Trim defense budget further .

[...] Sacramento – 400 Empty Chairs Fill Capitol Lawn [...]

The Department of Defense budget is $685 billion this year. For less than one percent of that, or $6 billion, the states could afford to replace or rehire 100,000 of the K – 12 teachers and other educators who were laid off in the last 4 years.

2/3 of 1% of the DOD budget would enable California to replace or rehire all of these 40,000 teachers and support professionals who have been laid off in the last 3 years.

Think about that, for 2/3 of 1% of the DOD budget, we could solve a big part of California’s public school funding crisis.

25 Teachers’ Salaries will be a statewide and eventually nationwide campaign to build a movement through local and state government in favor of “trading bombs for teachers”. Our policy goal is ultimately to persuade Congress to pass America’s Weapons Rebate to Education Act, our bill.

For more, see http://www.25TeachersSalaries.org or email info@25TeachersSalaries.org

Ooops I messed up the math on that comment. 4/10 of 1% of the DOD budget for 2011 would be (a little over) $2.4 billion, enough money to enable California to replace or rehire the 40,000 teachers and support professionals laid off in the last 3 years. Please correct the comment I just made. Thanks.

[...] quote) recognizing all the laid off educators, as his remarks were delivered in front of 400 empty chairs that stood for each of the 100 educators and education support staff given lay off …. He was joined by two California Teachers of the Year (ToYs), Shannon Brown and Beverly Gonzalez, [...]