A Call for Equitable Funding and Systemic Change
By: Tran Nguyen
The adage "you don't know how toxic something is until you breathe fresher air" rings true for my public school experience. Since graduating from high school, I have come to recognize the pervasive inequities in the California public school system and how these unjust systems compromised the quality of my education.
The education crisis in California is a stark reminder that too many historically marginalized families of color are being left behind. I firmly believe that adequate funding for our schools is the foundation for ensuring that all students have access to high-quality education and the resources they need to succeed. Growing up in the California public school system has informed me of the detrimental impacts of education divestments.
In my high school experience, we students faced a daily struggle in our educational journeys. With only six counselors to cater to the needs of nearly three thousand students, the support system was severely understaffed. With the frequent fluctuation in counselor availability due to maternity leave and taking on too many responsibilities, students were left feeling lost and alone in our high school experience. Every day, long lines could be seen outside the counselor's offices, with students eagerly seeking guidance, but only a select few were lucky enough to receive it. The inefficient scheduling system only added to our frustration, as students were often left waiting for hours to get a few minutes of counseling time. Despite our school administration's claims that "all students have equal access to their counselor and all services they provide," it was clear that the reality was far from their claims. The counselors were only available to students with dire emergencies, leaving the rest of us feeling neglected and ignored.
My high school, like most public schools in CA, is not equipped to support students from all backgrounds, especially those that deserve special accommodations. Despite proving my drive through my grades and extracurricular activities, I often felt discouraged by the disapproval of my aspirations for a brighter future. The school's push for students to attend community college or trade school instead of a four-year university only added to my frustration. I was told that I could not take too many Advanced Placement (AP) courses or do dual enrollment because it would set the expectations higher for other students. The counselors wanted to "level the playing field" by discouraging the college-bound students from trying too hard.
The fast-paced and competitive environment of an overpopulated high school made me feel like I had to constantly prove themselves, leading to stress and self-doubt. When you attend an overpopulated high school and see that your teachers are burned out, you do not feel seen.
All in all, the lack of support and guidance in a public school education profoundly impacts the students and their future prospects. The severe understaffing and inefficient system only added to the challenges faced by myself and other students in our journey towards a brighter future. Therefore, we must work to address the systemic issues that hinder students' educational opportunities and prevent them from achieving their full potential. I am committed to radically reimagining our current education realities and am actively advocating for a more equitable future.