Rethinking our Priorities

As I walked into a 3rd grade classroom yesterday I learned that the students would not be going to “specials” twice this week; thus, the teacher has no planning period and the students are left to watch the movie “Babe” so the teacher can finish her planning, organize the classroom, and/or attend meetings. When I asked why the students would not be attending computer class or music class the answer was budget cuts. There is not enough money to hire a computer technology teacher; therefore, teachers are in charge of taking their students to the computer lab and working with them. My first thought was what about those teachers who are slightly older and did not grow up in the “computer generation?” For example, my dad is 51 years old and “pecks” at the keyboard. How could you expect him to teach students the proper way to type when he doesn’t know himself? Also, I learned the music teacher that is hired is on a different track than this particular classroom; therefore, when she is tracked out the student do not have music class and the teacher does not have a planning period. I understand that the economy is in a recession and budgets have to be cut but by cutting the education budget we are affecting our future: the children. My question is this, where are American’s priorities?

THE ANSWER:
CNN reports that the Gosselins are paid approximately $50,000-$75,000 per episode of "Jon & Kate Plus 8." Daniel Radcliffe continues to rake in $25 million each time he dons his circular glasses to play Harry Potter. In 2007 Miley Cyrus earned $18.2 million dollars, Tiger Woods earned $115 million and Oprah came in at $260 million. If this isn’t bad enough Leona Helmsley’s dog, Trouble, took in $12 million! (When Helmsley died in 2007, she set up a trust for her beloved Maltese, giving the pet more than she set aside for her own family.)

So again I ask, “Where are American’s priorities?” According to Merriam-Webster the word priorities is defined as “something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives.” If we are concerned about our future, which are our children, why is education not a priority? My personal opinion is that our priorities are all substandard. Americans are more concerned with watching Jon and Kate Gosselin argue each episode than with our children’s education. If you don’t believe this to be true then why are “we” paying them $50,000-$75,000 per episode yet we can’t afford to hire teachers who make less than $50,000 a year? Can someone please explain this rationale behind this for me? Or better yet, Leona Helmseley left her dog $12 million dollars. That is equal to about 265 teachers’ salaries A YEAR (if teachers make $45,000). How can leaving a DOG money be legal? I love my dog but $12 million dollars, give me a break (that is a different blog for a different day)!

According to the article titled The Effects of Budget Cuts, “our students are expected to achieve more with less. The budget reductions force administrations to cut programs that are seen as least important. What programs are cut? How are these programs beneficial to students? Who is being affected the most? Students are entitled to a quality public education. If funding is reduced, the quality of education is reduced…The most common programs cut in K-12 public education school systems are arts education, early childhood programs, and before-school and after-school programs. However, these programs are crucial in student and school success. Schools are also cutting teaching, administration, and custodial positions. Students’ educational opportunities are being cut to the “core” subjects. Rosemary Coyle is president of the Connecticut Education Association and is concerned about the budget, “the trend I’m seeing is arts, music, P.E., and gifted-and-talented programs are either reduced or eliminated completely. In order to have a well-balanced education you need all of that. We’re not offering equal education…” (http://socyberty.com/education/the-effects-of-budget-cuts/)

So how is the budget cut directly affecting our children you ask? I could give you several answers but that would take about 100 pages and several hours so I will just name a few. To begin with budget cuts are affecting our students’ health. The childhood obesity statistics reveal the stunning fact that almost 60% of children in America are obsese children. The rate of overweight children in America is increasing rapidly. The obesity statistics of 2002 say that 22% of US preschoolers were overweight. Then, you can imagine how big the problem would be right now. Childhood obesity studies also reveal the fact that 40% of obese children and 70% of obese adolescents become obese adults. Indeed, by the time an obese child turns six years old, his/her chance of becoming an obese adult is over 50%. Many claim that obesity is an individual responsibility. And, they also think that children can easily cure themselves by following good eating habits and through regular exercise. But, all these people don’t realize some important facts. Many schools in American only offer each class P.E. once a week. With budget cuts physical education teachers are one of the first to go. Also, budget cuts are affecting athletic funding. Many schools are having to eliminate sports teams because they don’t have the money to hire a coach. Other schools are requiring students to pay to play. Don’t believe me? Read this article from the LA Times… http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/23/sports/sp-high-school-cuts23.

Budget cuts may also force schools to either raise class sizes by almost 25 percent—which is currently occurring in Wake County, shorten the school year by a month, lay off hundreds of thousands of teachers and employees and have hiring freezes.

Although the economy is suffering and many Americans are suffering, we really need to rethink our priorities. Why do we pay actors hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars to make movies yet we can’t afford to pay educators to teach our children? Oh yeah, we pay them the money to make movies that our children can watch while the children should be learning in other classes such as art, music, Spanish and physical education. That makes a lot of sense, right? Budget cuts are significantly affecting our future and it is time that WE do something about it!

Video to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AZQj23Td9o