My comments would likely result in tears or lawsuits.
So would my database!
Also, yay for no invasive procedures! Sorry hubby is bored, but better than being bored. So to speak
Very much this.
I feel horrible about the school situation, but then I look at the school district where CJ will be next year and I'm so glad we are moving.
It makes me so angry that people have to move to another school district or pony up obscene amounts of money in order to ensure a good education for their children. I believe with every fiber of my being that there is nothing,
nothing, more important than education for the health and vitality of a civilization, and yet here in California the Gubanator wants to cut the already underfunded schools even more by dipping into the 40% of state revenue guaranteed by Prop 98. I heard on NPR last week that we are now ranked 47th in the nation in per pupil spending (thanks so much, Prop 13). According to a Rand Institute study, "California public schools, which in the 1960s had been ranked among the best nationally in student achievement, have fallen to 48th in many surveys of student achievement."
It just makes me furious. This state has more money than most countries, yet we have to fight to educate our kids. And what does he say about our massive deficit? That this is not a revenue problem; it's a spending problem. WTF. I dislike taxes as much as the next person, but there's a
reason
we pay them!
Walkout update. Now all the kids from both high schools are on the big auditorium and there are a ton of press and police. She just sent me a picture and it is madness.
Good for K-Bug and the others! WHEE baby-activists!
I just got a call from vwbug, who was getting out of her much anticipated and stressed over meeting at school- she said that it went REALLY well, and she is pleased with the discussion and feels "incredibly validated."
That’s wonderful! Thanks for the update, Nora.
Hey, Nora, wanna imagine you're meeting me for a beer tonight?
Can I join the imaginary happy hour?
I couldn't agree more, Kristin. It's disgusting. Especially in light of this.
From that link, which is a NYT opinion piece:
Mr. Hormats mentioned Social Security and Medicare, saying that both could have been put “on a more sustainable basis.” And he cited the committee’s own calculations from last fall that showed that the money spent on the war each day is enough to enroll an additional 58,000 children in Head Start for a year, or make a year of college affordable for 160,000 low-income students through Pell Grants, or pay the annual salaries of nearly 11,000 additional border patrol agents or 14,000 more police officers.
Woo! Imaginary happy hour. I'm there.
Go K-Bug with the newsmaking activism!
Damn Kristin, I didn't know California had fallen so far down. They used to have such a good reputation for education. Florida has always been bad. We're just all about the standard tests. We approved higher sales tax and they spent bunches on shiny new school buildings, but of course this comes with rip off contractors and bribes and all the usual scandals. Schools pay XXX for pencils when the office store down the street sells them for XX.
DH just got back from the state basketball finals. Some schools had parents driving the players there and paying for their rooms, other schools had buses with cheerleaders and fans all paid for by the school. All schools are not created equal.
DC, I think, ranks 49th. sigh.
I just called Time Warner to ask about cancelling our cable TV and the operator was so nice that I'm having second thoughts. I'm so bad at breakups.
I am currently feeling better, and dinner helped. It was:
- broiled salmon stuffed with lobster on a bed of risotto and scallops with garlic-tarragon berre blanc
- passion fruit ice tea
- vanilla creme brulee with fresh berries
WANT. That sounds absolutely delish.
That color looks terrific on you, Laura!
Vortex, you need a new job that appreciates your fabulousness.
Hugs to all that need or want them.
Yay for callbacks!
connie, I'm glad to hear that Hubby is more comfortable now.
Suzi, you've raised one helluva daughter there. Go K-bug!
Cash, much~ma for the best possible home visit.
I'm so ready to go home.
MFN just exhausted me with her merea.
Nice hair Laura.
That's all I remember from today
K-Bug is pretty awesome.
I think I forgot to type congrats to juliana on the callback! Woo!
Well, not sure what is happening in town now. K-Bug and her team are off to Livermore for their game. I'm still at work with my trainee who leaves this evening. I keep checking the news wire to see if there is anything new.
These cuts are across the state. Is our school district just the first to make plans for dealing with them? The mind boggles that this is an isolated thing.
