Fight for free education

The premise of public education is that every child has a right to a

free education. Each passing budget year seems to chip away at that

premise, as less money makes its way from Sacramento to schools. Once

part of the curriculum, music and art are now extras parents must

raise money for.

The lack of funds is now jeopardizing programs state officials

once touted as mandatory.

The class-size reduction program that mandated a 20-1

student-to-teacher ratio for kindergarten through third grade, which

was a crucial element in California education a couple of years ago,

is fast disappearing.

The district implemented class-size reduction in the first grade

in 1996-97, in the second and third grades in 1997-98, and in

kindergarten in 1998-99.

It is already a thing of the past at the third-grade level, and

parents in the Huntington Beach City School District worry that by

next year it will be gone altogether.

In reaction, parents have formed a group dedicated to raising

money to maintain and expand class-size reduction in their schools.

They are asking that parents give $200 per child in the district, no

matter what grade level they are. The plan is first to try to raise

enough to keep class sizes at 20 students in the first and second

grades across the district. If the funds don’t reach the $205,000

needed for that, the money would be put in a fund to be overseen by a

school site council.

While the parents’ efforts and determination are to be applauded

there are a couple problems. First, not every parent can afford to

pay into this and should not feel pressured to do so. Second, parents

who can and want to chip in must be prepared to see their money

spread evenly across the district.

If parents donating accept those two points, the project could

certainly help the situation. It does not change the fact, however,

that they should not have to pay into public education in this

manner.

Parents should harness their enthusiasm and take this very

important fight to Sacramento and not just to their fellow parents.

They should speak to their representative, Assemblyman Tom Harman,

about fixing this problem. They should lobby the capitol and fight

for the premise on which public education is founded.