Education and innovation have been key to our country's competitive edge.  Nowadays we have been habitually, dangerously neglecting education -- under-funding and cutting schools budgets, teachers, their salaries and benefits, and pretending that charter schools or vouchers will solve the problem.  State budget shortfalls must be countered by a commitment from the federal government to offer world class education to every American, including college.

Here again, ending wasteful policies, that squander trillions on reckless war and financial bailouts, will provide financial resources for the educational priorities that willl make America competitive in world markets again.

My mother was a math teacher and dean in New York City's acclaimed public schools -- great union jobs that should remain great rather than ber undermined.  My NYC public school experiences paved the way for success at Yale and MIT.  I will always stand up for teachers and students as a top priority.

Last month I signed the Occupy Our Schools Senate candidate pledge not to cut public school funding, classrooms, or teachers' pay, and attended the local Santa Rosa Teacher's Rally where a fair Millionaire's Tax to fund schools and stop serious ongoing cuts is headed for the ballot.  I stood in solidarity with the teachers and students who deserve our support if we're truly safeguarding our nation's children and its future.