A Political Rant..........

I do not usually get to emotional about politics but this is my plug for public education funding........As you all know I am completing my 7th year of teaching, gone by fast huh! Well I have taught math, science, history and this year an elective course. My passion is for science and when I was approached last year to teach a class that combines science and math in such a way that the students are applying the skills that they are learning, rather than saying "why do I have to know this" I jumped at the opportunity. This year I have had 4 regular science classes and 1 class of what is called MESA (Math Engineering Science Academics). This MESA class is a class of about 25 students, that have worked day and night to complete projects such as researching, designing, and building a trebuchet (catapult). They took their completed design to a competition and won! My students also have successfully competed in math competitions, egg-drop design competitions and on top of all the hard work they have multiple opportunities to talk to scientists, business men/women, and entrepreneurs to discuss careers. They have toured college campuses, shadowed college students to experience real college classes. Let's just say they have experienced things that most middle school students do not have the opportunity to do. My rant begins because as most of you know I teach in an area of San Diego that has a high poverty rate and my students, as with many others do not have the luxury of having things handed to them. Well this evening I learned that this class will most likely be eliminated for next year. I am extremely upset over this because education in this country continues to take the backseat when it comes to funding. Not only will my class be eliminated but my site will probably be losing many highly qualified, energetic teachers. Our students need us and need our support. So THANK YOU TO GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER for your fantastic decision to cut education to the bare minimum, just remember that is really tough to raise test scores without materials or large class sizes. So again.......THANK YOU TO GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER!