Jodi+Geyer+4

> = The Societal Impact of Corbett's Proposed Budget =

> =What are the disastrous consequences of supporting Governor Corbett's= > =proposed budget? A society of automatons- mindless, thoughtless, working= > =drones who lack critical thinking skills and the desire to make a difference= > =in the world. No state in America has higher 8th grade Reading skills than= > =Pennsylvania-why take that success away?= > =What product will America produce ten years from now when children are= > =second-class citizens, valued by Pennsylvania so little that their= > =educational opportunities were slashed in order to balance a budget? We will= > =live in a society educated by, driven by, and motivated by mediocrity= > =instead of excellence. Pennsylvania students score 36th out of 48 countries= > =in TIMSS Math-we've already achieved excellence, why take it away?= > =What will happen when thousands of teachers lose their jobs across the= > =state and the housing market collapses, the unemployment rates-and need for= > =benefits-rise, and families can't afford to feed and clothe their children?= > =The governor's cuts may balance the budget, but he is creating financial= > =black holes in other areas that cannot be budgeted by letting go of= > =effective teachers, and cannot be balanced on the backs and minds of our= > =children.= > =The dumbing down of society is an absolute tragedy to witness, especially= > =for those of us who care so much about children. Many teachers don¹t have= > =just jobs, they have careers or vocations. They care about kids and spend= > =their own time and money supplying the best for their students.= > =Most teachers don't know how to say no-we are the first to hand over our= > =dollars for cookie dough, hoagies, bus fare, lunch money, and for our own= > =supplies. We love what we do, we love kids, and we want them to be the best= > =that they can be. How can we train a generation of workers, teach a= > =generation of scientists, prepare a generation of doctors, and nurture a= > =generation of dreamers if we don't get the opportunity to educate them? And= > =most importantly, what will become of those students who connect with their= > =teachers, who have faith in us, and who don't even know that there is a= > =system that is being threatened?= > =Personally, I don't want to know the answer to this question; it is much= > =too horrific to even contemplate. That is why we must all fight Governor= > =Corbett's ill-conceived budget now, before it's too late, before our= > =children pay for the mistakes of their elders. We owe it to every child in= > =Pennsylvania to stand up to Corbett and tell him that the consequences of= > =his actions are more far-reaching than he can possibly imagine; that= > =generations of Pennsylvanians will be //dumbed down// by his ill-thought= > =decisions; and that we will not stand for it-not now, not ever!= = = =Sincerely,= > =Jodi Geyer and the Steel Valley High School English Department=

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