Yesterday I wrote about the insanity of firing teachers as a "budget solution." Thousands of Californians seem to agree, judging by the growing outrage around our state over these cuts.

The Courage Campaign is asking our members to take action to ensure this never happens again. We need to create a progressive media narrative that calls for more investment in our schools, not less. Writing a letter to the editor of your local paper is still one of the most effective ways to accomplish this. We have an easy online tool that includes talking points, writing tips, and automatically sends your letter to whichever newspapers you want to include.

In addition, the California Teachers Association is holding a series of protest rallies around the state tomorrow on what they are calling Pink Friday.

A progressive movement is coming together around protecting our core services. Without education our state will never have an economic recovery - and we will lose an entire generation.

Below is the email we sent to our members today.

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My sister got a pink slip a few days ago.

After teaching 5th grade for three years in an Orange County school district, she will be out of a job in June. As she told me last night, "I don't know what else I will do. Teaching is all I've ever wanted to do."

She is not alone in watching her hopes and dreams vanish. More than 26,000 of her fellow teachers have been given pink slips, with Los Angeles Unified alone firing nearly 9,000 teachers. Uncounted numbers of support staff -- the people who answer the phones, who drive the buses, who enable teachers to focus on their jobs -- are getting laid off as well.

Public education in California is being destroyed before our eyes, after years of relentless attack from right-wing extremists.

We need your help to save our schools. Even in a digital age, speaking out in your local newspaper is still one of the best ways to build support in your community for a reversal of these cuts and layoffs. Especially if, like me, this crisis has touched your life personally.

Together, the Courage Campaign community can change the conversation in California, one letter at a time. Please take a stand for public education in California by writing a letter to the editor right now. With our easy-to-use tool and talking points, it only takes a few minutes to make your voice heard:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/SaveOurSchools

Hard-core conservatives have long wanted to undermine public schools. This year, they used the budget crisis to force their anti-education agenda on Californians.

Right-wing politicians, using the rule requiring a 2/3rds vote to pass a budget and taxes in the Legislature, demanded billions in cuts to public education in exchange for their votes to pass the budget.

As a result, some school districts are having to make choices no school should ever have to make. Here in Monterey, the district is debating whether to cut music, arts, and sports programs -- and may eliminate all three. It's no wonder our schools are now among the nation's worst. Just 30 years ago they were among the nation's best.

That's why we're asking you to speak out, especially if this crisis is personal. By writing a letter to the editor, you can help promote the need for more investment in our schools, not less. Please use our letter-writing tool and talking points to demand that California restore funding to our schools before it's too late:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/SaveOurSchools

Thank you for helping us change the conversation in California, one letter at a time.

Robert Cruickshank
Public Policy Director, Courage Campaign

P.S. The California Teachers Association is organizing a series of protest actions tomorrow for what they are calling "Pink Friday". From wearing pink in solidarity to participating in a protest, there are many ways to get involved. To learn how you can participate, please visit:

http://www.pinkfriday09.com