The state of Texas is proposing a $5 billion cut to public education in order to balance the budget. If we allow this cut to take place, we are encouraging the sacrifice of our future for our present. Many of the same legislatures who are supporting these cuts have sent their own children through the public school system. They are trying to rob our students of the fully staffed and funded schools that their children were the beneficiaries of. These cuts will require a massive reduction in force, that can only be accomplished by increasing the teacher to student ratios in the classroom and/or canceling support programs. As we all know, the more students a teacher has, the less time he/she has to spend with each child individually. Without this individual time, the success rates in our classrooms are sure to fall. This year alone, Texas taxpayers will pay approx. $93 million to administer standardized tests to our students. It seems foolish to spend that money, but decrease the educators and resources that will allow our students to succeed at those tests. When the lottery was first proposed for the state of Texas, it was presented as a way to help support the public school system. Rather than use the money directly for education, it is placed in the Texas budget general fund from which public education funding comes. We should fight to have that money directly sent to our public schools, ensuring that we receive more than a small percentage of it. If we allow these cuts to take place, the potential loss to our society in the future is well beyond any gain now. Please sign this petition and allow your voice to be heard.



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Lauren Phipps

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