[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

And the news comes from out of State!

[Bush2000]

California may fancy itself as the fifth largest economy in the world, but when it comes to funding its school system it is a calamity.

Translation: "Spending more equals higher quality". Pure BS.

There is simply no fat to cut, largely because of a statewide tax revolt in the 1970s that capped spending for social services, sabotaging America's former leading school system.

What utter tripe. Tell that to my kids' private school. Tuition per student costs half of what the state spends -- and the quality is better.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"There is simply no fat to cut, largely because of a statewide tax revolt in the 1970s that capped spending for social services, sabotaging America's former leading school system."

Horsepucky. We could stop educating illegal immigrants, for example, but lack the political will to do so. And unmentioned, of course, is why there was a tax revolt: people were being forced from their homes, and the pickpocket politicians refused to do anything about it. So the electorate took matters into their own hands. By the way, there was no "cap" for social services... just a limitation on property tax rates the state could impose.

And that was just one kind of tax. Meanwhile Kalifornistan has some of the highest income-taxation in the world-- more than many countries. If we can't drain the blood of taxpayers and manage to fund our schools with the proceeds, one must seriously question our priorities.

[joesnuffy]

Oh no homo recruitment, commie and greenie will be off where will they find replacements

[rimmont]

The Democraps of California are trying to turn this state into a more Europe-like "statist" society. I have heard some of them crow about how California will be the model the rest of the country will have to follow. Though I am a citizen of this state, I am happy to see their dream going down in flames.

[Centurion2000]

Well we all know that the Bisexual Asian studies courses will still be there .... of course they'll axe the physics department for it.

[kcar]

OMG! Greedy, selfish taxpayers strike again! Maybe CA should invoice the Republican Party for encouraging this self-centered individualist perspective?! Alas, now the TEACHERS are being going away. Wither Amerika?...

[not-an-ostrich]

Although the teacher's salaries are high in California the administators salaries are outrageous.

[John Jorsett]

The state isn't "broke". It'll have more tax revenue this year than last. The deficit is the result of not having as much money as it wants to have. Sacramento got accustomed to jacking up spending by a hefty amount each year and they're going thru a heroin-addict-style withdrawal.

[nmh]

"Class sizes, which were successfully reduced in the go-go 1990s to as low as 20 to 1 in the primary grades, look certain to expand again, with some scenarios suggesting 40 or 50 students per teacher in certain classes."

Class size has nothing to do with BUT rob taxdollars from people. Countries that are ABOVE the U.S. (foreign countries) have LARGE classes. What is wrong in the U.S. is the QUALITY of teachers. Most don't know their arse from a hole in the ground, let alone the subject they are teachings. After a few years of this they almost appear to despise kids. Not a teriffic combination.

[tubebender]

The 25,000 figure is very misleading. By law they have to give 6 months notice of lay offs but they don't know how much money they will receive or which departments they will cut so they take a chain saw to slice the bread. In the end there will be lay offs but about one quarter of this number.

Humbolt County schools faces a unique problem to this state. Because of the shut down of our timber industry we are losing students in all grades and we are closing schools all over rhe county.

[off-roader]

I believe that the Clark County (Las Vegas, NV) unified district is hiring 3000 new teachers every year. The number could be much more.

Much of the work force talent of the former Kalifornia middle class and alot of the money made in the dot.com era has left that state for brighter prospects in Souhtern Nevada.

My kids attend a sparkling new public elementary school where fundamental learning and personal responsibility are the hallmarks of the curriculum. As close as I have watched, I have not seen any degree of the social engineering crap that is so prevalent in the schools of Kalifornia.

I will add that the most junior teacher makes enough to afford a home in our fair city as well.

[American in Israel]

With the six figure "administrator" jobs at about a 1 to 1 ratio with actual teachers, this teacher layoff to save money will cause the "managment" to have to start time-sharing peons. After all how can you be an administrator if you have no one to administrate?

The school system has become a liberal feeding ground for greedy do-nothings. When a private school wihout state subsidies can produce a better product at HALF the cost, can no-one in the Schools DO THE MATH?!

Perhaps if we slashed the school budgets by 50% things would even out? First thing is fire All the teachers, and All the maintenance staff, sell All the schools and that will make up 20% of the cut. Then 30% of the remaining army of administrators would have to go...

[SpookBrat]

Ping...I haven't had a chance to read the whole thread yet, but thought you might be interested.

[p. henry]

My eldest daughter is a ninth grader at La Jolla High. Her two favorite teachers have received layoff notices. The California Teachers Association has long insisted that layoffs be based on seniority. Therefore, an Algebra teacher at Muirlands Middle School who should not still be a teacher will remain, while young, excellent teachers are asked to leave.

Thank you, Gray Davis and the Democratic Party.

[CyberAnt]

And ... if you're looking for a part-time job - now is a great time to apply!

[joesnuffy]

The mean IQ for CA. students will probably "go up" a few points now that the brainwashing funds have dried up.

[FreePaul]

Laying off teachers? I'll believe they are serious when they start laying off administrators and other useless money drains on the school system.