As part of a larger mock election unit he’s conducting at Pitman High School in Turlock, teacher Isaac W. Farhadian had his students in AP U.S. government and politics, U.S. government and economics write letters to the editor.
“I am teaching my students about the importance of taking positions and defending those positions using demonstrable facts that showcase a line of reasoning by writing op-ed letters,” he wrote to The Bee. .”.. Students researched different candidates as well as the different propositions up for vote on the California ballot this year. They conducted independent research about the pros and cons of each proposition and formulated positions on those matters using a line of reasoning.”
Opinion
Because of the volume of letters, we are breaking them up by ballot proposition. We will run batches of letters, lightly edited for length, in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 5 election.
The following letters regard Proposition 2 , which would authorize $10 billion in general obligation bonds for the repair, upgrade, and construction of facilities at K–12 public schools (including charter schools), community colleges and career technical education programs.
We can’t continue to underfund school facilities
Dear Editor,
Schools in California are so badly underfunded, by $150 billion every year . How much longer are we going to let schools go unfunded? There are millions of students who go to schools in unsafe conditions, causing them to not be able to learn to their fullest potential. I strongly believe that the passing of Proposition 2 will benefit them. With the passing of Proposition 2, schools will be given $10 billion to help repair and fix damaged schools. As of right now, schools are unable to pay for the needed repair to ensure safety because they simply do not have the money. Schools that are lacking the needed safety improvement are putting many children in harm’s way. There are children who are withering away in the heat of the day because their school can not afford to fix their air-conditioning units. When it comes to winter, there are many schools that have leaking roofs. The schools are unable to fix the roofs, which can lead to mold growing. There is no denying that proposition 2 needs to be passed so everyone’s children can go to school in safe conditions.
Anjuli Avila, Turlock
Ensure a safe and healthy environment for students
Dear Editor,
A school is a place that educates children, preparing them for adulthood and the world. However, what if schools have poor conditions, leaky roofs, and inadequate hygiene? Do you think students want to attend such a place? I don’t think so.
Public schools and colleges receive funding from their districts and states. They have half the amount needed for renovations and upgrades, but the other half must be paid with local funds. Sometimes, they don’t have enough funds to cover these costs.
Proposition 2 will assist public schools and community colleges. It will allocate $8.5 billion to public schools and $1.5 million to community colleges. This funding will enable public schools to make necessary upgrades and ensure a safe and healthy environment for students. Additionally, it will allow community colleges to expand their course offerings, making it possible for more students, including those from low-income families, to pursue higher education.
Students are the country’s future, and as a student, I want to be successful in my life. I want to study more and get into my dream career. I think this proposition will help students get into their dream careers, get future jobs and be successful. Vote “Yes” on Proposition 2 if you want your public schools and community colleges to be upgraded.
Ekjot Johal, Turlock
Help be a part of helping children
Dear Editor,
Wake up! Imagine your child, sibling, or even parents at school doing a project and all of a sudden the table breaks or the wifi goes out. There is a major problem for students while they are in school and how sometimes they don’t feel safe because the school doesn’t have the money or resources to fix the problems. Proposition 2 can fix that.
Proposition 2 is all about helping schools. It would raise $10 billion to help schools: $8.5 billion to elementary schools and $1.5 billion for community colleges. Making sure students have the best education and experience while they are at school for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Even for college kids who can’t afford to go to a CSU or UC. Every student’s education is important and schools should have the money and resources to make sure students and teachers all have a good day, every day. So, don’t just lie around when you can help be a part of helping children with their educational learning experience.
Caylee O’Bryan, Turlock
Improving facilities enriches students’ experiences
Dear Editor,
Having attended Keyes Elementary and Spratling Middle School, I can see that the schools there are in more poverty-stricken areas with lower funding. Spratling is a small school of only about 300 students. Only in the past year has it adopted a music class and began building a track area. Before then, the school seemed to have only the necessary classes, with about just one teacher for each subject and no room for any electives. When I was there, for PE, we had to run around the entire school four times in place of our mile. In the elementary school, only in the last few years was the playground renovated. For many students like me, it did become more frustrating as we grew and realized we didn’t have access to the same opportunities as other kids when we were just as capable. This is why I’m asking everyone to vote YES on Proposition 2, to fund schools like these and allow them opportunities to enrich their educational experiences.
