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One Los Angeles Teacher’s Response to Governor Schwarzenegger’s Education Budget Cuts
I cry every time I think that, come June, I will be replaced by another teacher
By Marisa Almada
My name is Marisa Almada, and I am a fully credentialed teacher with a certification to teach students learning English, a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education, and I am "highly qualified" under the No Child Left Behind Act. I am a proud graduate of Whittier High School and of the University of California, San Diego. My education is a testament to the excellence of California's public schools and universities. This is my sixth year of service to my district and I received a letter from the district recently telling me that I will be laid off next year due to state budget cuts.
I came to my school six years ago, and instantly loved the warm and generous families that call Pico Rivera home. I made deep connections with the staff and students of my school. My district invested thousands of dollars in my professional development, which I reinvest back into my students daily. I gave generously of my time, energy, and money to ensure that my classroom is a happy, stimulating place for children to learn.
Three weeks ago, my fiancee and I were pre-qualified for the purchase of our first home. We were hoping to set down roots and be able to start a family in the coming years. A few days after our trip to the bank, I learned that my six years of seniority, my education, and my excellent service to my students would not be enough to save my job. Now, John and I will be looking for an apartment to rent, and our dreams of starting a family will be postponed indefinitely.
If the legislature approves the budget cuts to education, I will be laid off along with 107,000 other teachers in California. My prospects for another teaching position are dim, as there will be a glut of qualified and hard-working individuals such as myself. I will find myself another job in another field eventually, but I know that no job can replace the career I may lose.
This layoff letter hangs over my head night and day. I cry every time I think that come June, I will be replaced by another teacher. Along with my anxiety and sadness comes a deep and energizing anger. I am furious at Governor Schwarzenegger and the legislature for believing that the children of California can or should absorb these kinds of cuts. This was supposed to be the Year of Education but the governor has proposed a budget that will undermine the people and programs responsible for student achievement.
Put simply: Governor, you must find another way. I implore you and the legislature to adopt some of the recommendations proposed by the California Federation of Teachers to increase state revenues in order to secure my own future, the future of 107,000 other teachers, and that of California’s children.
Marisa Alamada is a kindergarten teacher at North Ranchito Elementary School in the El Rancho School District.
Comments
In the middle of the 1960, and for some years after that, California led the way in education, all across the U.S. Now where are we? Budget cutting into children's minds by the so-called. self-proclaimed "Education Governor" in the "Year of Education". What a hoot! Except it's not funny. Our children will suffer, our economy will suffer (How many kids who had greater plans will end up asking "Do you want fries with that?")
My state, born and raised here. My state, my sorrow.
Posted by: ladarlene at March 18, 2008 11:54 AM
In the middle of the 1960, and for some years after that, California led the way in education, all across the U.S. Now where are we? Budget cutting into children's minds by the so-called. self-proclaimed "Education Governor" in the "Year of Education". What a hoot! Except it's not funny. Our children will suffer, our economy will suffer (How many kids who had greater plans will end up asking "Do you want fries with that?")
My state, born and raised here. My state, my sorrow.
Posted by: ladarlene at March 18, 2008 11:55 AM
If thousands of teachers are laid off, many of them will leave education altogether. These are the same young people who answered the call for needed teachers a few years back! These are also the ones trained in standards based instruction, technology and the "latest trends." They will find other professions and may never come back.
I predict that five years from now districts will be hiring unqualified emergency credential people once again! What a waste of talent!
Posted by: Pat Almada at March 19, 2008 02:51 PM
My husband is one of the teachers that has received the potential lay off notice. He is a young teacher, come June he would start his third year with LAUSD. Yet, he is the only teacher in his school willing to take on the yearbook program after the teacher who had done it for many years past was laid off. He is also the only teacher in the school that wants to teach AP Economics, and wants to be the co-adviser for Academic Decathlon starting next year along with another new teacher (who also received the lay-off notice) My husband has two Master degrees, Master of Secondary Education and Master of Science and Management. How could you justify firing such a qualified teacher that could be earning much more money in the private sector but chose to be a teacher because he loves it? I see it coming. He, along with all the teachers that are fired, will find other jobs and will not return to the district again because they will fear this happening again. The state will be begging for teachers, and will hire people not qualified for the jobs that will not raise the educational standards, but rather will drop them even more.
I wish there was something we could do about it.
Posted by: Jessica at March 23, 2009 01:58 PM
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