Education Crisis... Is there hope?
Where do we go from here? Where do we turn when our most valuable freedom is being taken away? What do we say to those in power representing us who are making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year? They won't be around in 20 years to deal with our fucked up kids.
Last week, Oregon Health and Science University, one of the largest institutions in Portland that employs over 11,000 people, was informed by Governor Kulongoski that he was cutting the University budget by 40%: a mere $33 million over the next two years. Public school teachers around the state were also informed of statewide public education cuts: $400 million over the next biennium.
Sure, we've heard of cuts again and again. What will it take to make them realize the err of their ways? Poor and disabled folks unable to obtain any healthcare. Thousands more on unemployment. Troubled youth loitering outside the gated communities of Lake Oswego waiting to sell drugs to the rich kids.
OHSU's Board of Directors has already met to discuss ways to deal with the loss, most of which hit poor people and critical public service programs first. Oregon's elementary school class size is already the second highest in the nation. Some school districts are already operating on a four-day school week. Besides the fact that we aren't able to adequately teach our children, what kind of example are we setting? What do you do when you need something desperately? You certainly don't reassess the situation, reallocate assets or use common sense (because no one was around to teach you those skills). You just take it away from those that need it most.