Samantha Garcia Ulloa, Keyes
Smart TVs not a smart use of funds
Dear Editor,
There is never a moment in my school day when I don’t go, “Hmm, what were they thinking?” About 1-2 years ago, my school had removed the projectors in every classroom and replaced them with these smart TVs. Normally I wouldn’t be complaining, I love big screens! However, this bugs me that these irrelevant TVs seem to be a higher priority than getting our own stadium, more textbooks, or working wifi. I go to Pitman High School, and our football team is infamous for losing, probably because we do not have a proper stadium for us to practice on. Additionally, this is the first year my school has offered AP psychology. My teacher only had enough textbooks for one class, and when I wanted to take a textbook home, I had to return it the next day. Sure, I could always just access the textbook online, but that does not take into consideration those who do not have stable wifi outside from school. Under these circumstances, funding that is given to public education institutions must be used adequately. This is important because if funding is used appropriately, it can vastly decline the economic inequalities that all of us are affected by.
Stephanie Moncur, Turlock
Fixing health and safety problems is crucial
Dear Editor,
We need to wake up and vote yes on Proposition 2! There are too many problems with schools that go unnoticed by the general public. Obviously, this seems irrelevant to those out of school, and you might not witness it in your daily life, but the impact of this situation will be felt throughout future generations of society. Children’s education has been negatively affected by their deteriorating learning environment. Everywhere in schools you see leaky pipes, broken ceilings, even holes in the wall! Too many health and safety hazards in schools NEED to be changed. Additionally, any money not used for school repairs can be used for school upgrades, whether this be modernizing science labs, improving performing arts spaces, or upgrading classrooms. By voting yes on Prop. 2, $10 billion of taxpayers’ money will be allocated toward school facility repairs. Of that amount, $8.5 billion will go toward K-12 schools while $1.5 billion will go to community colleges. Vote Yes On Proposition 2
Jonathan Ranario, Turlock
State, school districts need to do better in using funding
Dear Editor,
School systems statewide are crumbling and the money distribution across California schools has been neglected. Why is it that some schools are given costly duplicates of something already in classrooms, while others can’t afford to maintain quality equipment and structures? Passing Proposition 2 gives less fortunate school districts a way to enhance their schools, encouraging a better education for the future of America. However, many argue that with this proposition, taxpayers will be encumbered by the raised tax without seeing any improvements in facilities. In addition, California hasn’t been wise with budgeting, so why should taxpayers pay the price? Well, with this money, schools can improve on becoming safer, meeting students needs on education. This expands student experiences in different subjects with improved supplies. This also enables children to enjoy learning through various methods of interacting with subjects, bringing a hands-on connection to the classroom. In all, Proposition 2 should be approved because children are the future of this country, so for the future’s sake we must start caring now.
Matthew Yaghoubi, Turlock
‘The next generation’ is worth the investment
Dear Editor,
I bet some students’ parents sat at the same desks, in the same designed classrooms, as the kids are right now. Science classroom sinks don’t work correctly, books crucial to learning curriculum are missing pages, and school rental instruments have more years on them than the students who play them. The passing of Proposition 2 would give more money to public schools and community colleges around California to construct and repair educational facilities. Unfortunately, it would increase government bonds, therefore increasing taxes. Since government bonds add interest, it would realistically cost a bit more, realistically about $18 billion instead of just $10 billion. However, instead of increasing taxes from raising the minimum wage, basically canceling out the purpose, restoring schools and colleges would have a lasting positive impact. We always say, “The kids are the next generation of the world,” so why don’t we invest in a better future for them?
Aiyana Hosep, Turlock
Let’s put an end to ‘running joke’ at Pitman
Dear Editor,
The future of California is sick and tired of lackluster public school experiences. We deserve quality schools that will not only give us the education we need but in the environment we deserve. As a high school student in California, I know the effects firsthand of the negligence of our government to give our public schools the attention they need in refurbishing and upgrades.
