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Is Anyone Going to Stop the Teacher Exodus from California?

By Robert Cruickshank

When Arnold took office in late 2003 he argued that one of the state's highest priorities was to "reform" a workers' compensation system that was supposedly driving businesses, and therefore jobs, out of the state. And the Legislature did so, cutting benefits to injured workers in order to try and keep business and the Chamber of Commerce happy.

Five years later California faces a similar crisis, as skilled workers flee the state in droves, taking their salaries and therefore their positive economic impact with them. But this time, Arnold seems happy to see their backs, because it's teachers and not well-connected corporations that are fleeing a state thanks to poor budget priorities:

"Precious Jackson has two years of teaching under her belt and two school teacher-of-the-year awards to show for it. She also has a pink slip...

""Your future is in our classroom," the Fort Worth, Texas, school district says on a San Diego billboard. It plans to send recruiters to the city next month to dangle $3,000 signing bonuses.

"Several Los Angeles-area newspapers are carrying ads for the Clark County, Nev., school district, which hopes to lure teachers to Las Vegas with $2,000 incentives."

"We don't hear things like that here," said Jackson, 25, who teaches English at Lincoln High School, her alma mater in San Diego's hardscrabble Lincoln Park neighborhood. "Instead we just don't know what to expect, and it makes us feel underappreciated."

Here is a teacher who gave back to her community, sacrificing opportunities for better pay and easier working conditions to devote herself as a teacher to the students in need in her community. Now she's looking at leaving the state because California isn't willing to do what it must to keep her employed.

It's not as if California has a surplus of teachers to lose to other states. It has been estimated that California needs to recruit 100,000 new teachers over the next 10 years just to maintain current staffing levels thanks to retirements. Given the staffing needs, and the economic benefit of having employed teachers contributing to the state's businesses, one would think that Arnold Schwarzenegger would be moving heaven and earth to keep California competitive and stop this economic exodus.

Instead we have young teachers looking at moving to Atlanta, or Las Vegas, or Fort Worth just to make ends meet:

"Andrea Wiesner, a middle-school teacher in San Diego whose one-year contract won't be renewed, plans to apply in Henderson, Nev., south of Las Vegas, to take advantage of generous student-loan repayment assistance offered by the Clark County School District.

""I worked really hard to be a teacher and now it's like, 'Well, if you want to stay in California, go back and work jobs you worked in college,'" the 28-year-old said. "But I can't just volunteer. I need a job.""

I would love for Arnold and his fellow members of the Yacht Party to explain how any of this is good for California's economy.

Robert Cruickshank is a historian, activist, and teacher living in Monterey. He is a contributing editor at Calitics.com and works for the Courage Campaign, in addition to teaching political science at Monterey Peninsula College. Currently he is completing his Ph.D. dissertation in US history, on progressive politics in San Francisco in the 1960s and 1970s. A native Californian, he was raised in Orange County and educated at UC Berkeley.

Posted on April 20, 2008

Comments

Excuse me, but the reason why California's school system is suffering is not for lack of funds, but because of twisted, selfish priorities. Monies are wasted on grossly overpaid administrative personnel, their salaries, benefits, & perks - including their retirement package. University presidents, the board of trustees, & all administrators & even teachers are bleeding the system for all they can. Couple that with ridiculous waste of resources on every campus - you can see why I vote "NO!" on every request for more $$ for any & all schools.

Truth is, all politicians & public employees need to learn a good lesson in morality & what it means to be a decent human being. Decent human beings do not force others to pay for their wishes. I stand to lose all my life's savings, my home, & get thrown in jail, if I don't pay for all the retirement benefits of public employees. Their argument is that they deserve it because of the service they have provided to the community. Well, guess what - just the fact that I work means I am providing a service to the community. But there aren't any government thugs ready to take your home away & toss you in jail if you don't give me the retirement package that I want, now is there? Fact is, if I have to work & save for my retirement out of my current income, then what makes it impossible for all the politicians & public employees to do the same?

This is no longer a country where public service is just that - a service. Instead, it has become a country of public elitists, who think their wishes, wants & needs are more important than others & will try to force their desires on others, & take whatever they can from their fellow countrymen. That's how arrogant & selfish this nation has become. And what's even worse, is that it's become the norm! Read the Constitution of the United States & the Bill of Rights. Your freedom to pursue your happiness ends when you forcibly take what I have created/earned from me. Grow up & get over it - & stop crying & throwing fits because life's not as easy as you want it to be. Teachers & all public employees have become nothing but a bunch of unappreciative spoiled whiners & I'm sick of it.

Posted by: TruthBeKnown at April 21, 2008 04:30 AM

Thanks for the post. It is an important story. Obviously the prior poster is angry about paying taxes. Taxes are a price we pay for such things as schools, roads and water.
It is not arrogant nor selfish for teachers to want a job where they will not face annual layoffs.
California continues to rank about 37th in the nation in per pupil expenditures. And, about 38th in reading and math scores. Guess what. Money matters.
How long do you think California can remain prosperous with third rate funding of public schools?

Posted by: Duane Campbell at April 21, 2008 08:45 PM

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