In My Humble Opinion #1

California is the largest state in the United States. It has the highest population by over 12 million. So why is it that it ranks so low in the educational rankings? We are said to once have had an economy that would be able to self-sustain its citizens. There are ten University of California campuses, 23 California State University campuses and countless private universities and community colleges. One would think that with such a huge higher education system, a state would be eager to give necessary funds to it in order to help their students succeed. Unfortunately this is not the case.

As far as the legislature goes, the California higher education system gets about 9.7 percent of the California budget, which equals about $13 million. This is not enough. This past year there was a budget cut, causing increases in tuition for students, pay cuts for instructors, and for some universities, mandatory days off from instruction. There are millions of California higher education students who are struggling to get through college to get their degree. Without the proper funds, there are not enough professors to teach and not enough classes to accommodate the students who need them.

Right now there is a bill in the California legislature called AB 656. It would impose a severance tax on oil companies who drill in California. The bill is said to be able to raise around $1 billion dollars. All the funds allocated would go to the higher education systems in California. In order for this to happen, the bill first has to be passed. There are a few obstacles in the way, such as a few conservative assemblymen who seem to be turning a blind eye on our education crisis.

I know that if the bill is passed and made a law, it will most likely not affect my educational debts. My sister however will be affected either way. She is a senior in high school and will possibly be attending a California university or college next year. If this happens, she will be going to a community college. In my humble opinion, I think that the education budget crisis is absolutely ridiculous. If California expects it to get back on their feet after the recession we just went through, they need to be able to educate its youth. If the state keeps cutting the budget, this will take much longer than the state can afford. This bill needs to be passed in order to help resurrect the California higher education system.