California Educator

May 09

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¡Sí Se Puede! ¿Por Qué No? B Y C TA P R E S I D E N T D A V I D A. S A N C H E Z hardships they face due to the recent budget cuts. They talked from the heart about how foot- ball programs are being closed, about favorite art classes disappearing, about bloated classrooms with 40-plus students. One 13-year-old boy named Johnny spoke about the music class he loves and how his math grades have gotten bet- ter since he started playing the trumpet. Going to primary school in El Paso, Texas, I I recall having to bring in my own supplies be- cause the school I attended was so poorly funded. We brought our own pencils, paper, crayons — everything except for textbooks. Still, in that underfunded school, we always had art and PE and music classes. They never took away those vital programs. Somehow they understood the importance of those classes and how they added to a well-rounded person, to a balanced education. One of my most memorable school experi- ences during those years in El Paso was my sixth-grade class with Mr. Smith. He was an in- credible teacher. He knew how to engage us by bringing the lesson to life. One week I remem- ber well. We were in the midst of a science lesson studying the solar system, and Mr. Smith decid- ed that we would create a song about all the planets. He said that if it went well, we would present the song at a performance that was scheduled later that month for our parents. So we all banded together and came up with this song about our solar system. In this typical ele- mentary school science class — that was once a bit boring for me — Mr. Smith managed to combine art, drama, music and the solar system. It truly brought the wonders of our universe to life. What kid wouldn’t swallow that hook? Ev- eryone in class was engaged and invested in the project, and the performance was a success. Today, when I look at the condition of Cali- ¿Por Qué No? n this issue of California Educator, we wanted to give members and students an opportunity to tell firsthand stories of the fornia’s schools, I think about how hard our members work to give our students a well- rounded education and what little the state does to help. How can our students feel truly invested in school if we don’t offer them a diverse educa- tion? We shortchange our students by not giving them a broad spectrum of experiences similar to what they will one day experience in the world outside of school. Classes like art and music en- courage kids to do better in school. Our students rely on us to teach them the skills they’ll need to be productive in their personal and professional lives. In many ways, their future success and happiness are in our hands. It’s why we need to vote YES on Proposi- tions 1A-1F in the special election on May 19. It is clear that all these measures are inextrica- bly tied together. Props. 1A and 1B work to- gether to start restoring some of the cuts politi- cians have made to education. Prop. 1A creates the funding mechanism. Prop. 1B corrects the attempted unlawful manipulation of the state’s minimum school funding law — Proposition 98 — and repays $9.3 billion that is owed to education. With just about a week to go, this election is about who gets out to vote. If we don’t pass all of these initiatives, the budget agreement falls apart and politicians will have to start all over again. Failing to pass these measures will mean more layoffs across the state and will cost Cali- fornia $23 billion over the next four years, re- sulting in even deeper cuts to children’s health care, public safety and programs for seniors and the disabled — and another $11.5 billion cut to education. Continue to get the word out about how important this election is. Remember, there are more than 9 million students counting on us to vote YES on Props. 1A-1F. We need to help all of them to succeed. EDITOR IN CHIEF Dave Earl Carpenter STAFF WRITER Sherry Posnick-Goodwin CTA WEB EDITOR Karyn Ferrera Donhoff CTA WEB EDITOR Tiffany Hasker EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Craig Hamilton CTA ELECTED OFFICERS PRESIDENT David A. Sanchez VICE PRESIDENT Dean E. Vogel SECRETARY-TREASURER Daniel R. Vaughn BOARD OF DIRECTORS Larry Allen, Donald L. Bridge, Michael Bustos, Tyrone V. Cabell, Mikki Cichocki, Dayton Crummey, Don Dawson, Dana Dillon, Jim Groth, Dián Dolores Hasson, Eric C. Heins, Lynette P. Henley, Mignon W. Jackson, Marty G. Meeden, George Melendez, Mary Rose Ortega, Cynthia Peña, Lloyd N. Porter, Jim Rogers, Bonnie Shatun, Michael Stone EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Carolyn Doggett ASSOCIATE EXEC. DIRECTOR Rebecca Zoglman COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Jonathan Goldman CONTRIBUTORS Scott Buschman, Len Feldman, Mike Myslinski, Kamran Nasser, Frank Wells EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Heidi Swenson Chipman, chair; Misao Brown, William G. Clark, Michael Downey, Maggie Ellis, Charmaine Kawaguchi, KC Walsh; Larry Allen (Board liaison) EDITORIAL INFORMATION California Educator is published for the information and edification of its members. The editorial philoso- phy is governed by the policies of CTA. Articles and advertising reflect that philosophy. Letters to the editor may be sent to editor@cta.org. Publication of advertising in the California Educa- tor does not indicate CTA approval of the product or of the companies that purchase advertising. Advertising rate card and information is available from WebSolutions, Media Division, 5666 Spruce Harbor Court, Las Vegas, NV 89122 (702) 838-3434; FAX (702) 838-3355 Membership dues in CTA/NEA are $757/year for the fiscal year, Sept. 1-Aug. 31. Up to $17.57 of CTA annual dues is designated for CTA/ABC political activ ities to support state and local candidates and/or initiatives and is not deductible for income tax purposes. Subscription to the California Educator is $10/year, available only to persons or institutions not eligible for CTA/NEA membership. California Educator (ISSN 1091-6148) is published monthly except January, July and August for $6.47 per year (included in dues) by: CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION 1705 Murchison Dr., Burlingame, CA 94010-4583 (650) 697-1400; FAX (650) 552-5002 editor@cta.org, www.cta.org Postmaster: Send change of address to California Educator, P.O. Box 4178, Burlingame, CA 94011-4178. ¡Sí Se Puede! [It can be done! Why not?], words inspired by César Chávez, encourage us to remember that, together, we can achieve great things. Periodicals Postage Paid at Burlingame, CA, and additional mailing offices. 4 California Educator | MAY 2009

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