Schools
CHS Students Learn the Reality of Ed Budget Cuts
"Cuts to education are a huge problem because we're literally cutting investments in children and young adults."
By Arianna Bayangos
Joe Ross, a member of the San Mateo County Board of Education spoke at Carlmont’s Junior State of America’s meeting this week to inform the students about budget cuts on education.
Alan Yan, president of JSA, believes that these cuts are a big issue in the nation. For this reason, Yan wanted to raise awareness on this issue and to encourage the members to explore this field in politics.
Yan said, “Cuts to education are a huge problem because we’re literally cutting investments in children and young adults. Education is supposed to give everyone a fair chance to succeed, but we can’t expect equal opportunity if we’re cutting the one institution that provides that.”
Ross spoke about how education is essential in shaping a student’s future.
Ross commented, “My reason for being involved in education is because I deeply believe it is a key to individuals realizing their potential. Whenever I speak to my own kids or when I speak to students, I like to share the stories of how education connects to telling your own future and the chance to be your own boss.”
As an active member of the Board of Education, Ross is concerned about the current budget proposal which freezes the dollars in a reserve fund.
The budget proposal impacts our schools by cutting on services for low-income and special needs students and funding on Career Technical Education (CTE) classes such as computer science, journalism, or bio technology.
Ross added, “The number one thing that classes like photography, journalism, and computer programing can do is make school subjects directly relevant to what you’re going to do as an adult.”
The members of the JSA club responded with curiosity and interest on the issue.
Ayesha Abbasi, the press secretary of JSA said, “I was actually really inspired and driven by his will power to make a change in our own local community. It was amazing to see someone who was such an active part of our community and it really showed us what we can do some day too.”
[Editor's note: Arianna Bayangos is a student journalist at Carlmont High School.]
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