The May revision of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget proposal includes an additional $2.5 billion reduction to public school funding, on top of $17 billion in cuts over the past two years.

The human cost of these cuts is staggering. Across the state, the ability of teachers to deliver quality education is being drastically compromised. Many thousands of teachers and support personnel will have to seek other employment. Class sizes are skyrocketing. School librarians and school nurses are becoming scarce. Fewer janitors must rotate classrooms to clean instead of cleaning nightly. Art, music and adult education programs are being eliminated.

Students don't get a second chance at second grade. They should have the attention of a teacher when they need it. But when there are 29 other kids who need attention, instead of 19, that becomes difficult. Any adult who has attempted to take care of this many children knows each additional child matters in the effort to maintain order, let alone ensure that learning can occur.

This spiraling catastrophe's origins predate the recession. The recession has simply provided a tipping point.

California is becoming a much more unequal place. The wealthiest 1 percent of Californians, who earn at least $400,000 per year, now take home one-quarter of the state's income. This compares with 15 years ago, when the same demographic group received 13 percent. But the poorest one-fifth of California's