Hundreds of librarians face the “pink slip” as LAUSD attempts to ease the affects of California’s state budget by cutting school’s media specialist positions.

California has been under extreme budget cuts for the past decade with public schools taking some of the hardest hits. California Governor, Jerry Brown explains that the state’s budget situation has forced him to make radical cutbacks in public schools.

In an article published on eSchoolnews.com, LAUSD’s Director of Communications, Robert Alaniz, points out that the elimination of librarians shows education ranks low in California’s priorities.  Groups such as AASL show much concern about losing librarians in so many schools. Librarians play a huge role in helping students develop information literacy and research skills. Classroom teachers and librarians work together to teach students how to use technology to gather and present information effectively. Having a library program is crucial to giving students the skills to use 21^st century computers and other technology to learn and use after they finish school.

Currently, public school librarians have been taking the hardest hits, but pink slips and lay offs are also affecting other public school workers. Through out the entire state of California, over 7,000 pink slips have been delivered to teachers and counselors in the LAUSD. Some have suggested that lawmakers temporarily raise sales tax to help alleviate the pressure of California’s budget cuts.

It is widely understood that California is over its head in debt, however it is not clear as to why public schools take the biggest hits during budget cuts. It is our responsibility as adults to provide our children with the greatest opportunity to learn. Where else can we shift such heavy budget cuts? Why must our choices affect teachers who are responsible for delivering education to children effectively? And why are education programs the first to be cut back on again and again?