Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Who wants to have larger class sizes and more unemployed people?

So, today the Governor of Illinois gave a speech on his proposed budget for the next fiscal year. 1.3 billion dollars are proposed to be cut from education.
Um, Gov. did you remember that you guys still have not paid us for last year? How about larger class sizes? Remember those? Yeah, not a good thing. With less funding comes cuts to the teaching staff, with cuts to the staff your student to teacher ratio goes up. Also, the "extras" get cut too. Even the extras that are mandated get cut and waivers are given so that we can just get through till later.
In Illinois, the fine arts subjects (music, art, drama, dance) are technically required. But, they are not required to be taught by a highly qualified, subject specific certification if the school cannot afford the extra position. Physical education is required by IL state laws for every student, 5 days a week, grades K-12. This is also to be taught by a highly qualified, area specific, certified teacher. But, in times like these, waivers happen and recess can count as PE for the day. The number of minutes for daily PE is also not specified. A school giving kids 10 minutes a day is following the law as much as a school providing 30 minutes a day.
Because every elementary education major is required to take 1 music, 1 art, and 1 PE class they can be considered highly qualified in that area. I am in no way trying to take anything from Elementary teachers. I love, admire, and respect every single one. I work in elementary because I also love it. But, ask most of those teachers and they will tell you that they don't want to sing/draw/dance/run/jump rope/etc.n front of their students. Usually because they say they are not good at such area. That is why we have specialists. To teach the special areas. Anyway, the classroom teachers have enough on their plates with having reading/math/science/social studies/being a mom to 20+ people.
By cutting so many positions, our already underpaid and overworked classroom teachers will just be eve more tired and worn out from having almost 30 (maybe more) little lives pulling them in 30+ ways.

IN conclusion, dear state of Illinois, lets think of something else to cut rather than education funding. This is our future you are cutting back on.

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