Budget cuts in education

At the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society induction this past Thursday, I spoke with a Saint Peter's College graduate student/Patterson middle school teacher who alerted me to the fact that 400 teachers would be laid off in the Patterson School district by the beginning of the next school year. Over the last few days my initial attitude of bewilderment has gradually turned into one of bitter-frustration as I have begun searching the Internet and newspapers for information about other budget cuts for education in the state of New Jersey and the entire nation.

Because the Obama-Biden Administration has implemented the "Zero to Five Plan", and seems to be making further advancements in reforming the NCLB Act and providing more educational opportunities for lower income families, I held the perception that the United States of America was on an austere path to improving education. However, with more funding coming from the federal government why is New Jersey State funding for higher education being retracted once again?

According Barbara Gitenstein, the president of The College of New Jersey, in her article, Higher Education Funding Cuts Have Become a Trend, she states "the governor [Jon Corzine] suggested a 5 percent cut in the base appropriation to most of the state's public colleges. And because his plan calls for wage freezes, he included no funding for salary increases negotiated by the state (GitenStein)." This will be the seventh time in the last ten years that funding for higher education has been reduced in the New Jersey State budget (Gitenstein). The proposed 5 percent reduction would be a $15.5 million cu (Whitley). In reaction Rutgers University officials announced this past Thursday, April 16, 2009 that they "will lay off workers, cut courses and raise tuition to fill a $60 million hole in the university budget (Whitley)."

Plans to cut special education programs in the Bloomfield School District and teachers in the Trenton School district for next year have infuriated many parents worried about their children's education. It Bloomfield it was voted 6-3 that 71 full-time special education aides in the district move from full-time to part-time. According to district officials this will save $800,000. A greater concern is the effect this transformation will have on the special needs students. Some special education aides not only help students with mental health issues but with their physical health as well. Bloomfield High School aide Joe Sambataro helps students with diabetes monitor their blood sugar levels and carbohydrate intake. If not administered correctly, students with diabetes can suffer from blindness and kidney failure (Bondy).

In the Trenton school district there are plans to eliminate the jobs of 137 teachers, nurses and other employees represented by the Trenton Education Association (TEA). 54 other positions will be cut through retirements and attrition (Rinde). According to the Trenton Education Association, "the district would also cut 47 teachers in special education, 6 in pre-kindergarten, 20 in the elementary grades, 8 in grades six through eight, and 10 at the high school (Rinde)." This is all result of the State officials decision that the ratio of teachers to students exceeds the guidelines for a state funded-Abbot district (Rinde).

What upsets me most is that reducing funding for education seems to be an area where Governor Corzine and state officials feel they can mend the New Jersey State budget deficit. Cutting funding for higher education, special education programs, and teaching positions is only limiting future generations from developing further. Conversely, it is only by improving education that we as a nation will have any hope for the future. This idea is expressed by Aristotle who says, "All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth." So Mr. Corzine - Why do you continue to cut educational funding in our state?


Works Cited

Bondy, Hailley. “Special-education cuts spur anger in Bloomfield.” The Star-Ledger. 2Apr. 2009. NJ.com 18 Apr. 2009.

Gitenstein, Barbara. “GITENSTEIN: Higher education funding cuts have become a trend.” Asbury Park Press (online). 6 Apr. 2009: 1-2. 18 Apr. 2009.

Whitley, Brian. “Layoffs tuition hike looming at Rutgers.” The Star-Ledger. 16 Apr.2009: 1-2. NJ.com 18 Apr. 2009.

Rinde, Meir. "Parents angered over layoffs." Times of Trenton Regional News. 26 Mar. 2009: 1-2. NJ.com 18 Apr. 2009.