Dear Secretary of Education,
I know that there have been numerous articles, blog devotions, etc. discussing you and your views. I, now, believe that it is my turn to voice my own opinion on your most recent story.
First of all, your budget cuts for public education. A budget cut, to some, does not seem like a big deal. They happen all the time right? Regardless of the truth of that statement, your proposed budget cut of $9.2 billion is simply ridiculous. Do you truly not understand the importance of public education and the services that it provides? Do you not realize that not everyone has the luxury of attending rather expensive and pretentious private schools? You also, in turn, want to increase funding for private schools. Really? Maybe you should take a moment and actually step foot into a public school classroom at least once and see the importance funding is to it.
A second issue I have is your wanting to cut teacher training. This will deeply affect the education community a great deal. Without teacher training, there will not be any new teachers to replace the older ones who are retiring. As a future teacher myself, hearing this worries me to no end. What will become of me once I graduate? Will I have wasted four and a half years on learning to become at a teacher? Will I have to change my major to something that will honestly not be of interest to me, just for the sake of some form of job security when I graduate? Teacher training is very important and greatly needed as the teachers that are currently in our schools, both public and private, cannot teach forever. They will eventually need to have someone younger to replace them.
The third problem is the probable cut of the arts and physical education programs as well as after-school programs. Now, I know that for years, there has been some talk of cutting the arts, or at least their funding, from schools so that there is more money going towards sports. Then you came along with your plan to cut, not only the arts, but also physical education and after school programs. Seriously? I may not be a huge fan of physical education, in fact I totally despised the class during school, but it is important to the daily life of a student. After school programs, too, are extremely important to students. They allow them to spend time and hang out with people who enjoy activities such as sports, bands, choirs, clubs, etc., allowing them to be creative and have fun. Cutting that will make going to school unbearable and just a huge nuisance to students.
I am not the only one who is outraged and extremely angered or upset about your exploits. Many of my fellow teacher education majors, most of which are specified to the arts (mainly music), are upset and fearsome of what is to come. There are also members of Congress who are outraged, stating that what you wish to do is cruel, inhumane, and heartless. And I could not agree more.
So please, actually sit down and think about what you are wanting to do and who you are going to end up hurting severely in the end. Try not to think of yourself, that isn't a part of your job description.
Sincerely,
An outraged and fearful future educator.