Peter Schrag

Peter Schrag
By Isela Reyes

Peter Schrag was born in Germany and came to the U.S. at a young age. He was raised in New York, where he attended public schools. Schrag graduated from Amherst College in 1953 and has been a lifelong journalist, writing for over forty years, most notably about education and other public policy issues. Schrag began his career at the El Paso Herald Post where he was a reporter and has worked for other publications including the New Public, the Atlantic, Harper’s, the New Nation, and the New York Times among others. Schrag has also worked for the Sacramento Bee where he held the position of editorial page editor for nineteen years and where he still writes weekly columns. One of Schrag’s books, Paradise Lost: California’s Experience, America’s Future was awarded New York Times Notable Book in 1998.

To be honest, when we were first given the assignment to profile a columnist, I was not sure who I would choose. I gather most of my news from the internet, much to the horror of one of my professors and his “generation” as he so worded it in class one evening (not Fitzgerald). Therefore, I was unsure of who to choose. I don’t follow any one news publication religiously; rather I gather my news in snatches from whatever newspaper, internet article or TV news that happens to be on or near me at the time. So when I happened upon a review of Peter Schrag, it peaked my interest because of how he expressed his writing about California education. It is no secret to Californians that the school system is suffering from overcrowding, lack of resources and teachers, but Schrag addresses these very same issues with the understanding of someone who has spent years studying them and whose own children attend.

In his book, Paradise Lost: California’s Experience, America’s Future Schrag addresses this very same issue, but goes back to what he states are the origin of this issue. In his book, Schrag writes that California was the leading state in everything from politics, to education to speedy freeways, but that has given way beginning in 1978 with the passing of proposition 13, which was a tax-cutting initiative, which began the downfall of California’s classrooms. Schrag argues that California may very well be the perfect example for the rest of the nation of what may become across the country if it is not properly addressed. He states that California has been the leading example for the country as a state that has adopted every controversial method first and that continues to be the leader in adopting new measures before anyone else. He also believes that if the issue of California schools continues unchanged, it may also serve as an unfortunate example of what other states will become as well.

Schrag has been writing for California for years addressing not only the issue of education but politics as well. Having served at the Sacramento Bee for so long he also serves a number of publications who continue to post his articles. I chose Schrag because he addresses issues as close at heart to me as a Californian, as a journalism student and as a member of this society.