Comments on: Funding our future: town hall meeting on budget cuts

By: Betsy

Betsy — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:03:25 +0000

Crystal, I mean using examples that give a clearer picture. If you say “class sizes could reach 30 kids”, people who do not have children in schools do not know there are 20 in Kindergarten now. So give the viewers statistics, like “class sizes will increase 50%” (from 20 to 30) . With 30 kids in class, the teacher will have 10 minutes for each child per day (based upon a 5 hour day, when you eliminate lunch and recess).

By: Crystal Brown

Crystal Brown — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:35:17 +0000

This is in response to Betsy’s suggestion that we (the PTA moms) get our rap down more specifically with how it will impact schools. We would love some concrete examples that express the dire nature of these cuts. To some that are watching/reading about these cuts – 30 kids/class doesn’t do it, cutting art/music doesn’t do it…so, please weigh in. Those of us on the front line (i.e. kids in the schools get it) but to the TV viewer…we need to SHOW them.

By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:26:14 +0000

The reality for those of us that live in Leland Yee’s district is that he is missing in action – in my eight years as a public school parent I have not once seen him at any public education function to gather or give feedback on public education – and I have been to more of these than I can count.

If he has higher aspirations – as it appears he does, he needs to come around. Too late for this event – he should be noted as MIA.

While Ma, Ammiano and Leno should be applauded for at least showing up, we need to push them to go beyond ‘standing behind’ us in the effort – we must ask them to become leaders in the effort to reform public school funding.

Where are they in introducing legislation? Driving ideas? Working with counterparts in other areas of the state? We must make our SF elected reps see that public education is a priority for their voters. We haven’t don’t that yet. None of them are making public education their top priorities – hopefully, that could change.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:45:05 +0000

I’ve thought about what Betsy says — especially to outsiders, to whom 30 in a classroom doesn’t sound outrageous. I think the PR effort does need to come up with some concrete examples that really will make a mark with those who have no contact with today’s schools.

By: Betsy

Betsy — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:27:25 +0000

I admire the attempt, but talking to Fiona Ma, Tom Ammiano, and Mark Leno is preaching to the converted, and is not going to accomplish anything besides getting a blip on local news.
A march on Sacramento is what is needed.
These PTA spokespeople should get their rap down too, instead of just saying “it’s outrageous” and “we don’t have pencils” — when the newspeople ask the question: “How will it affect education?” give them a direct answer.

By: Support Our Kids

Support Our Kids — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:54:52 +0000

I’d like to know from Kathy who in our local delegation who has voted FOR cuts to education.

I believe that this event is part of this generation’s “we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore!” moment — the point when we hit bottom in terms of starving public services and shift our philosophy back to restoring a “we’re in this together” culture. Yee is going to regret it if he’s not on the train when it leaves the station.

By: rpnorton

rpnorton — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:11:23 +0000

Thanks for that information! Sounds like we need Senator Yee more than ever at this event so that he can clue the others in on the importance of standing firm against any budgets containing further cuts to education. His absence from the Town Hall meeting, given the confirmed attendance of the rest of the SF delegation, sends an unfortunate and apparently unintended message. I’ve been told that the reason he can’t confirm attendance is that the Senate is in session, but that doesn’t completely make sense to me since Senator Leno has confirmed that he will attend.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:56:39 +0000

I think it is the other legislators that need the phone calls, not Senator Yee. He is the only one that voted against the cuts to education in the previous state budgets.