Zack
Newland
English
2
Instructor
Knapp
October
7 2012
Education Gone
Missing?
The future prosperity of any society
is based on the success of its younger generations and their abilities to
acquire the necessary knowledge and tools to ready them for the coming problems
and difficulties that the society will face.
If the youth of our day and age are going to be our future and they are
unprepared for the tasks that are presented to them, then how are we, as a
whole, going to be able to progress through such tasks and ultimately survive?
In order for our youth to be able to take on such challenges and be capable of
working the future jobs and positions that we will need them to fill, they must
first have the proper training and education. This, however, is becoming
increasingly difficult due to the critical nature of our economy and its
fragile structure.
California was once a dominating state candidate on
the educational standings of our nation, but over the past years this has
changed quite drastically and what was once the great Golden State in the top
10 position of education has declined and now rests in the bottom 10%. A steep
fall which is very strange given California’s very prosperous past in many
areas, one in particular being the major bloom in Silicon Valley. It would seem
that this bloom would carry a healthy nature for those around it and thus feed
for more growth with such a bright generation, but there is one main factor
that manifests all growth in this world and that is the monetary factor that is
key to all capabilities. Every system is run with and through the possession of
money, which enables any such system access to its required needs. Because of California’s
fragile economy, there have been constant budget cuts in the area where we need
it most, and that area is our education and school system. It is clear that an
education is necessary for the growth of our nation, yet these budget cuts are
taking about $6 billion away from what is already a dwindling system. The loss
of these budgets is causing the loss of teachers while the student body is
constantly increasing alongside the price of education. The only thing that
sheds light on this diminishing system is the contents of Prop 30 and what it
can do to aid our schools and ultimately younger generation if it passes.
According to the Proposition 30 ballot, if it passes
it will issue a temporary increase on sales tax from 9.25% to 9.50% for four
years and income tax between 1-3% for those who make over $250,000 annually for
seven years. The money earned from these tax increases will generate around $6
billion which is intended to go to funding for our school system, most of which
to grades K-12. With these increased funds going towards education, it will
negate the $5.5 billion trigger cuts that were to be issued on Jan 1st
2013 if Prop 30 does not pass. They will also help rescind CSU’s tuition
increase that was put into effect earlier this year thus enabling a larger
student body and faculty. All of this money coming into the schools will make
acquiring and education easier than it is now with less stress on the need for
money to pay for classes and materials, and less faculty being cut meaning more
classes for more students.
I am able to see first hand what Prop 30 can and will
do if it is passed because I myself am an aspiring student currently enrolled
in college. It is difficult enough to try to get the classes that I need each
semester and then furthermore paying for books and units for each class is
constantly rising making it harder and harder. With classes dwindling and the
student body increasing in size, taking more money out of education is going to
make it much more challenging, not just for me but also for all my fellow peers
and any students attempting to get an education. An education means a future in
this day and age and if everyone is going after one with diminishing
opportunities it will discourage students to give up because it will seem like
an impossible feat when an education should be a right rather than a privilege.
The need for teachers and classes is dire and we can’t afford to continue
cutting departments because the end result will end up costing more overall.
Proposition 30 will not only fund
schools but it will also fund California’s public safety, divvying money into
other necessary areas with realignment funding towards programs like substance
abuse rehabilitation, law enforcement, and prisons. The desired outcome is to
see an increase in public safety by guaranteeing jobs for those who have earned
a second chance and focusing attention in departments that protect the
community. Now this may not have anything to do with education reform but it is
entitled change that is granted along with school funding from Prop 30.
Now the opposition may be against
certain areas that are getting the extra funding and even those that are being
issued the raised income taxes. But the truth is that if they are making enough
to be taxed three quarters of a percent more because that make much more than
the average citizen, then why would they not want to ultimately help the
economy that is trying to keep them running? The cost of paying the taxes and
not funding education will turn out to be much less than the future failing
economy. They can either pay a little more now, or inevitably see the fall of
their business in the future due to lack of workers with required training and
education. It is a small price to pay in order to keep theirs jobs or
businesses afloat.
As economy drifts, and funds are
relocated we need to take the time and rethink where these funds should be
going and how we are going to acquire them. In order for a prosperous future
and growth of a younger generation we need to reapply the importance of
education in our society and make it easier for students to be able to achieve
the education that they need and desire. The first step to take initiative and
start reform is to vote for Prop 30.
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