When California teachers divert their attention from the war in Iraq, they see a looming disaster on the educational front in our state. Not very good news - California public education wanders in a political wilderness.

 

Facing a collapsing economy, Gov. Gray Davis had tough choices to make about the state's budget. He had to propose multiple cuts, and he chose to make drastic ones in education. He is the governor, remember, who covered us with platitudes about his beliefs in public education, who posed as a leader with a vision that we could and did endorse. When the state had a budget surplus, we were able to squeeze a little extra money out of him for education, but when the big budget deficit surfaced this year, we got a different governor. The first thing Davis proposed was a huge cut in education, $2.7 billion this year and $3 billion next year.

 

This only adds to the disappointment and sense of betrayal teachers who helped put him into office feel, having trusted that he really meant what he said about supporting our schools.

 

Instead of listening to his advisors, the governor should be listening to other state constitutional officers. California already has an officer who is knowledgeable about education, dedicated to public schools, and knows money - Phil Angelides, our state treasurer.

 

You need to know the quality of Phil Angelides, so I am going to quote his words, written in a letter he sent to Gov. Davis, Senate President Pro Tem John Burton and Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson. In my lengthy experience with public education and public officials, I have very seldom seen such a profound commitment to public education. I think you'll agree with me. Read on.

 

"The strength of our economy in the decades ahead," Angelides writes, "will be in large part dictated by the smart investments we make today in the public fabric of our society. No other endeavor more aptly illustrates this principle than the education of our state's youth. Education is at the heart and soul of what California has done historically, and what it must do in the future."

 

These are fine words, a breath of fresh air in Sacramento. But how about practicality? Phil Angelides stays down to earth: "Instead of merely debating the extent of cuts to our children's education, we should be focusing - even in these tough times - on how we pay for education in a manner worthy of California's legacy and future. ... There is ample evidence that our increased investment in education over the past few years already has begun to yield positive results." Now comes the proof that this man is not just wise but also courageous. "New revenues will be required. I stand ready to support the measures needed to achieve this worthy goal."

 

After noting that California spends more each year on new automobiles than on our K-12 public schools and that new car sales amount to more than 10 times what we spend on our university system, he gets down to the hard decisions that would rescue our schools from Davis' budget proposals: "Eliminating corporate tax breaks of questionable value; increasing taxes on alcohol to the national average; extending the sales tax to certain services; ... adopting a 'split roll' whereby commercial properties are assessed at market value; and restoring the top corporate tax rate to what it was under Governor Pete Wilson."

 

The treasurer faces the cold fact. If a state needs money for education, it must increase revenues, not chop the most urgent part of the budget - public education. His proposals show an understanding of where the money is and how it can be obtained without hurting the people they want to help.

 

His sentiments are supported by Stephen Levy, director of the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy, who points out that temporary tax increases to pay for critical investments such as education represent better economic policy than deep spending cuts. Angelides quotes Levy: "I know of no theory of economic prosperity and competitiveness that starts with a below-average education system."

 

"The question before us," Angelides' letter says, "is not whether we can afford to educate our children, but whether there is the political will to do so."

 

Obviously, Gov. Davis does not have that kind of determination; his proposal would back us up instead of moving us forward. In 1972, Gov. Ronald Reagan spent 5.6 percent of per capita income on K-12 education, but Gov. Davis' plan would spend only 4 percent. California is already scandalously remiss in providing funding for its schools; we have the largest class size in the nation and a serious shortage of fully credentialed teachers. We cannot allow the governor to set us back even further.

 

Amid the murk of Davis' proposals, showing him to be willing to renege on the lip service he gave to public education in order to win office, it is refreshing to find that we have a state official who knows money, and who shows a depth of understanding and a strong philosophical commitment to our schools.

 

Make no mistake about it! Teachers have to support public officials like Phil Angelides who take a strong stand on our issues. People who say "I don't care about politics" must learn that politics "cares" about them. There is no way to escape the importance of electing people who will support the goals of public education.

 

Fair-weather friends of education, like Gov. Davis, do not deserve our trust; we need officials who go beyond lip service to provide real service for our schools and their children.

 

CTA has supported Angelides in the past and should strongly support him in the future.