One of the great progressive achievements in American history (and no, that isn’t hyperbole) is the nationwide adoption of universal public education. Here in California we went one better and created what for many decades was seen as the world’s leading system of higher education – the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education.
Both were created out of the recognition that for California to have broadly shared economic prosperity, it was essential that we have a strong public education system that included affordable and accessible college education for those who desired it. California’s fantastic economic success over the last 50 to 60 years was enabled in no small part by this commitment to education. And even after the state began entering a slow period of decline in 1978, with increasing inequality and slowly contracting public services, the educational system was still able to train a skilled and innovative workforce that helped sustain California until the present crisis hit.
Now all of that is about to be destroyed. California’s colleges are facing cuts so vast that they will finally eliminate what remains of the affordable and accessible promise while turning the world-renowned system into “bachelor degree mills” that no longer contribute research knowledge to the state – knowledge that in the past spawned entire industries, including the high-tech industry.
At the same time the state legislature is poised to deliver major cuts to education spending – the only debate at this point seems to be “how” and not “if.” Schools already sustained a $9 billion hit through an illegal interpretation of the Prop 98 rules, so now Arnold Schwarzenegger wants the legislature to suspend Prop 98 outright. Democrats, who have been engaged in a slow-motion cave yet again, appear likely to go along with some form of the insane cut.
Nobody has yet explained how this will do anything to promote economic recovery. Instead it is likely to leave California permanently behind the rest of the nation and much of the industrialized world for quite some time. Without being able to educate our children ind decent schools, it will be difficult to retain businesses here as they will struggle to find qualified workers, and will continually lose employees to other states that have not decided education is no longer important or valuable.
Unfortunately California in 2009 is a place where the word “future” is a verboten word, rivaled only by the phrase “economic recovery” in the level of disdain it is held in Sacramento. We are told that the need to cut trumps all else in our state – apparently it even trumps common sense.
Democrats have convinced themselves a budget deal is necessary to avert meltdown. But that meltdown is already here. Agreeing to destroy education in this state would merely be agreeing to ensure the radioactivity is channeled primarily at the young.
Just one realllllly long summer break. Save up the money for the following year.
Damn, I wish I was joking.
In the late 70’s – when housing and school integration finally become a reality in this state. Prop-13 and the whole “anti-tax revolt” was just White California’s declaration that we didn’t want “our” taxes spent on educating “their” children.
My grandparents never complained about their property taxes or their vehicle license fees, because all the schools were segregated back then.
Scratch a conservative, find a racist.
This is an excerpt of an editorial I helped to create when I was Opinion Editor for my school newspaper while I attended CSU, Chico. It was written Feb, 2008:
Student fees are at an all-time high and will continue to increase if nothing is done.
…
It may come as a shock to many, but at one time California legislators thought it was important for higher education to be tuition-free.
Yes. Free.
The Master Plan for Higher Education in California drafted in 1960 advises “that state colleges and the University of California shall be tuition free to all residents of the state.”
It then highlights the distinction between tuition and fees.
Tuition is the “student charges for teaching expense.” Fees are “charges to students for services not directly related to instruction.”
These fees were $88 in 1960, about $600 when adjusted for inflation, according to the Consumer Price Index.
Today, each full-time student pays $2,772 in what the California State University system calls a “state university fee.”
Every other state would call it tuition.
Each Chico State student pays an additional $918 for programs including health services, athletic teams and Associated Students.
This fee is the intended non-instructionally related costs every student must pay, according to the master plan.
The $2,772 every full-time CSU student pays the system is tuition – regardless of what the CSU spin doctors and administrators want to call it.
While it’s commendable our “student fees” have stayed low compared to other states’ tuition, they have annually risen about 11 percent over the last six years.
This is a far cry from the affordable education the master plan sought to uphold.
Regardless of how, the CSU system needs change.
The master plan’s creators said the tradition of “nearly a century of tuition-free higher education is in the best interests of the state and should be continued.”
So, why have we gone in the opposite direction of an education system once revered throughout the world?
Limiting higher education goes against principal philosophies once held in this country.
President James L. Morrill of the University of Minnesota said in 1958 that no loans or private financing could “compensate for a betrayal of the ‘American Dream’ of equal opportunity to which our colleges … have been generously and far-sightedly committed.”
A five-year fee freeze may be seen as a hindrance to the state budget, but something needs to be done before it’s too late.
A price halt on the cost of college may mean some changes are needed, but it’s better than seeing students dropping out because they can’t afford college, or worse, not enrolling at all.
