Education needs stimulus
There are likely 300,000 teachers facing job losses across the
United States this year. We must pass another stimulus package to
hire back these teachers. The widespread loss of jobs would have a
terrible effect on communities, but we should consider the value of
education above all.
We have been buffered from the worst effects of the 2008 crash
by a stimulus package which saved many jobs, but the time is
running out. We must consider education to be a special expense,
vital to our economic well-being in the same way that highway
construction is.
We know that human capital is among the elements that produce
wealth. This is the talent produced by schools to labor in research
and industry, and is the basis of all wealth. Yes, you need plants,
entrepreneurs, and liquid capital in banks. But what you really
need to produce wealth is the ‘know-how’ that lies between the ears
of human beings.
Schools are where we train people to gain this expertise, but we
need to provide our schools with the necessary support so we can
continue to. I hope that Congress passes a second stimulus package
to keep our schools open, but I think we need to begin to think of
school in a more dynamic way.
Beyond the immediate crisis in education is a longer term one:
what is the role of school today? Why do some students succeed and
others fail? What causes so many students to drop out? What is the
best way to measure and improve student performance? How do we
improve instruction? These are many of the questions raised by the
past decade of federal legislation, especially with No Child Left
Behind, and its latest successor, Race to the Top.
As a retired teacher, I think our schools must change
dramatically to become more effective institutions. The most
radical departure would be that of genuinely acknowledging the role
of our schools in creating an efficient work force. This sort of
schooling would combine school and work for students, employing
students while training them for community careers.
Students going to new career schools would begin as early as
primary grades to work part-time, gradually rising to working a few
hours a day in high school, on a career path. This might entail
working in health or transportation, libraries or education, energy
or agriculture
– there are many industries we could train our students in.
Students entering career paths could understand the relevance of
studies to the work they do outside the classroom, and could remain
in school while working.
Our country needs to change to survive, and our schools can be
in the forefront of this change. Forty years ago, we were able to
effect some of the changes suggested here, and this made a
difference in the lives of students who received work-study jobs. I
think that what we need in the United states today is the same
approach
– wedded with massive new school construction – paid for by
increasing tax rates on our wealthiest citizens.
Paul Hartnett
Hollister
Education needs stimulus
There are likely 300,000 teachers facing job losses across the United States this year. We must pass another stimulus package to hire back these teachers. The widespread loss of jobs would have a terrible effect on communities, but we should consider the value of education above all.
We have been buffered from the worst effects of the 2008 crash by a stimulus package which saved many jobs, but the time is running out. We must consider education to be a special expense, vital to our economic well-being in the same way that highway construction is.
We know that human capital is among the elements that produce wealth. This is the talent produced by schools to labor in research and industry, and is the basis of all wealth. Yes, you need plants, entrepreneurs, and liquid capital in banks. But what you really need to produce wealth is the ‘know-how’ that lies between the ears of human beings.
Schools are where we train people to gain this expertise, but we need to provide our schools with the necessary support so we can continue to. I hope that Congress passes a second stimulus package to keep our schools open, but I think we need to begin to think of school in a more dynamic way.
Beyond the immediate crisis in education is a longer term one: what is the role of school today? Why do some students succeed and others fail? What causes so many students to drop out? What is the best way to measure and improve student performance? How do we improve instruction? These are many of the questions raised by the past decade of federal legislation, especially with No Child Left Behind, and its latest successor, Race to the Top.
As a retired teacher, I think our schools must change dramatically to become more effective institutions. The most radical departure would be that of genuinely acknowledging the role of our schools in creating an efficient work force. This sort of schooling would combine school and work for students, employing students while training them for community careers.
Students going to new career schools would begin as early as primary grades to work part-time, gradually rising to working a few hours a day in high school, on a career path. This might entail working in health or transportation, libraries or education, energy or agriculture – there are many industries we could train our students in. Students entering career paths could understand the relevance of studies to the work they do outside the classroom, and could remain in school while working.
Our country needs to change to survive, and our schools can be in the forefront of this change. Forty years ago, we were able to effect some of the changes suggested here, and this made a difference in the lives of students who received work-study jobs. I think that what we need in the United states today is the same approach – wedded with massive new school construction – paid for by increasing tax rates on our wealthiest citizens.
Paul Hartnett
Hollister
Rodeo competitor needs support
My name is Cheyenne Rey and I am 14 years old. I live in Paicines. I attend Jefferson Elementary and I am in the eighth grade. My hobby and passion is Rodeo. I have been competing since I was 3 years old. Currently, I am a member of the Wrangler Division High School All Stare Rodeo Team. I compete in all the events – barrels, poles, goats, breakaway, team roping and ribbon roping. I just came back from the California State Finals in Plymouth, where I was the California State Champion Barrel racer and State Champion goat tier. I am also the State champion all-around cowgirl.
I have qualified to compete at the world’s largest Junior High Rodeo in Gallup, New Mexico, where more than 1,000 contestants from 47 states compete as part of the California National Junior High Rodeo Team.
Unfortunately High School Rodeo is not funded by any school so there are no funds for this sport. Therefore, I am seeking sponsors to help me with entry fees and travel costs. With your help, I can get to Gallup to represent our state at the nationals, stay focused and involved.
If you would like to make a donation, please send a check or money order payable to: Cheyenne Rey, 33655 Airline Hwy., Paicines, CA 95043. 389-4234.
Thank you for your consideration and support.
Cheyenne Rey
Paicines
What are they afraid of?
Last week, the Salinas Local of SEIU sent out a hit piece blaming Janet Barnes for the gang problem and 29 murders in Salinas in 2009. It claims Janet cut the police budget and caused the crime problem. The City website reveals that six of the seven council members voted in favor of the reduction of the city budget, which was forced upon the city by the state taking $60 million of the city’s revenue over the past two years. Janet couldn’t do it by herself.
Today, all registered Democrats received another slick mailer. It was from the Opportunity Political Action Committee in Pasadena. It too blames Janet’s budget cutting for Salinas’ crime problem. Why do you suppose a Pasadena organization sent this to our area? A visit to their website reveals that their biggest contributor is the California State Council of Service Employees Small Contributor Committee, which contributed the “small” amount of $225,000. Clicking on their web address leads directly to the state SEIU website. A little more Internet checking lead to the website of Janet’s opponent in the Assembly race, Watsonville Mayor Luis Alejo, who lists SEIU as one of his supporters.
I can’t vote for Janet in the primary because I’m a Republican, but I’ve admired her ability to work with other city council members over the years. She is the moderate needed in the legislature to actually solve problems instead of pandering to special interests (SEIU?) and refusing to work with others because of extreme ideological stubbornness.
Wayne A. Schapper
Salinas