Here at Pitman High School, we have yet to obtain a football stadium. That makes football games cumbersome not just for football players, but band, cheer, and everyone else wanting to attend! While athletics is not the only aspect of school projects here at Pitman that need more funding, it has become a running joke that Pitman may never experience what it would be like to have a true home game.
Using this experience, this is why I believe we should vote “YES” on Proposition 2, which will invite a $10 billion bond, aiding schools in getting the stadiums, facilities and other school resources needed to create educated, well-rounded students.
Amalia Silva, Turlock
Money should go to teacher pay over facilities
Dear Editor,
We are focusing on the wrong issues. Proposition 2 proposes the idea of issuing $10 billion toward the modernization of educational facilities in taxpayer bonds. These bonds will have to be paid off over a span of 35 years, with $500 million being paid off per year. In the end, that’s $18 billion coming from the taxpayers’ pockets, OUR pockets. Mind you, this prop does not correlate with the issue of teacher salaries. I argue that paying our teachers who teach our youth is more important. Currently there are roughly 55,000 unfilled teaching positions in the United States. I have talked with several teachers in Turlock, and most if not all of them are much more angry at their low pay than anything. According to California’s Department of Education, the statewide average salary for public school teachers is $95,610. Overall, I think it’s safe to assume that this proposition would be very unpopular and that we are focusing on the wrong issues with public education.
Jacob Huiskens, Turlock
Make learning environments safe and modern
Dear Editor,
Do you want to be creating successful students who go on to become our future doctors, lawyers, and leaders, who leave a positive impact on the community. Well, the environment of our schools plays a big role in our students’ education. Proposition 2 allows the state to sell $10 billion in bonds that will be used to help fund reconstruction and renovations for our K-12 public schools and our community colleges. This will ensure that all public schools have the means to renovate and modernize their school buildings. Spending the money on public school buildings will mean our students will attend classes in a place that is safe, has modern technology and has enough resources to ensure every child gets equal opportunities to excel in school. This will create positive environments where the students will feel encouraged to be learning. If our future students’ education means anything to you, you will vote yes for Proposition 2.
Bernadet Yaghoubzadeh, Turlock
Students are vulnerable, need safety improvements
Dear Editor,
Education facilities in California are not safe! These schools are in a financial drought. How many times have you seen construction at school grounds lasting over a year? Or how many times have you heard of instances where weapons have been brought into school areas? Yes, unfortunately, we live in a time where school shootings and stabbings happen more often. Most schools in California only have 1-2 security guards who are to be looking over 2,000-plus students, and very few schools have metal detectors. These issues stem from the lack of funding our government provides for public education. Making parents and students more vulnerable to find themselves in one of these incidents. If Prop. 2 gets passed in this upcoming election, the government can provide for these security measures that are not available to all schools and could also help the constructive expansion of campuses. The last time California funded public education facilities was in 2016 when Proposition 51 was passed, issuing $9 billion in bonds. Help support our public education system and Vote Yes to Proposition 2!
Christopher Ayala, Turlock
Proposition 2 is about needs, not indulgences
Dear Editor,
How important is our children’s education to you? Naturally, many parents and guardians want their children to receive the finest education available, to prepare them for a prosperous future and ensure they become more sensible with age. Funding educational facilities such as public schools would benefit our youth substantially and provide them with the latest resources available, textbooks, projectors, uniforms and other essentials. Proposition 2 would give our generation the opportunity to witness this. The majority of public facilities are dependent on minimum funding and are not acquiring the necessities needed; Chromebooks and up-to-date booklets are not an indulgence but a need. Our youth is the future, and our future cannot blossom without proper sunlight and water, which is precisely the reason this proposition is imperative. According to the Learning Policy Institution, analyses show that induced funding significantly increases academic excellence for every grade level and subject assessed, as well as increases the probability of students graduating from high-school and being ready to set off for college. By investing in our children’s education through ambitions like Proposition 2, we are not only equipping them with the tools they need to thrive but we are ensuring that our society as a whole can continue to progress and flourish.
Julia Armenta, Turlock
If you are a high school teacher in Stanislaus County who would like to have your students write letters to The Modesto Bee on issues or races on the Nov. 5 ballot, please reach out to civics and democracy reporter Kathleen Quinn at
kquinn@modbee.com .
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