My additional comments today in 2009: The state is looking to increase fees almost 30-40% this year and will not offer spring enrollment to students. For those who started community college 2 or 3 years ago, hoping to transfer to a CSU and pay around $2,800 in “fees,” they are now going to be paying close to $5,000 in fees. It’s travesty and a betrayal to what this state once stood for. The fact that the price of a CSU education is starting to mirror the price of UC system is sickening. The California and American Dreams are becoming fantasies and myths for the next generation. I’m glad I got out of the CSU system in 2008, but was looking into possibly going to graduate school. Those dreams will have to wait until something is changed, or I start earning a lot more money.
…bar, club wherever there is a lot of ‘service staff’ there I meet many, many younger folks who are in school to better themselves.
Now many of them know I am ‘political’ and most find that somewhat boring or humorous.
That is about to change.
Just as the ReThugs have thoroughly alienated Hispanics in CA now they are going to politicize….
…the younger cohorts.
Our job, as progressives is to make these newly aware folks realize that they need to speak out for their future…
…right now.
at least with regard to access. With education sucking up 40% of the budget, the chances for it to go without some significant cutbacks in this environment are slim and none.
Meltdowns are only going to mean more employees laid off and more students denied access as colleges and universities close sourse offerings, defacto squeezing students out. 250,000 students are anticipated to be locked out of community colleges in California through budget cuts and tuition hikes. By the way, the post and comments focused on CSU and UC tuitition hikes—community colleges were free in this state until Pete Wilson was Governor. Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger both hiked community college fees and the Democrats and Republicans supported those hikes and the recent 30% tuition increase for this fall.
Obviously a need to change the revenue stream for more predictability and sustainability, as well as suspend some tax exemptions and suspend certain regulatory provisions which would allow greater delivery of services to students. And a host of other changes, some highlighted on this site.
But God helps those who help themselves and students ultimately need to register and vote and pay attention to whats going on in the summer. Tuition increases often come in the summer when students are most often not tuned in. The need to hold politicians of both parties accountable
because if students don’t, then politicians will have little to fear in trying to balance the budget on the backs of students(other than for the occasional guilty conscience).
The bottom line in this discussion is that the cost of providing that education has skyrocketed. Education spending increases every year, faster than the rate of inflation and population growth. And yet fees go up every year. Something has to give.
But beyond that, what exactly is the answer right now? Are we supposed to increase taxes by $20+ Billion so that there are no cuts? Even if that were applied to only wealthy individuals and the few profitable corporations, that will seriously impact future economic growth.
That’s the problem with this whole debate. It is predicated on a cuts only paradigm. Progressives should refuse to vote for any agreement that suspend prop 98 unless any cuts are matched by:
1.An equal cut in funding for prisons.
2.An oil extraction tax equal to that charged by Texas
3.Increase of the tax rates for incomes over $350,000 to 15%
4.Repeal of the corporate tax breaks that were part of this years budget.
My kids’ school district is top quality and very aggressive in trying to get free money from every imaginable source. In June, we congratulated ourselves in getting enough ARRA stimulus money to spare us from cuts. In July, the cuts came. At the high school, we’re cutting Advanced Placement Environmental Science, among other classes…because it’s not like educating the brightest of tomorrow’s leaders on environmental issues is important, or anything, right?
I do not expect that many Californians think education doesn’t matter. Most probably think that we need a high quality system that is well funded by the public. However, not enough Californians seem to see the connection between taxes and ed funding. Due to an exceptionally complex funding system (http://www.ed-data.k12.ca.us/articles/article.asp?title=Guide%20to%20California%20School%20Finance%20System), few people would see an increase in taxes benefiting the kids in their neighborhood, or even the kids in the neighborhoods that most need it. Plus, most people believe that, while “the system” is bad, their own schools are good.
One other issue – keep in mind that 60% (or probably even 70-80%) of Californians may favor one budget, but if 40% of the representatives (elected by 20-30% of the people) oppose it, it will not pass.
Since teachers can’t be fired, there’s no incentive for them to perform their jobs, and the dropout rates across the state are showing the horrible impact of this. Throwing more money down the black hole works great if you view the education system as a job bank for invulnerable teachers, but if you’re concerned about actually educating kids, there’s no way around this. Principals need to be able to fire teachers, superintendents need to be able to fire principals, and people need to actually show they’re doing their jobs like the rest of us in the private sector.
and lay siege to sacramento. physically. just get on the bus and stand outside on the steps and refuse to disperse. as a populace, we’ve waited far too long to let the government work this out on their own. don;t wait for the leadership to call a midnight session, don;t let any of them leave, physically.
how many UC and CSU and community college students are in california, or even just nor cal? high school? jr. high? how would the optics look tear gassing the kids as their educations get torched?
about time to change the “bystander with look of horror” game plan. something needs to scare these bastards more than arnold’s shock doctrine.