Spring Break
Salvaging education
The Daily Barometer Editorial Board
Issue date: 2/25/09 Section: Forum
News of recession, budget cuts and layoffs keep popping up in our Google alerts.
Corvallis, OSU and the state of Oregon are no different. In fact, some of those Google alerts stem from the "Corvallis" search feature.
At present, the state of Oregon faces a $850 million shortfall for this biennium - which ends on June 30. State analysts are predicting a $3 billion shortfall for the next biennium.
In short, we're screwed.
K-12 and post-secondary education are facing serious dilemmas as state officials decide what to cut and how deep the blade will slice.
Schools are seriously at risk.
As reported in The Oregonian, the Confederation of School Administrators were surveyed in a couple of critical areas.
"Of the 140 school districts that responded, 40.7 percent answered that staff layoffs would be likely, as well as reduced spending for text books, nutrition programs, field trips and other costs," according to The Oregonian ("Oregon school districts concerned about layoffs," Feb. 22).
The Beaverton School District is facing a $37 million budget deficit.
Grants Pass School District will see $3.3 million in cuts.
Baker City School District will be trimming $1.5 million.
Teachers, at our old schools, will be laid off.
Those of us at OSU are only students because we were instructed (for better or for worse) by teachers at the K-12 level. We played on the swings in elementary school and we tried to get on the soccer team in middle school. We snuck cigarettes in high school - but one thing endured through all of those years.
It was our teachers.
It was the person that taught us how to read and write and to recite all of the presidents.
We believe that fewer educators spread across the state of Oregon means the quality of education in this fair state will be on the decline.
Fewer hands on deck means we'll be sailing that ship right on into the rocks.
Education, up to and including post-secondary education (like trade schools, community colleges or universities), is critical to the success of our economy.
While we are projecting a $3 billion shortfall for the next biennium, we are shooting ourselves in the metaphorical foot.
We can cross our fingers and hope for the best in this economic crisis - but that's not good enough for the students who will eventually fill the seats of Milam Auditorium.
We are asking our legislators to reinvest (again and again) in education. This time, we're not asking for dollars for the Oregon University System.
We are asking that you invest in those students who dream of college.
Editorials serve as a means for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale or diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board's majority.
Corvallis, OSU and the state of Oregon are no different. In fact, some of those Google alerts stem from the "Corvallis" search feature.
At present, the state of Oregon faces a $850 million shortfall for this biennium - which ends on June 30. State analysts are predicting a $3 billion shortfall for the next biennium.
In short, we're screwed.
K-12 and post-secondary education are facing serious dilemmas as state officials decide what to cut and how deep the blade will slice.
Schools are seriously at risk.
As reported in The Oregonian, the Confederation of School Administrators were surveyed in a couple of critical areas.
"Of the 140 school districts that responded, 40.7 percent answered that staff layoffs would be likely, as well as reduced spending for text books, nutrition programs, field trips and other costs," according to The Oregonian ("Oregon school districts concerned about layoffs," Feb. 22).
The Beaverton School District is facing a $37 million budget deficit.
Grants Pass School District will see $3.3 million in cuts.
Baker City School District will be trimming $1.5 million.
Teachers, at our old schools, will be laid off.
Those of us at OSU are only students because we were instructed (for better or for worse) by teachers at the K-12 level. We played on the swings in elementary school and we tried to get on the soccer team in middle school. We snuck cigarettes in high school - but one thing endured through all of those years.
It was our teachers.
It was the person that taught us how to read and write and to recite all of the presidents.
We believe that fewer educators spread across the state of Oregon means the quality of education in this fair state will be on the decline.
Fewer hands on deck means we'll be sailing that ship right on into the rocks.
Education, up to and including post-secondary education (like trade schools, community colleges or universities), is critical to the success of our economy.
While we are projecting a $3 billion shortfall for the next biennium, we are shooting ourselves in the metaphorical foot.
We can cross our fingers and hope for the best in this economic crisis - but that's not good enough for the students who will eventually fill the seats of Milam Auditorium.
We are asking our legislators to reinvest (again and again) in education. This time, we're not asking for dollars for the Oregon University System.
We are asking that you invest in those students who dream of college.
Editorials serve as a means for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale or diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board's majority.
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