As a concerned parent who’s attended PTA meetings at the local offices of State Rep. Chuck DeVore and former State Senator Dick Ackerman seeking some equalization and downright fairness when it comes to per-pupil funding in Irvine (and other OC schools which are well below state average in per-pupil funding). What we come away with is “we can’t do anything” and “lobbyists control everything” and nasty messages about the “greedy California Teacher’s Union.”
My daughter started 5th grade today. There are 35 kids in her class. Now I know we have a number of conservative readers here who think teachers are overpaid and underperform (not in Irvine however). But that’s a bunch of bull.
Let me make a suggestion. Teach a single afternoon at a school.
Junior achievement offers programs that let you come into schools and do just that. I did this a few years ago at a school in Costa Mesa on International Trade. Junior Achievement gives you a lesson plan and all the materials. That was easy to use. What’s hard is keeping the kids engaged and holding their attention. It’s hard to get them to participate. And you can’t reach all of them. I was exhausted at the end of the day and have to tell you, even teachers at the high end of the scale are underpaid in my opinion. This is one of the hardest jobs out there and one that is so impactful for our country.
Despite the clear desire of parents in Irvine to work through the process in Sacramento to improve our funding status, ourt legislators have failed us and continue to fail us.Â
As a parent who values education, I pay “taxes” in the form of supporting multiple fundraisers, school auctions, and various sponsorships. I’d rather pay more state taxes to make sure our schools get the support they need. What’s clear is that we need state assembly and senate representation that clearly values education.Â
And for those pro-business Republicans, you need an educated workforce to be competitive. Keep undercutting education at your peril.
Since Chuck DeVore no longer responds, I will respond for him.
Dan,
YOu have no idea about teaching ethos. Truth is teachers are shoving their liberal, prounion values down our childrens minds. They don’t need an education, they need Jesus and Jesus will fill their minds with knowledge. Dan, all you are doing is Soviet style indoctrination and I will expose it all Dan as the centerpiece of my campaign to unseat Barbara Boxer. Yes Dan, instead of going after her, I will expose you, reveal you have voted for Boxer and people will flock to my campaign in droves. This post is the turning point for my campaign.
All the Best
Chuck DeVore
Dan, glad to hear you speaking as a parent for a change and you are right on in your comments. Teachers are under appreciated and in many cases underpaid for the critical service they provide to society. In Irvine, we are blessed with having a well run District and top of the line teachers. My three kids went through the Irvine schools and two of the three are now college graduates. My daughter teaches second grade at the new Davis Magnet School in Costa Mesa. One day, perhaps all citizens will wake up and recognize that teachers spend more time with our kids, than we do. I have never been hesitant to pay top market value for a first class product. That is what we get from the vast majority of teachers across the nation and for that, I too would pay more taxes if necessary.
I apologize for not having anything to challenge you on today, but on the topic of our children we all stand together. Best wishes with the fifth grade.
Pat — I suspect we agree on far many more things than either of us might care to admit. But the school system here is what broguht me to Irvine 12 years ago; not the safest city designation. Not the strong economic record. The schools. And our elected leaders to Sacramento fail us annually by placing the partisan positions of their party ahead of our school children and teachers.