ST. MARYS – Two classes of seniors at St. Marys Area High School
learned a lesson on the state budget Wednesday from a rather
knowledgeable source – Gov. Ed Rendell.
Rendell hosted a video conference lesson for 10 school districts
across the state. St. Marys was one of the districts invited to
participate.
Rendell used Classrooms for the Future technology to explain how
the state’s budget process works, his plan to make college more
affordable and how he prioritizes what stays in the budget when
cuts are made.
Dominic Surra, American government and economics teacher at St.
Marys High, said the questions were submitted in advance.
Rendell spoke about several topics related to his proposed
2009-10 budget. Under the Pennsylvania Tuition Relief Act, all
incoming, in-state students who qualify and seek to attend one of
the 14 state-owned or 14 community colleges will pay what they can
afford with financial aid. Every family will pay at least ,1,000 a
year for each child in college.
To do this, the governor proposes legalizing video poker
machines. There are critics who say he is just expanding gambling
in the state, but Rendell said “video already exists all across the
Commonwealth. The proceeds the machines garner go to various
sources.”
Rendell wants to use that money to pay for the Tuition Relief
Act.
“I am not a proponent of gambling, but gambling exists. It’s a
fact of life,” the governor added, saying it can be used to make
college more affordable for Pennsylvania students and their
families.
“When I go out and sell a program, it’s not only good for
juniors and seniors, it’s good for us because the world has
changed. Twenty years ago, the currency that determined whether the
state or regions had vibrant economies were bases with natural
resources,” Rendell explained, but added that has changed.
“Now it’s skilled workers that are vital to a region. Education
is crucial. That’s how you try to persuade the public. Our
investment will be returned tenfold by having a well-qualified,
skilled workforce.”
Answering submitted questions, the governor explained he feels
that more of school districts’ funding – about half – should come
from the state.
“We are now at about 38 percent. When I became governor, we were
down at 33 percent. We would have moved up to 40 percent this year
had we not had this economic crisis,” he said.
Cedar Crest High School in Lebanon County asked about the
programs that were eliminated from the state budget. Rendell said
that already one out of every five programs had been cut or
eliminated.
St. Marys’ students asked the governor to prioritize what should
stay in the budget. He said there are three priorities – public
safety, social services and economic development.
“Nothing is relevant unless we are safe,” Rendell said of public
safety. Of social services, he said, “If government has any
purpose, it’s to take care of people who can’t take care of
themselves.”
And economic development generates new jobs.
“We still have to invest in things that create new jobs. We are
going to keep those and in some instances give them more money,”
the governor said.
Following the question and answer portion of the program,
Rendell urged the students to get involved in civics and
politics.
“If a nation is ignorant and free, it won’t remain free for
long,” Rendell said, quoting Thomas Jefferson. “If every high
school senior decided they were going to go out and participate in
the civic process, it would make a huge difference,” Rendell
concluded. “We have got to get involved in the process. Don’t tell
me the process stinks then you don’t vote or run for office.”
This was the second class the governor has conducted using
technology provided through Classrooms for the Future, the
centerpiece of his administration’s continuing efforts to expand
the use of computers in classrooms. He conducted a civics class
last fall and hopes to continue with several each year.
