Governor Schwarzenegger has finally met his match: the moms of Ventura.

Over the last few weeks I have watched in wonder as the most dedicated women I have ever known prepare for the upcoming rally on Friday, April 18 at the Buena High School Quad at 4 p.m. to protest the governor's $4.8 billion in cuts to public education. Our own school district is looking at a $4 million hit.

They've made and distributed thousands of flyers, printed hundreds of pre-addressed postcards, talked to parent, teacher and student groups, alerted the media, organized, planned and planned again. And they've done this while holding down jobs, driving kids to soccer practices and helping with math homework.

Wow.

If they can do this, surely our legislators can figure out a way to quit the partisan bickering and give our kids the education system they deserve.

We're going to have a spirited event on Friday with many speakers including Assemblyman Pedro Nava, State Senate candidate Hannah-Beth Jackson, Congressional candidate Jill Martinez, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Chuck Weis, Ventura Superintendent Trudy Arriaga, Ventura Board of Education President John Walker, Ventura Board of Education Vice President Mary Haffner, Ventura County Board of Education Trustee ML Peterson, VUEA President Stephen Blum, California Teachers Association Secretary Dan Vaughn and student leaders.

I am calling on everyone who cares about the future of our children to attend this rally and show their support. We need to make our voices heard all the way up to Sacramento. It's that important.

We've also joined forces with the online organization Right to Learn, part of YouthNoise, which is sponsoring rallies across the state on the same day.

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