On February 14, 2009, an article was posted on msnbc.com stating how many public schools are suffering from financial problems. The public schools federal funds are being have been suffering through out the whole recession, but this is the time when things are beginning to get worse. “Experts say the cash crunch will get a lot worse as states run out of stimulus dollars.” Although the financial cuts are hitting the classrooms in many negative ways, such as larger class sizes, fewer classes to choose from, and slim to none summer school programs, they are leading to tremendous amounts of job losses and much smaller pay checks.
These financial cuts on education are occurring all over the states, but California is especially struggling, and parents are worried their kids will not receive the education they need. Although teachers have already been cut from their jobs, the state of California states that “the worst is yet to come because the state ahs already handed out most of its $6 billion in stimulus money.”
I believe that California, along with all the other states, are so in debt that they don’t know where to place the stimulus money they are receiving. The thing that struck me the most was in the article they said how these cuts are hurting poor and needy kids. Education is all these kids might have a chance of getting at the moment, and these financial cuts are affecting them tremendously.
Marx look on this situation would be that it is unjust that these teachers’ wages are being cut. The result in their wages being cut may cause them to struggle with their costs of living. Even though they are still doing the same amount of work and working the same hours, they are getting paid less. He may also argue on the fact that because of the division of labor, which would be different teachers teaching different subjects, causes an increase in unemployment. If one teacher taught all subjects they would have no choice but to keep the teacher employed.
Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35395750/ns/us_news-education//
