US state governments with budget problems have been proposing cuts in education. But the public outcry is strong. “Since January, hundreds to thousands have protested in Arkansas and California, Maryland and New Jersey, Texas and at least 15 other states. The crowds in Frankfort and in Oklahoma City topped 20,000. New Yorkers hope a May 3 event will draw 30,000 in support of public schools. “The scale of the protests is as large and as extensive as we’ve seen since the ’82-’83 recession. And now, schools are more reliant on the states. So when the states cut back, the impact on local school districts is more severe than anything we’ve ever seen.”