AMARILLO, TEXAS -- As deep cuts to public education are discussed in the Texas House and Senate, the Texas State Teachers Association and educators across the state held rallies Saturday. They're drumming up support of signing petitions and asking legislators, don't cut kids out.
"We have got to educate our children, they're the future and we have got to prepare them for the workforce," said Misty Heiskell, Amarillo Education Association Vice President.
"Day of Action" rallies, including one at Memorial Park in Amarillo were held throughout 20 communities in the state. They were organized by the TSTA. The group is asking legislators to spend the remaining $6.2 billion in the state's Rainy Day Fund, instead of cutting deep into our children's education.
"I know it's going to be devastating there have already been reports that some schools are closing, they're combing classrooms, again larger class sizes and so, you know, it's going to have a negative impact on our state and our economic future," said Heiskell.
According to the TSTA, House Bill 1, would cut $8 billion from schools statewide and at least 100,000 teachers will lose their jobs. They say that would double classroom sizes.
"Right now, all across the state districts are having to make very hard decisions to cut teachers and personl right in the middle of the year because they know next year they're not going to have the funds available if the current House and Senate budget bills pass the way they are," said Clinton Gill, TSTA.
"We're going to lose these two years of teachers. We're not going to be able to hire teachers coming out of college and younger people aren't going to go into education so down the road five or six years we're looking at a teacher deficit," said Melody Swauger, Randall High School Teacher.
According to the TSTA, HB1 would cut deeply into the classroom giving these facts.
1. HB1 would cut $800 from per-pupil spending at a time when Texas already spends $1, 359 below the national average on per student instruction.
2. Cuts that deep would cost tens of thousands of school district employees their jobs, according to school finance experts, and most of those would be classroom teachers.
3. With enrollment in Texas' public schools expected to grow by 170,000 over the next two years, classrooms would become extremely overcrowded. Many of the teachers who keep their jobs would end up spending a lot of their valuable class time maintaining order, rather than education.
4. Educational quality, and student test scores, would suffer.
5. Pre-kindergarten and other dropout prevention programs would be reduced. The result, in the not-too-distant future, would be higher criminal justice and other social costs associated with a worsening dropout problem.
6. Overcrowded classrooms and other educational shortcuts now mean tomorrow's will be less prepared for the highest-paying jobs, promoting employers to take their opportunities to other states.
If you are interested in signing a petition you can call Misty Heiskell, Amarillo Education Association Vice President at 676-4336.
Those petitions will be take to State Representative Four Price later next week. Here's a statement from his website on his view of education.
"Education is the cornerstone of both the American dream and Texas' future financial well-being. We cannot afford to ignore deficiencies existing in our public education system. I support a strong public education system, increased local control for our school boards, improved vocational training and fair compensation for our teachers. I oppose any voucher system that diminishes funding otherwise available for our public schools. Texas must strive to provide our students with 21st century learning skills. Doing so will immediately benefit our children, provide them limitless opportunities and improve everyone's quality of life. This is a priority, and I am committed to that effort. In addition to focusing on the improvement of our public education system, I am a strong advocate for higher education and our community college systems as well. Because a four-year college degree path may not be right for every individual, I support the strengthening of our community college systems so that realistic and affordable educational options exist for everyone. TSTA is also encouraging you to call you representatives to address your concerns over budget cuts," said by .State Representative Four Price
Again, the TSTA is encouraging you to call your representatives to address your concerns over budget cuts.
