Essay about Education Budget Cuts: America’s Future Looks Bleak

Studies have shown that art programs help the development of the brain by improving “mental representations of what is observed or imagined; symbolic, allegorical and metaphorical representations; careful observation of the world; and abstraction from complexity”(How the Arts). So why would the school board or government allow budget cuts in school art programs if it helps improve a child's development of the brain? Even though language arts and mathematics are important and basic courses that every student may need in the future, art programs should not have budget cuts because it helps improve a child’s learning ability and understanding of the world around them. It also helps students and children in low income communities that may not have

Financial problems have arose in many schools. Many schools believe that “One day less means one day less of heating the school, fueling buses, feeding students and paying certain staff members” (Anderson). Little things like that can save schools a lot more money. More money means more equipment for learning and new schools objects. “An informational poll on edutopia.com indicates that 67% of over 2700 polled favor this as a solution to school districts financial hardship” (Hadfield). A lot of people want the four day week to be a “thing” so that financial problems can no longer be a problem. Teachers and schools would say “Their budgets has been stretched tighter than a drum and has finally reached a breaking point that cannot be ignored” (Occupy Theory). A sign that teacher and student are getting a bit tired of the stress being put on them because of financial problem. There are more benefits along with the resolution of financial problems and it is academics.

The American public educational system is filled with an assortment of problems. Most students are graduating with less knowledge and capability than similar students in other industrialized countries. Classroom disruptions are surprisingly common, and in some classrooms, nearly continuous. The public education system is having difficulty adjusting to the no child left behind act. The No Child Left Behind(NCLB) is a landmark in education reform designed to improve student achievement and change the culture of American’s schools.

The evidence suggests that increasing class size will not only harm children’s test scores in the short-run, but also in their long-run human capital formation. Money is saved from increasing class size will be more substantial social and educational costs in the future. In addition to high costs, reducing class size have unintended consequences. When California lowered class sizes in 1996, they realized that they did not have enough teachers to meet the challenge. Schools were forced to hire new teachers and add portable classmates to accommodate the state

Oklahoma as of today is ranked 49th nationally in per-pupil expenditures and ranked 48th in teacher pay (Klein 2). Putting Oklahoma as one of the worst states to be educated in the United States. “Oklahoma is consistently ranked near the bottom for education funding and teacher pay” (“Investing In Education Is Key For Growth And Job Creation” 3). When there are state cuts that need to be made, the departments of education are one of the first that usually tend to suffer. Since the 2008 economic crisis, Oklahoma has continued to cut the budget for education; even though the economy has since then gotten better (Perry). Budget cuts in education affect all parts of the education process for the students. “Some school districts have ordered teacher layoffs and shorter sessions” (“Oklahoma Makes the Poor Poorer” par 4).Schools are now struggling to keep their heads above water. Each year from the budget cutting, schools have had to lay off teachers, cut entire programs, and have limited resources used to educate the students. Even the teachers’ retirement system is suffering, being one of the top poorly funded pension programs nationally (Ash par 3). Seeing as that the schools have to cut down classes and programs, administration has had no other choice than to increase class size, overwhelming teachers tremendously. “Oklahoma has 1,500 fewer classroom teachers and 40,000 more students since 2008-2009” (“Investing In Education Is Key For Growth

In today’s society, children attaining an education has become a very important essential in life. Most children in the United States of America attend public schools, due to the fact that parents do not have to pay for tuition. Public schools face many dilemmas and one of the most detrimental is budget cuts. Since public schools are often underfunded and “influenced by political winds and shortfalls”, it makes them quite vulnerable (Shortt 62). Due to budget cuts, schools agree to sponsor brands in order to gain funds. When schools agree to sponsor companies, not only does it harm children physically and mentally, it also distracts students from their goals in school. Companies care more about selling their products than the children’s welfare.

Since 1983 public education has been an issue in America. The system has been constantly changing every year with reforms. This constant change has been driven by the American people’s perception that education has declined and something should be done about it. First there was an increased emphasis on basic skills, making school years longer and more graduation requirements. Second, many began focusing on increasing teachers professionalism. Third, they began restructuring many things such as how the schools were organized and how the school day was structured etc. Now today the most of the American people believe that not enough money is given to public schooling. They associate academic improvement with the money the school is funded.

Advertisement has become increasingly important to the funding of television shows, movies, and other such entertainment entities. Television is funded almost solely on commercials and no one really minds except for some grumbling about interruptions to the show, because they know that the television shows would not get the money and resources they need to be made without them. Schools need funding and resources that they are constantly lacking in, and while putting advertisements up may be irritating, the money and equipment gained through these partnerships will improve conditions at the schools and the advertisements will not get in the way of normal education, though these partnerships definitely need some restrictions before they should be allowed.

