Students Rally Against Education Cuts Across the Country

By Sherrie Gulmahamad on March 5th, 2010

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Students, professors and other concerned citizens took to the streets today across the country in protest of cuts to state education budgets as part of the March 4th National Day of Action for Public Education. Disappointment and rage erupted into violence in only two instances. Punches were thrown and gates were blocked at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and in California, where cuts are especially severe, a windshield was smashed at the entrance to UC Santa Cruz.

A few sobering facts:
California is one of 10 states that saw double-digit increases in average public university tuition between the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years, with more coming this year. Tuition at the University of Arizona could rise 31 percent, at Florida colleges by 15 percent and in Washington state by 14 percent.

While students decry rising tuition costs and teachers face an uncertain professional future, others bemoan what could await America on the national stage. John Aubrey Douglass, has written a research paper for Berkeley’s Center for Studies in Higher Education on this topic:

“One might postulate that the decisions made today and in reaction to the Great Recession … will likely accelerate global shifts in the race to develop human capital, with the U.S. losing ground.”

In other words, it will be harder to chant U! S! A! at the drop of a hat as other countries like China, Taiwan, South Korea, Germany, France and Brazil outpace us in technological and economic development. These countries are currently spending more on education despite the economic downturn.

The March 4th organizers ask a plaintive question, “But if there’s money for wars, bank bailouts, and prisons, why is there no money for public education?

Twirlites, line up. Do you know anyone affected by these budget cuts? Did you participate in any of the March 4 rallies? Share your story with us.

Photo via Chronicle/Lea Suzuki