What Makes Quality Public Education?

By Karina Monjaras, English 100, November 12

Today at the Senson House at Cabrillo College, something magical happened. My understanding of the hardships my beloved school is undergoing broadened. Our eyes were opened and ears caressed by the strength of the many speakers' words. There was Michael Mangin, Joseph Carter, Robin McFarland, Sarah Albertson, and Debora Bone. Michael Mangin went first, being the intro speaker, and introduced the speakers taking part in the discussion and explained the CCC Mission and History. He went on talking about the past, present and future obstacles Cabrillo college has had to endure. Through all the turmoil, it was nice to learn that a huge victory was won with the approval and passage of Prop 30, which as Mr. Mangin stated, “Would save six years of bleeding”' although not a permanent solution, it is a temporary solution nevertheless. The most shocking news came when we realized that the BoG fee waivers might be cut out, this would mean a huge increase in tuition spending. Although we aren’t going through our best days, we must stay strong together to put an end to these injustices, now and forever after.

After came Joseph Carter the first panelist, talking about basic skills. He talked about the three requirements students need to transfer. These being reading, writing, and math. He explained the percentages of students that actually get to the transferring level. 15-17% of students get into the math transfer levels, 30-32% get into the English transfer level, whilst, 50-54% get into reading transfer level. He pointed out that some of the difficulties students come upon are having unqualified high school instructors. Overall, Mr. Carter pointed out that CC students are reaching college without the necessary educational experience, a huge dilemma in today’s tough school economic times.

Moreover, Robin McFarland came to the mic to express her information on transferring. A huge accomplishment that brought a smile to our faces was knowing that 1,000 students graduate and transfer into higher education institutions every year. Prevalent among them stand out UC Santa Cruz, San Jose State, UC Berkeley and CSUMB. Sadly, even though you are accepted to some colleges, you might not accepted to the college you long for. This stemming from the prerequisite courses required by the college of your dreams and you have not fulfilled them so you have to stay another year. To wrap it up, Ms. McFarland let us know what could happen if we don’t look forward into the college we are planning to go into, troubles could be averted with careful planning.

Next came Sarah Albertson, she focused on lifelong learners. She talked about the involvement in the arts and how the Santa Cruz community bonds helped create most of our performing arts classes. She mentioned that if we didn’t have these classes we wouldn’t be able to transfer. Her concerns were that the faculty might be penalized with low pay if not enough students enroll in these classes. Awareness must be enlarged for progresses sake. To conclude, Ms. Albertson helped us understand the importance of performing arts.

To close the forum came Debora Bone to talk to us about the CTE. She talked to us about occupational and vocational occupations. Her stance was to advise us that in order to get a well-paid job by the year 2025, you’re going to get a higher level degree than you would now. Nowadays, there are more part time workers than full time. The less money that goes in schools, the more the tuition cost, and vice versa. Thus, Ms. Bone gave us a glimpse into life without sense, a life with low wages and high cost in tuition, let us fight to keep tuition cost as is or even lower!

To conclude this amazing experience, we joined groups and discussed what we learned in this amazing forum. We were asked what barriers and success had we experienced in order to go along with our studies in Cabrillo. Even though it has only been only one semester, I had a hard time paying for all my textbooks. I learned about the Borrow a Book initiative brought forth by the student senate, sadly it was too late, there were no more books. To overcome this obstacle, this program has to be expanded. It is a great way to be able to borrow and otherwise extremely expensive book for the semester. Thus, this was a great experience, I learned a lot about Cabrillo’s accomplishments and struggle. The future might be invisible to us, but despite not knowing what’s over the horizon, we can live day by day fighting for the greater good; promising future.