Williams Settlement

Here in California our public school system is about to undergo major scrutiny thanks to the ACLU. Statewide accessors will be going school to school making sure bathrooms are functional, ceilings are leak free and that every classroom has enough text books for each student. I had heard some things about the Williams settlement before and decided to do some reading up on the subject recently. I think that what it does is really important, but I also feel frustration. I came from a school where most of the students probably lived under or near poverty. I went into high school never having taken algebra and with very little science education. I don't blame my teachers, most of them had a true love of teaching (or at least projected one) and put effort into what they could teach us with thirty year old text books and limited materials. Luckily, I had educated parents who were able to fill in the blands that my grade school couldn't. Most children aren't so lucky. What frustrates me is that the state had to be sued to make such fundamental changes. Our future, our job market, our economy, our quality of life and everything else starts with our education. Why can't we provide a quality education for every child in the state, yes those living not just in the O.C. but also in Oakland, and East L.A. and Sanger and Woodville and every other small or poor or crime ridden community that gets ignored by our legislature? Why should any student have to suffer through mold ridden class rooms or broken bathrooms? How can you learn if you don't have a textbook? I'm grateful to the Williams settlement and will be staying on top of how effective it proves to be in our class rooms.