The World We're Making

The Zine That Led You Here

If you are reading this webpage, you have probably read my zine, "The World We're Making". This zine was born for one purpose, to change the world! Just kidding. This zine was born for the purpose of my social action project and getting a good grade in social studies. It started with the issue of school funding. As an issue that directly affects my life today, school funding and budget cuts were my first choice for the project. But when it came time to do the action part of the project, I didn't know what to do! Until, in the shower, it came to me! The zine! A wonderful and beautiful form of communication. So now, as you *hopefully* continue reading this webpage, I hope you keep in mind that you can make action in the smallest ways, and that it can all start with one piece of paper.

The Issue

Now, for the important part, the issue in question. School budget cuts and underfunding. An issue that affects so many students today. In fact, most students in the US attend public schools, which are the kind affected by these cuts. This year, 4.5 billion dollars are being cut from education investments by the President. That's a lot of money, and schools around the country are feeling the strain for this reason and funding issues of their own. Last year (the 2024-2025 school year), in Washington state alone, almost 800 million dollars in MSOC (materials, supplies, and operating costs), transportation costs, and support for those with disabilities were underfunded by the state. The funding issues schools face can have many impacts on individual schools and districts, from having less money to get simple supplies like glue and pencils, to losing funding for support for those withs special needs. The funding can even affect the schools' environments! It's hard to feel safe or supported in a school where important resources you may need are very difficult to access. And now that you understand the issue, it's time to learn what you can do to help.

Why This Matters

I could list a million thousand reasons this matters, from the effects on students' lives to what this means for our future (like I say in my zine) but there is one reason above all. THIS AFFECTS YOU! You may not be a student or a teacher or anything like that at all, but you are a person. A person who lives in the world this is affecting. A person who might know a student or have one in their family. A person who has a job and a boss who won't work at their job forever. A boss that will one day be replaced by someone who was once a student. Elementary school is a legal requirement. Middle school is a legal requirement. High school is a legal requirement. SCHOOL is a legal requirement. Unless you are a hermit who lives alone in the woods, you must know someone who has gone through the system. And that is why it matters. Because everyone will be there at some point. And you need to be there for them.

What You Can Do

After reading about this issue, both on this webpage and in the zine, you may be feeling disheartened. You might think "This is impossible, there is nothing I can do." But, this isn't true! You don't have to be the head of the US Department of Education or a superintendent of schools (though you can still help if you are, and hopefully you will because you have so much sway with the funding and have a leg in the issue) to help with school funding issues! From the weeniest littlest student to that one random guy you saw at the grocery store, everyone can help! A great first step could just be educating yourself more on the issue. Then you can stage protests and rallies, make posters, join unions and advocacy groups, or even just teach your friends. You've already helped, just by reading this page. So now, go off and help us save the future of the US, and all of the students who need you. You can make a DIFFERENCE, and I'm not just saying that because it sounds good. Because, if everyone alone is the equivalent of a small blinking light somewhere in the universe, together we can be a galaxy. So join me. Join us. This is the world we're making.

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