PLN 21

Education is constantly changing, with no sign of a pattern or reappearance. But I think that it is for more of an economic problem than a cultural problem. The economy has cut down the amount of teachers we have or the programs that the schools offer. I recently attended a Littleton Public School Board of Education meeting. The meeting discussed the budget and what we have spent so far in 2010. Apparently the federal government is giving us a sum of federal money. Then the state government that received it is supposed to give all that money to the school districts. But if nobody has noticed, we are in a recession. So using Colorado for an example, the federal government has given the state a total sum of money to give to school districts. But the state has taken some of that money to try to end state deficit or at least make it look like Colorado is as broke as the rest of the nation. So therefore the schools get a percent of a percent of the money we are supposed to get and that is why we cut programs and fire teachers. My Elementary school was closed almost two years ago for that reason, but also because of a lack of students signing up to attend that school. Lewis Ames was a great example of a cultural problem. The lack of students in classes made the government wonder why they should fund a school with no students. Therefore the culture around Ames forced the government to close the school. I think we should get the money we rightfully deserve so that no more schools close, no more teachers get fired, and no more programs get cut. I think that if I have to attend school for another 4 to 8 years, I should have the programs needed to enjoy my time in high school and college.