Sunday, November 14, 2010

Sally Smith argues for free public education for all students

"When a student can take a math class without having to tell his teacher that "I can't afford a calculator" because every student is given a calculator, when no student has to draw out graph paper with a wooden ruler because his family doesn't have money to buy a pad of graph paper, when a student does not have to take his clay art piece and lump it back into a ball of clay and give it back while his wealthier peers pay the $25 and get to fire and paint their clay creation then we can talk about "salaries for teachers in San Diego are 32nd out of 37 school districts in the county."

Nov. 13, 2010
Voice of San Diego
Comments on "What is teacher tenure, anyway?"

Posted by Sally Smith:

...Annually, I hear complaints that teachers must buy supplies for their classrooms. That would not be the case if SDUSD budgeted needed teaching supplies first. Is it asking too much for an educational entity to budget for pencils and paper and calculators? It is the law - Hartzell v. Connell...

The burden of providing a steady stream of revenue for school supplies and activities has been shouldered by families - currently, suffering immensely in this poor economy - and no one bothered to inform them that their children were entitled to a free public education. Illegal school fees are still being collected despite staff being informed that they are violating the law. Some parents have paid the equivalent of a year of college tuition in illegal fees.

To be successful members of society, our children must be provided with an equal playing field in our public education system. All adults should insure that no child is labeled as a deadbeat or excluded from any school course or activity. Every child should enter San Diego Unified School District and never have to be the child looking in the window, empty handed, at the other children playing with the toys their wealthy parents could afford. For 26 years, everyone has looked the other way and 'wink,wink' collected "donations" and really, you say "Shame on you" to me?

When a student can take a math class without having to tell his teacher that "I can't afford a calculator" because every student is given a calculator, when no student has to draw out graph paper with a wooden ruler because his family doesn't have money to buy a pad of graph paper, when a student does not have to take his clay art piece and lump it back into a ball of clay and give it back while his wealthier peers pay the $25 and get to fire and paint their clay creation then we can talk about "salaries for teachers in san diego are 32nd out of 37 school districts in the county.

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