Do not throw our kids over the fiscal cliff; raise taxes on wealthy & cut Race to the Top instead!
By Leonie Haimson, Class Size Matters (Contact)
To be delivered to: The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama
PETITION STATEMENT
We urge you to prevent our children being thrown off the fiscal cliff by 1) ensuring that the wealthiest Americans making over $250,000 pay their fair share and 2) cutting inessential & even damaging education programs, like Race to the Top and other competitive grants that promote more high-stakes testing, merit pay, school closings, firing teachers, and online learning, all of which threaten to undermine the quality of education that our children receive. Instead, focus your efforts on personalizing learning by funding smaller classes and ensuring that all children receive a well-rounded education, including art, music and the services they need.
Petition Background
Hugely damaging across-the-board education cuts will occur, causing increased class size & loss of essential services to kids, unless the President & the Congress agree on a budget which raises revenue and saves expenses. Please urge them avoid this outcome by raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans, who should be paying their fair share, and by cutting non-essential & even damaging programs, like "Race to the Top" and other competitive federal grants, promoting more high-stakes testing, merit pay, school closings, mass teacher firings, and the expansion of online learning, which replaces the personal attention that children need to succeed. None of these programs have any evidence to support them and are creating havoc and rising discontent among parents, teachers & other concerned citizens throughout the country.