Innorthcounty

Arnold Schwarzenegger, or as many of you might know him: The Terminator, Conan, Kindergarten Cop and most perhaps most disturbing, in his role as Govenator was quoted in February of 2000 as saying this: “You know, nothing is more important than education, because nowhere are our stakes higher; our future depends on the quality of education of our children today.” Of course this came from the man who also said once, “Money doesn’t make you happy. I now have $50 million but I was just as happy when I had $48 million.” How reassuring. The once toddler top cop turned politician wanted to be sure that people understood he was no girlie man when it came to education. In fact in turns out that the governor has not been so kind to the education sector of California. Instead of “pumping it up” he is squashing it down.

According to the North County Times, educators across North County San Diego said that they must hack millions of dollars from their annual spending plans after Schwarzenegger unveiled a proposed budget that calls for “across the board” cuts in funding to most state agencies. Public schools and community colleges can expect $400 million less than they had originally expected for the remainder of this fiscal year. Special education, teachers, necessary learning materials and even entire schools are on the chopping block. Unfortunately those who will be most hurt by the governor’s barbaric moves are obviously the students. Also reported by the North County Times, “California students will get $110 less this year and hundreds less than they had anticipated next year.”

Schwarzenegger has proven over his four years as governor that education is not always a priority. It is in the opinion of many Californians that all too often the education department is dealt the worst blows to its budget. Perhaps Schwarzenegger’s 2005 comment about his dedication to education can now best be compared to his rather abhorrent 1994 film called “True Lies.”