Do-Re-Mi video makes a powerful point: California kids can’t afford education cuts

Sometimes a mom has to do what a mom has to do. Just ask Helen Mendoza and Deb McCurdy.

These two moms from South Pasadena noticed that a crucial voice was missing from the discussion over California’s shrinking education budget: the kids who stand to lose the most. So with little time and even less money, Mendoza and McCurdy created a music video to give kids a voice.

So far, “We Ain’t Got the Do Re Mi” by the South Pasadena Unified Grade “A” Jug Band has been heard by more than 19,000 people on YouTube.

The protest song set to the tune of Woody Guthie’s classic “Do Re Mi” takes aim at Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, using cute kids and cutting humor to make a powerful point: the future success of California kids is at stake. Consider these lyrics interspersed with scenes of rolling dice and children begging with their hands folded as if in prayer:

“We’re sliding down a slippery slope. Education is our only hope.
You’re gambling with our future; there’s no cut we can afford.
So Arnold, we beg you help us, please. We ain’t go nothing left to squeeze.”

“We wanted to do something that was fun and was a positive experience on all levels,” Mendoza said.

It was McCurdy’s idea to make the video. Mendoza, who knows a thing or two about making films, quickly signed on. “I produce documentaries when I’m not chasing my kids around,” she said.

Like so many parents, Mendoza and McCurdy started volunteering soon after their children started kindergarten. Both are active in the PTA at Arroyo Vista Elementary School in the South Pasadena School District; McCurdy was the group’s president last school year.

“The dire straits our district was very much on our minds,” Mendoza said.

The women became friends through their involvement at the school and had collaborated on projects before making the video. Mendoza said they had teamed up on writing projects and had played music together.

McCurdy decided that rewriting “Do Re Mi” was appropriate since the 1937 song told of the economic hardship encountered by immigrants to California who were escaping the Dust Bowl. From beginning to end, the project took about a month.

Mendoza did the filming and editing. Children were recruited to perform and parents agreed to play instruments and help with costumes and props. Needless to say, it was an all-volunteer effort.

They did let their school district know about their plans. The district, Mendoza said, was supportive. Using cute kids, music and humor certainly helped.

California Superintendent of Instruction Jack O’Connell watched the video during a visit the Arroyo Vista campus and called it “great.”

Mendoza said McCurdy dropped off a copy of the video for Gov. Schwarzenegger in Sacramento, but they had not heard if he ever watched it.

If you haven’t seen the video yet, please take a look. It really says it all.

If you want to weigh in on the budget, you can email the governor and your state legislators. You can contact Gov. Schwarzenegger at gov.ca.gov/interact. For information on contacting your assembly member and senator, go to leginfo.ca.gov and click on Your Legislature.