Schools in America are currently facing problems of tremendous debt and budget cuts. In California, for example, the schools suffered a $24 billion statewide budget cut. There is a silver lining in all of this, though. Schools can advertise with local businesses to make ends meet and then some. These ads not only benefit the school, but also the business. Furthermore, These ads may not be as manipulating as some may think.

(Carter, 2011, p 23) The after-school programs are being eliminated slowly, which is a downfall for the students. Without after-school programs it leaves space for some students to fail academically. due to no tutoring, or it can lead to other options for the students, such as some students risk joining the life of the streets and becoming unproductive. Without the after-school programs, students may have too much time on his/her hands and this may cause negative results. The economy is focused on cutting costs within the school district, but it is going to take more than cutting costs. They should focus their attention on ways to save and spend effectively and efficiently. There are ways that the budget will work, once the government is able to make smarter decisions with the resources provided. (Carter, 2011) There is no doubt that the budget cuts has taken a toll on the school districts staff, by taking away jobs and eliminating extra support to the students. Many of the students would benefit from the extra help. (Carter,

Year after year when schools decide to make budget cuts the main thing they cut are the salaries of their staff since they have so many. “According to the Department of Education data, administrative positions at colleges and universities grew by 60 percent between 1993 and 2009, which Bloomberg reported was 10 times the rate of growth of tenured faculty positions (The Real Reason College Tuition Costs So Much).” This act sacrifices the lives of others without any mind. Some people cannot afford half of their paycheck knowing they have bills to pay and mouths to feed. Therefore, colleges view the salaries of the staff should only increase instead of decline in order to ensure their positions. “...Salaries for full-time faculty at public institutions

Are Classrooms in today’s society sized correctly? Classroom size affects student’s ability to learn. When classrooms are engulfed with students, students don’t have the learning opportunity they should; smaller classes have proven to lead to more academic success. Across the nation school districts struggle to provide appropriate learning conditions for students, school districts are even breaking state class size reduction laws. In the fall of 2014, the School district of Brevard County, Florida surpassed more than $100,000 in fines due to the inability to size classrooms within the state’s sizing limit mandate (Petrilli). Florida school districts approved of a mandate that places a cap on the number of students allowed in a single classroom. These new requirements mean that school districts must reduce pupil-teacher ratios in every classroom to 18-to-1 in prekindergarten though 3rd grade, 22-to-1 in grades 4-8, and 25-to-1 in high school, or face financial penalties from the state department of education (McNeil). School districts like this one, struggle to provide the classrooms and teachers needed for students to have an equal opportunity of success due to lack of funding. Without proper funding schools are unable to hire enough teachers, leading to very high pupil-teacher ratios. If school districts employ more teachers, class sizes would decrease, essentially leading to more academic success among students.

Santiago Gomez, a senior at Forest Hills high school, says "during periods 6 and 7, you definintely feel it, I mean walking down the halls, and its very claustrophobic. I think the way we do it's great because kids still learn from each other"(Santiago Gomez, pg.3, par.6). Others believe that classes with an over amount of kids does not matter. "Budget cuts have a human cost, UFT President Michael Mulgrew estimates that 91% of New York's resources have been lost due to budget cuts, 60% of schools have reduced after school programs and two thirds of the schools have cut back on instructional supplies directly related to learning"(Michael Mulgrew, pg.2-3, par.1). Having a large classroom can have a positive impact and a negative impact on the students, the teachers, the UFT and schools

In Kansas, the dispute between the branches for power began when the judiciary noticed the disparity in the funding of Kansas’ school education. The Kansas judiciary came to the conclusion that the disparity in funding was a violation of Kansas’ constitution. In an effort to fix this, the Kansas judiciary ordered the legislative to make a solution. However, rather than addressing the school funding issue, the Kansas legislative branch passed a law that removed the Supreme Courts right to appoint local chief judges and the ability to set district court budgets. Then, the Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, who is in the executive branch, signed a law that would remove the funding of the judicial branch if the Kansas Supreme Court ruled against him in the court case concerning the funding of public schools. The actions of both the legislative and executive branch of Kansas’ government disregard the system of checks and balances because the judicial branch is being punished for doing their job. Therefore, judicial review is vital for a judge in maintaining a consistent balance of power in the government.

Edwin M Wells Middle School, in Houston, Texas, is part of the Spring ISD. The school, in 2015, reports enrolling 1,165 students in grades six through eight, and it has 69 teachers on staff. The problem is the school 's process for financial expenditures not being well aligned with students ' needs. By streamlining the process for financial expenditures, it will ensure the expenditures fulfill students ' needs efficiently and appropriately. The impact the problem is having is that when the lessons are not fully supplemented with the required supplies there is a lack of engagement in the classroom. Therefore, the system must be streamlined in order to fulfill student needs.