The Value of Public Education

Alameda High School teacher Gray Harris stands in a garbage can in protest of cuts to education.

Until about 25 years ago, California public schools were widely regarded as one of the great institutions of our country. Along with teaching the three R’s, schools were expected to teach students about democracy, show them how to become productive citizens, and help everyone, regardless of income, achieve the American Dream. Although public schools are still well regarded by much of the public, they’re consistently under attack. As schools have been turned into testing factories, many schools are portrayed in the media as failing. And teachers — especially those who are unionized — are often accused of putting their own interests first and being obstacles to reform. Meanwhile, funding dwindles for education. Many schools, especially those serving students of greatest need, lack money for art, music, PE and even basic materials like paper and pencils.

How can California be the eighth-largest economy in the world and still rank 46th nationally in per-pupil funding? It wasn’t by accident.

Much of the shift began with the passing of Proposition 13 nearly 30 years ago. This cut property taxes by nearly 60 percent, permanently altering public education’s most stable funding source. Overnight, public schools were forced to eliminate programs and increase class size. Teachers have been fighting for necessary funding ever since.

Also, within the last few decades, conservative forces have been working relentlessly to dismantle public education with the goal of priv­atizing the education system. They have sought to undermine the public’s confidence in public education and in teachers. This attack is not commonly recognized by the public, by the media or even by most educators.

With the future of education on the line, perhaps it is time to remember why our schools are so extremely valuable: a free public education is the right of every citizen. Investing in our public schools is an investment in future generations.

“Studies show that California seriously underfunds its public schools and would need to spend 40 percent more to ensure that all students meet the state’s rigorous academic standards,” says CTA President David A. Sanchez. “CTA is committed to ensuring that schools have adequate, stable and ongoing funding so students and schools continue to improve.”

The following articles examine the attack on our profession and public schools; the negative effects of school privatization in some communities; what can be done to fight back and build support for our beleaguered schools; and the extreme value in our society of having quality public education for all.