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What If
By John L. Maltbie
What if children really were our future
Scott Bushman
How many times have we heard it said, “Our children are our future” But in tough times,
services for children are the first to be cut. California’s annual budget has become an exercise
in alchemy—promising too much and delivering too little. As our economy sank into the
worst recession since the Great Depression, taxes were raised and $15 billion in services were cut.
Who will bear the brunt of these cuts as they trickle down to local governments Our children.
What if politicians acted like they really believed our children were our future The
fundamental problem is that children don’t have a seat at the table when budget and funding
decisions get made. They can’t vote, and they don’t have PACs.
These are hard times, and tough decisions have to be made. But are we making the right
decisions Are we making wise strategic choices that lay the groundwork for our future safety
and prosperity We are told that education and health care for kids have to take their fair share
of cuts because they cost so much. In education, California already ranks near the bottom of
states in per-pupil funding and achievement. We know that to be successful in the global
economy of the 21st century, we will need a knowledgeable and well-trained work force.
The United States continues to have the poorest health care results for children among
leading industrial nations. Our state ranks among the worst in childhood obesity.
Asthma rates have risen sharply in the past 20 years. Nearly 1 million children have
no health coverage. Children who are healthy are more likely to attend school, get
more out of their education and become healthy, productive adults. When did our
children’s health become a luxury we can no longer afford
What if the next time the “Big Five” (the governor, speaker of the Assembly,
president pro tem of the Senate and the minority party leaders in both houses) talked
about the budget, they included a group of children and explained to them why their
services were being cut Or what if, before a legislator could vote on the budget, he or
she had to spend a day teaching at an intermediate school, working at a public health
clinic or handing out basketballs at an evening recreation program
What if children really had “rights” like you and I do Last year, the San Mateo County
Board of Supervisors took a step toward that future by adopting a Children’s Bill of Rights,
developed by the Peninsula Partnership Leadership Council and the San Mateo County Youth
Commission. The bill has been endorsed by Silicon Valley Community Foundation and local city
councils and school boards.
Under this Bill of Rights, children are entitled to “access to a 21st-century
education that promotes success in life . . . and . . . a healthy, mind, body and
spirit . . . to maximize their potential.” If legislators had to consider these
rights when making decisions, California’s budget priorities would almost
certainly change. We would truly invest in our future instead of just
talking about it. one
c
To read the Children’s Bill
of Rights and learn more, visit
www.siliconvalleycf.org/ONE/31f.
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John L. Maltbie recently retired as county manager
of San Mateo County after nearly 20 years on the job.
16 innovation through philanthropy www.siliconvalleycf.org