halls that get cleaned less frequently; fees and tuition for higher education are increasing astronomically; class sizes are increasing; some low- and middle-income college students are leaving without degrees because they cannot afford to stay, especially AB540 students, who do not qualify for federal, state, or university financial aid.
This is no way to teach and it's no way to learn. Yet, high-quality public education is essential for public wellness and community prosperity.
We therefore urge you to join us on March 4, a day of system- and state-wide actions called by students, staff, and faculty from K-12 schools, the community colleges, the California State University system, and the University of California campuses to demand high-quality public education that is accessible and affordable to all.
You can get involved on March 4 in many ways.
In downtown Santa Cruz, join a community-wide rally for public education organized
by seven local school districts at the Town Clock from 4-5 p.m.
In Watsonville, join a community-wide rally and educational symposium organized by the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers and Viernes Cultural from 3:30-5:30 p.m.; the rally is at La Plaza, and the symposium is at the Cabrillo College Watsonville campus from 4:30 to 5:30.