Public Schools. Permanent Class Size Reduction. Parent-Teacher Councils. Teacher Credentialing. Pupil Suspension for Drug Possession. Chief Inspector's Office. Initiative Statute.
	Rebuttal to Argument against Proposition 8

Since 1988, public education spending has increased 73%. California invests by far the most in our schools--and should--because a QUALITY EDUCATION IS CRUCIAL to giving our children the ability to win in a highly competitive job market.

But we must demand a greater return on our investment: EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IS PRIORITY ONE!

Successful schools combine financial resources with ACTIVE PARENTS, DEDICATED TEACHERS, AND INVOLVED ADMINISTRATORS WORKING TOGETHER TO ENRICH STUDENTS.

Proposition 8 establishes a framework for academic success by GUARANTEEING NEEDED CLASSROOM FUNDING and MAKING SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE TO PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS.

Parent-teacher councils will make CURRICULUM AND FUNDING DECISIONS within ESTABLISHED STATE STANDARDS. Members are selected by their peers and accountable to them.

PROPOSITION 8 DOESN'T INCREASE ADMINISTRATIVE SPENDING. Money is redirected from existing bureaucracy to create the Chief Inspector of Public Schools--INDEPENDENT OF PARTISAN POLITICS--responsible for QUALITY CONTROL and providing ACCOUNTABILITY TO TAXPAYERS. Less than 1/10th of 1% of California's education budget is a small price to pay for DIRECT ACCOUNTABILITY.

Proposition 8 invests in classrooms, not bureaucracy.

PARENTS ARE NOT BUREAUCRATS. Parent-teacher councils in each of California's 8000 public schools are not big government ; it's better education for our children.

PROPOSITION 8 INVESTS WISELY IN EDUCATION; BANS DRUGS FROM SCHOOLS; AND EXPANDS AUTHORITY FOR PARENTS, TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS IN THE LOCAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESS. Please read it.

Say NO to NEGATIVE PARTISAN POLITICS. Say YES to SMALLER CLASSES AND EDUCATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

VOTE YES ON 8.

JIM BARNES
Immediate Past Chairman, California Taxpayers Association WADIE P. DEDDEH
Retired Democratic State Senator SUSAN HENRY
1995-97 Parent-Teacher Association, President, Masuda Middle School