Fortunately, we have each other to depend upon for help, solace, and advice. Being a part of an association means that we are not alone. We have a family who shares our dreams and desires for our profession, understands our frustrations with unfair scrutiny, and lends a hand when we are in trouble.

That is what GTA is, a family. We may not always agree on politics, religion, or even pedagogy, but we are there for one another. Like any family, our arguments should be kept among ourselves. We should and do debate issues amongst ourselves, but like a family, we are united when confronted by outsiders.

This has never been more important than it is now. Our state is in a financial crisis
that threatens the very existence of public education. LAUSD just turned over many of its new schools to charters who can be selective in their student bodies. Only public education offers the promise of education to all students regardless of race, ethnicity, physical or mental ability, socio-economic status, or language proficiency. Public education is democracy’s promise that anyone can achieve. Public schools are the only place where the belief that all students have the ability to learn is put in practice and is not just words. Public schools require no contract, no tuition, no fees, and no tests for admission. All children are welcome and all students are taught.

The ever shrinking budget for public education in California threatens its very existence. As a family must in times of hardship, we have to come together for the good of the family. We must work diligently with CTA to institute changes at the state level in the 2/3 majority for passing a budget, the term limits of legislators, and improvements to prop. 13. It is these that keep our state and local budgets in a constant state of revenue shortfalls and surpluses. Before these measures were enacted in California, our state was in the top 5 of per pupil spending. Since their passage, we have dropped to 47th. We need what most states have, a majority to pass a budget. We also must have experienced legislators who have been through, can anticipate, and know how to handle deficits and state crises without jeopardizing public education. And Prop 19 has to be fixed. Prior to its passage, 60% of local revenue (where our ADA is primarily funded) came from businesses and 40% from homeowners. Since the passage of prop 13, that has been turned upside down. Now homeowners’ taxes provide 60% of local revenue while corporation taxes provide only 40%.