Open Letter to Students: Why Walkout?

WALKOUT April 4th! An open letter to all California students, from K-12 to higher education, and to all students across the nation:

Repost this letter and walk out on April 4th if you believe that California and the United States MUST prioritize education and opportunity for young people.

In March 1968, tens of thousands of students walked out of their classes in LA schools in protest of poor educational conditions for Latinos and students of color and lack of access to college and equal opportunity programs [1, 2]. Although they were victorious in making some good changes and encouraging a generation to pursue a life of education, today, over 40 years later, the educational conditions of all California youth remains dire.

Politicians in California and across the United States are cutting billions of dollars from public schools and universities, limiting the opportunities we have for a better future and a right to a high quality and relevant education [3, 4]. California once had the best education system in the US, today it is 46th in the nation in student spending. Billions of dollars in cuts has resulted in the firing of over 30,000 teachers and the amount of money spent per student has dropped from $9,100 in 2007 to $7,342 in 2010 [5]. Our schools are crumbling and our country continues to pay more to throw youth in jail or the army than to send us to college or give us an opportunity for a good future.

Whereas public universities including community colleges, CSUs, and UCs used to be entirely free for California students in the 1950s and 1960s, today it costs tens of thousands of dollars for students to attend limiting access for low and middle income students [6]. These tuition increases also increase the amount of loans that students must take out, limiting their opportunities once they are out of college [6].

How has this happened? California politicians refuse to tax the rich and have instead invested billions of dollars into our state’s bloated prison system while our national polititians funnel trillions of dollars into unnecessary wars. They have made it clear that they prioritize protecting the rich and sending a generation of youth to prison instead of providing the people of California with public resources and opportunities. Instead of taxing the rich, politicians layoff our teachers, cut our already limited educational resources, and turn our schools into what look like prisons.

On April 4th, a national day of protest, we as California students, from K-12 to college, say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! We refuse to take part in our deteriorating public education system. We refuse to accept a future without opportunity. We are not walking out on our education, we are walking into our future, we are walking into our own voice, and we demand to to be heard.

Politicians take from our parents and loved ones–who are too tired from working (or, in this economy, trying to find work) to protest–to give to the rich. Most of us are young, and we have a responsibility to stand up when the “adults” of our state and our country irresponsibly gamble away our futures.

We take inspiration by brave students from throughout history as well as from the thousands of students around the world who are currently rising up to challenge global cuts to education and opportunity [7]. We walkout for education but also in solidarity with the union workers who will be taking action on April 4th in support of workers’ rights. Walkouts have already started around the United States over deep cuts, but we call on all students in California and nationwide to take action and walkout on April 4th [8]. Where possible students should walkout to labor actions in their area.

Please repost this letter, tag your friends, and spread the word on myspace, facebook, and (most importantly) at your schools.

For more info and to organize a walkout at your school here:studentwalkout.wordpress.com.