School Money Bullies?

We all grew up facing bullies wanting to steal our lunch money, money that was rightfully ours given to us.  We were often the smaller kid, the one who was an easy target for the bigger kids-- the one that most likely would not say anything-- too scared of the ramifications. The stronger, more powerful bully would be the one who could hold over our heads the weakness we felt, and take from us, something that was not theirs. Sadly, it appears that those bullies just grow up to be even BIGGER bullies, taking money from an even weaker kid. Instead of even facing their prey, these bullies simply take from their weaker opponent without the opponent even knowing it is happening. And the smaller one is left without any type of defense against this attack.

Such is the current state of our public schools, including the Jurupa Unified School District. The proposed cuts in such areas of Instructional Materials Fund, Bilingual Teacher Training, and High School Coaching Training, are just a few programs listed as subject to budget cuts. Yet recently, with the recent pass of Barak Obama’s stimulus package, the JUSD is supposed to be receiving $14 million dollars. Where is this money going? Into the waiting hands of our children in need of strong academic programs? Apparently not. But instead it is being grasped for by the hands of the stronger force, who also happens to be the adults put in charge of our children’s needs.