In the 1950′s and 60′s, California had one of the best school systems in the country. Now it has one of the worst. What happened in the course of 40 years that led to this decline? And what is California doing to raise its system back up? This was the premise behind John Merrow’s award-winning 2004 television documentary, First to Worst. Last year, he produced an update called California’s Schools: America’s Future, which aired on PBS on June 5, 2008.
Please join us for a free educational forum to view California’s Schools: America’s Future, followed by a panel discussion moderated by John Merrow. Panel members will include:
- Former State Assemblyman Gene Mullin
- Former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin
- San Mateo County Superintendent Dr. Jean Holbrook
- San Mateo-Foster City School District Superintendent Dr. Pendery Clark
- San Mateo-Foster City School District Trustee Lory Lawson
This event is free and open to the public. It will take place on Wednesday, September 23 at 7:00 PM at the Bayside Performing Arts Center, 2025 Kehoe Ave., San Mateo (view map).
This event is being organized by the San Mateo-Foster City forkids! Education Foundation, the San Mateo-Foster City PTA Council, and 17th District PTA. Additional co-sponsors include the San Mateo-Foster City School District, the San Mateo County School Boards Association, the League of Women Voters of North and Central San Mateo County, and the San Mateo Branch of the American Association of University Women.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get informed! The recent budget cuts will drastically affect schools in our county as much as the rest of the state. Come and learn more about how California got in this mess, and what we can do about it.
Download the Event Flyer: In English [PDF] | In Spanish [PDF]
