Pt 1 - First to Worst: California Education Funding

In the 1950s and 60s, California had one of the best school systems in the country. Now it has one of the worst. What happened? And what is California doing to raise its system back up?

2003; 56 mins

Hosted by John Merrow, the program chronicles the rise and fall of Californias public school system, the largest in the nation and home to one of every eight American students. 'First to Worst' explores the roots of Californias current education crisis, tracing it to the anti-tax movement of the 1970s and 80s and to civil rights lawsuits that aimed to equalize school spending but resulted instead in disastrous funding limits on schools. 'First to Worst' pays special attention to Proposition 13, the 1978 anti-tax law (still in effect) that froze property taxes on businesses and homes and, critics say, cut funding for public schools off at the knees. Today, California is trying to regain its footing. It has developed high academic standards for all students and a new system of accountability, but academic progress has been slow. Much is at stake and for the nation: Californias six million students represent a sizeable portion of Americas future voters, parents, and workers.

• Category

  Education

[TheRgergeg]

Public Schools are important man I wish the high-funded schools to happen again!

[TheRgergeg]

Jhon D Rockfeller Wants This To Happen!

[TheRgergeg]

Jhon Rockefeller Says This Is Good!We need workers not thinkers!

[wyecee]

Funny if a ghetto nigga state was the BEST place for ANYTHING.

[AMaskedZebra]

Damn Republicans and Tea Party voters.

[CrimsonAntarus]

Why is a video on the screwed up California education funding debacle stuffed to the brim with anti-immigrant, anti-labor, anti-people rhetoric?

[UCSDEngineerDoctor]

@1RealityBroadcasting Obama is whored out to the public union employees. From the stimulus to his jobs bill, its all a bunch of bribes. All the democrats up in Sac, passed the dream act. ALL republicans in Sac. voted NO for the dream act.

[UCSDEngineerDoctor]

@1RealityBroadcasting True thats why I am a tea party member. The Republicans up in Sacramento do an admirable job, its the democratic with their crazy pro-amesty that threaten us all. Right now, & since 2000, the democrats are the biggest culprits especially governor BROWN & his democratic cronies up in Sac. which gave the prison UNIONs the biggest bonus & salary hike for funding his campaign. The Republicans up in Sac are trying to repel the dream act that just passed by the democrats.

[UCSDEngineerDoctor]

@1RealityBroadcasting Well said, Obama & his democratic clowns up in Sacramento is turning California into Greece. On 2nd thought we are worst than Greece because the LATINOS with their gang infested culture is turning California into a waste land. These are the kind of jobs that OBAMA wants to grow. DMV workers, cops, JAIL GUARDS, welfare social workers ...etc. These are TAX JOBS. California is FUCKED, & it is BROKE!

[UCSDEngineerDoctor]

@1RealityBroadcasting Also its because they want to get rid of prop 13, so they can fund education, but with all taxes, it goes to government waste, not to the kids. Even if it went to the kids, the ILLEGALS just waste it because they do not care about education. ILLEGALS are the biggest offenders & do not pay a dime in property taxes. Also they raise our kids tuition in college to fund the ILLEGALS, since we have no money left for higher education. ILLEGALS bankrupt CA & raise our taxes!