"We Ain't Got the Do Re Mi" by the South Pasadena Unified Grade "A" Jug Band

South Pasadena Unified Grade "A" Jug Band protests the California State Budget cuts to public education in this music video, which is based on Woody Guthrie's 1937 original, "Do Re Mi". In the video, the students beg the governator, Arnold Schwarzenneger, to please restore money to education. The jug band is comprised of students from K-5. The video was a collaborative efforts between parents and students at South Pasadena Unified School District.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• California
• budget crisis
• budget cuts
• public education
• schools
• elementary
• students
• children
• schwarzennegger
• governor
• south pasadena
• state budget
• music video
• jug band
• protest

[bluesmoke9]

A well done video and congratulations to the teachers who put it together. One more thing though. Although there is more than enough blame to go around, the politicians in Sacramento that are responsible for the current mess are largely the same ones that the CTA and other unions spent millions of dollars supporting. So, the teachers out there with pink slip in hand are getting what they paid, and voted, for.

[tig1331]

Bluesmoke9 -- Thanks for you comments, but let me make something perfectly clear. THIS VIDEO WAS NOT PRODUCED BY TEACHERS. This was a grassroots effort by a group of grade school students and their parents.

[tig1331]

The objective of the video is not to lay blame. We produced the video because in the cacophany of all the policy statements, speeches and political rhetoric, the kids wanted to make sure that their voices were heard -- by someone... ANYONE! And their simple request (and mine as a parent) is for the adults to take their own advice...Try your best to do what's right. Cooperate with others, and make a positive mark on the world.

[tig1331]

The kids learned alot making the video: they got to go into a recording studio. They learned about production. It was a fun and positive for the entire community; and the greatest benefit is that the kids feel proud about speaking/singing out. It's turned out to be a great lesson in civic activism and community involvement for the kids.

[bluesmoke9]

If the point was to teach video production, the kids certainly learned something. Other than that, all they learned was that the government was responsible for providing everything to everybody. You educated them in a cause, not moral character. I'd suggest something old fashioned instead. Something like, don't spend more money than you have and then expect someone else to pay for it. That would be a life lesson with some benefit to fit.

[tig1331]

...For example, it is so much more cost effective to educate a child than to incarcerate a child -- or an adult for that matter. Judging from your comments and the fact that you are inclined to continue the conversation, might we suggest an alternative viewpoint video from you? Thanks again for your comments and thank you for helping us give our children another opportunity to observe democracy at its best!

[ezralogo]

This video was great! It was funny as it got out the message to people! You guys worked really hard! - The Beadle Family

[nuevaluz31]

From the mouth of Babes... I am proud to pay taxes and support the idea of taxing the oil refineries in CA to help raise revenue vs. reducing funds from our classrooms. Great job children, thank you for your hard work and for letting adults know what is important.

[liteblb7]

so cute! :D

[LisaSimpsonRules1st]

Did any politician or whoever in power hear this? Did this video accomplish a better funding of the school?

Just out of curiosity. It was interesting and worthwhile anyway.

[Skeletonwitharaygun]

lmao

[aninglekid]

I'm sorry, bluesmoke9, you are blowing smoke you know where. The Republicans ARE responsible for playing the politics of fear, resulting our spending more on prisons than on kids. Dems are admittedly spineless and gutless. Redistricting may help, by making districts competitive. The Governator, with his cigar-smoking macho ways, has not helped. He seems to fear the "Guards Union" more than he cares about kids. We've had choices to make. We've made the wrong choices.

[aninglekid]

Yeah, bluesmoke9, Republicans ARE to blame for that! Republicans are in the vanguard of the punitive crap that results in our spending more on prisoners than kids! .

Democrats have to "run scared" of the primitive fear-instilling tactics of Republicans.

Sure the Dems are spineless and gutless, as well as mostly on the take.

Let's redraw legislative lines, make districts competitive, so we can have a real legislature we can be proud of.

We've got choices. We've been making the wrong ones.

[Lorenzo8D]

I prefer to look to Mathew 25: Jesus: "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." Jesus is my guide and my model of human behavior. You are free, my friend, to take your money and move to another state.

[bluesmoke9]

Ah yes, "From each according to his abilites, to each according to their needs." - Karl Marx

You are definately a California Democrat.

[Lorenzo8D]

If you can get the same high pay in another state, then, that is an option for you. The Republicans in the legislature block the progressive programs of the Democrats. I wish the Republicans moved to another state. This state used to be progressive in so many ways, with one of the best educational systems. Yes, good programs and social services cost money, and I am willing to pay-- this is part of being a "civilization". I care about others.