PeaceJam | California's Educational Funding Collapse

California's Educational Funding Collapse

Posted 3/4/2010 at 4:18 PM by Andy S in Affiliate News
Affiliate: California

As we are all sorely aware, funding for education, especially "extra" programming such as PeaceJam is scarce these days. I know that the San Diego Unified School District, the third largest district in the country, has a budget deficit of over $80,000,000 dollars. This is not an issue of absence of funds or resources but poor, in fact harmful, misappropriation of public money.

I wanted to share two articles which I feel directly impact one another. The first article about a school in L.A. most perfectly illustrates the outcomes of this crisis in areas of high need.

The second article discusses the 7% budget increase for U.S. military spending.

If Social Security is the third rail of American politics, then military spending must be the fourth, fifth and sixth. Because as President Obama moves forward with big plans to freeze spending on federal programs for up to three years, one thing he's not talking about freezing or cutting is military spending. In fact, for next year, Department of Defense spending will increase at least seven percent, to the point where the the U.S. will spend more on military spending than almost all of the rest of the world. Combined.

This issue is so cut and dry for me, it is incomprehensible! The two articles show the problem, and simultaneously, the solution starring all of our politicians in the face. Any ideas on how we can affect change in this arena?

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Kate P wrote:
Dude. Read this, it will drive you nuts.... "Leaving aside concerns about whether the long sentence was just, some observers in California asked if the cash-strapped state should really be spending between $50,000 and $100,000 a year to lock up a cheese thief." Cheese Thief Jailed for 7 Years in California
posted 3/5/2010 at 10:11 AM

Bradlee A wrote:
You can always get a better education, for free, if you join the military. Sarcasm, of course. This is really not cool on a lot of levels. Reducing the military budget is incredibly difficult as the military brass don't want the general public to have an influence on what toys they can buy.
posted 3/5/2010 at 11:25 AM

Andy S wrote:

Wow Kate that article is indeed REDICULOUS!!

Cheese Thief Jailed for 7 Years in California By ROBERT MACKEY wrote:
“California now has 185,000 people in prison at $32,500 a year” each, he said. He then urged voters and officials to compare that expense to what taxpayers spend per pupil in elementary schools. “The three-strikes law sponsor is the correctional officers’ union and that is sick!” Kennedy said of the measure mandating life sentences for third-time criminal offenders.

I did a short search on line and discovered that California (ranked 29th as of 2005-2006) spent about $8,500 per pupil. This is one fourth of what is spent per inmate!!

The way I see it we can keep reducing the educational budget increase military and correctional expenditures and have more criminals which cost more money. Or.. we can reduce military and correctional spending and increase educational spending (which is less expensive) and thus lessen the need for the military and prisons, which allows more money for education. This positive process can keep growing and be self sustaining.

posted 3/5/2010 at 12:27 PM