Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed shortening the school year by five days to help lessen the state's budget deficit.

[Terminator]

BURBANK, Calif. (KABC) -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed shortening the school year by five days to help lessen the state's budget deficit.
Nearly 40 percent of the state's budget goes to education. The governor says the five-day reduction will save the state more than $1 billion.
The proposal would shrink the school year to 175 days, making California one of the states requiring the fewest number of school days.
Teachers and school districts across the state are opposing the move, saying they already have trouble fitting the state's academic standards into the existing 180-day calendar. They say it would take valuable class time away from students.

"For kids that are struggling to even keep up, I'm not quite sure how we're going to get them to recuperate those five days," said Emerson Elementary School principal Linda Acuff.
"Well I'm a teacher so for me it's not a big deal because I could do stuff at home," said Saundra Benson. "But as far as cutting teacher pay, you know, that's not something I'm for."
"Don't cut the schools, don't cut the schools," said parent Michael Marr.
The proposal also creates an issue with teacher contracts. Teacher pay is written into contracts. If Sacramento cuts a week worth of school funding, local school districts will be forced to renegotiate all the contracts.
Earlier this week, Los Angeles Unified School District officials told 2,300 teachers that they may be laid off because of budget shortfalls.

[adroitcuffs]

Ah yes, because education is so expendable. Give me a break!! I have a better idea. Let's deport all of the illegal families and we'll see a significant reduction in class size and, therefore, lower costs for all that goes into operating schools.




And before any of you bleeding hearts start flaming out on me, I am fully aware that the illegals in schools are not the sole problem -- however, it is a significant problem.

[CT209]

We need a new poll. Sometihing that asks pertinent questions.

Will CA just self-destruct from its own mismanagement?

Will the Feds bail them out?

Will CA even be missed if it disappears? (Sorry, no offense to you CA folks)

Would we remove a star from the flag when CA disappears or just divide another state in two so there are still 50 states?

Can we deport Pelosi, Feinstein, and Boxer (and all of the worthless actors/actresses) if CA does cease to exist?

[Jenna]

Can we deport Pelosi, Feinstein, and Boxer (and all of the worthless actors/actresses) if CA does cease to exist?

What would we do for movies and TV if all the worthless actors/actresses were deported? Reality shows would be all that's left!

[irishmick]

If California is anything like here, they could shorten their "breaks" and do away with a few teacher inservice days. The children would learn more and they could still do away with the five extra days if they decided to. Personally, I'm all for year-round school.

[adroitcuffs]

Will CA even be missed if it disappears? (Sorry, no offense to you CA folks)

No offense taken, lol. I've been actively looking for a house in New England, preferably MA, for some time now. The only thing keeping me in CA at this point is a paycheck.

[Xiphos]

No offense taken, lol. I've been actively looking for a house in New England, preferably MA, for some time now. The only thing keeping me in CA at this point is a paycheck.

You'd be going from the Left Coast California to the East Coast California. Taxachusettes is every bit as bad as California in terms of liberty and government meddling and mismanagement.

[sgtbear111]

Why not eliminate the state level "public instruction" administrators who pull higher salaries than any front-line teacher?

But, that involves crossing the NEA and those unions that represent administrators, those union leaders, and the Democrat Party. The classroom teacher, the students, and learning to think independently are not a priority.

[adroitcuffs]

You'd be going from the Left Coast California to the East Coast California. Taxachusettes is every bit as bad as California in terms of liberty and government meddling and mismanagement.

Oh I'm well aware of Taxachusetts, but it feels more like home to me. Plus, I need to be near an ocean, LOL!

[Xiphos]

Oh I'm well aware of Taxachusetts, but it feels more like home to me. Plus, I need to be near an ocean, LOL!

What's the point of leaving California then? There's free states on the ocean a little to the South.

[CT209]

You'd be going from the Left Coast California to the East Coast California. Taxachusettes is every bit as bad as California in terms of liberty and government meddling and mismanagement.

Too true! I think CT is about ready to write off also.