Senate Education Committee Chair

[Straydog]

Fyi, Ifishers.......... do what you can do. Write a letter!

Senate Education Comm. Chair

Representative Richardson,

Pasted above is a link to today's Oregonian article describing the actions of Senate Education Committee Chair Senator Charles Starr.

As an active Three Rivers School District parent volunteer, I find the statements of Senator Starr offensive.

At a time when many of us are working hard to find solutions to the inadequate funding of our public schools, I am dismayed that an elected official would make such statements as to encourage patrons to remove their children from our public schools.

As I am sure you know, the more students we lose from our public schools, the less money we have to operate them.

I spent last evening working on the TRSD Budget sub committee that is dealing with the Elementary School portion of our overall budget. After an exhausting exchange with parents, teachers and administrators it was determined that, in order to balance the budget, we would need to eliminate twenty one elementary teachers from our district. On top of this, we will need to eliminate or reduce classified staff, library services, text book purchases and general supplies to mention only some of the cuts we will likely be facing if our budget dollars are not increased.

Can you please explain to me how anyone can call himself a supporter of public schools and remain in place as chair of such an important committee while at the same time urging his constituents and his funding base to take their personal and financial support elsewhere?

At a time when the morale of our dedicated school teachers, staff and parents is suffering greatly, actions such as those by Senator Starr only adds to the sense of hopelessness and lack of appreciation by those to whom we entrust our most precious resource, our children.

Sincerely,

Dave Strahan

[ 03-05-2003, 10:32 AM: Message edited by: Straydog ]

[The Fishing Geek]

Public schools face a very grim future with all of the continuing funding cutbacks. The problem is this: the majority of voting Oregonians believe that the schools are sufficiently funded, and that they are just too top-heavy. As long as they feel this way the situation will not change.

As the public schools get worse, more and more people are going to pull their kids from those schools and investigate other education institutions. Could it be that in the future public education exists on the same level as welfare, only for those who cannot afford to put their kids into corporate-sponsored megaschools?

So, how do we get Oregonians to really get involved with schools to see for themselves whether schools are funded properly? Most of them either don't have the time or don't want to make the time for such things. Sadly, I see a bleak future for public schools in Oregon, and even public schools nationwide.

[ 03-05-2003, 03:55 PM: Message edited by: The Fishing Geek ]