Good morning! Today, May 11, is California’s Day of the Teacher.
Over 20,000 educators received pink slips this year, and school districts are being forced to plan for the worst as they prepare for the next school year. The Legislature must act NOW to prevent the all-cuts scenario from becoming reality.
This report shows the potential impact of an all-cuts budget on each district in the state, as well as the number of jobs that are currently on the line.
CTA members from several locals in Orange and San Diego Counties graded papers, planned projects, analyzed data and planned lessons using their lap tops and teacher’s editions, at area malls Tuesday afternoon, May 10, in “grade ins” designed to help the public understand that a teacher’s job does not end with the closing school bell rings.
CTA members from several Orange County chapters participated in the "grade in" at the Westminster Mall.
More than 100 K-12 CTA members from the Garden Grove Unified, Anaheim Union, Huntington Beach Union, Irvine, Cypress, Fountain Valley, and Saddleback Valley school districts in Orange County participated in a “grade in” at the Westminster Mall, joined by Garden Grove Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Laura Schwalm and GGUSD School Board member Dr. George West. Passersby who stopped were interested and positive. Members from OC chapters including the Fullerton Elementary TA, Fullerton Secondary TO, La Habra EA, Association of Placentia-Yorba Linda and Anaheim Secondary TA conducted their “grade in” at the Brea Mall. It was covered by the Orange County Register.
At the Escondido Mall, more than 130 Escondido Elementary EA members were joined by the district superintendent, two board members, almost all district principals and a PTA leader. Several mall businesses displayed “We Are One for Public Education” signs and the event was covered by the North County Times and KUSI and CW TV stations. EEEA members report a positive reception from mall customers and businesses.
Debbie Look, president of the California PTA (Parent Teacher Association), spoke in support of CTA's weeklong protest at the Capitol.
“Budget cuts hurt kids,” she said. “We are losing critical programs and services and hurting the most vulnerable students, who are not getting what they need to achieve their full potential. We need to take a balanced approach to the budget and also look at new revenues. We need a budget that invests in our children and also the future of the state. Now, more than ever, the time for action is now.” She added that today PTA members are delivering thousands of postcards to legislators that were written during a recent conference held in Southern California.
Barbara Jackson, a grandmother of an incarcerated youth, representing the organization Books Not Bars.
Redondo Beach educators march for tax extensions in front of Redondo Union High School
Education supporters write postcards to lawmakers at Redondo Beach State of Emergency rally.
Many protestors indicated they were looking forward to attending Friday’s massive Los Angeles rally in Pershing Square.
More than 100 Kern County educators brought their red pencils and student work to The Marketplace shopping mall in Bakersfield Tuesday to show what teachers to in their unpaid hours: grade papers. The Bakersfield “Grade-in” was one of several taking place today in shopping centers throughout the state. Among the crowd were teachers from Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association, Kern High School Teachers Association as well as several retired teachers who turned out.“I’m here to support the educators of this state as we try to convince the legislature to fund our schools,” said Elaine White, a first-grade teacher at Frank West Elementary School. White said that in her own school, classes are larger, field trips have been eliminated, school yard supervisors have been cut, and classified staff has been laid off. “We have books and pencils, but it’s people who make the school.”
The “Grade-In” was one of several activities Kern County educators are engaged in this week as part of CTA’s State of Emergency Week. On Wednesday, about 5,000 educators will observe Day of the Teacher at a solidarity barbecue in Yokuts Park; on Thursday they will don black clothing and stage a “funeral for education” after school; and on Friday, they will take to major intersections to wave to rally with signs and fliers.
The pressure on lawmakers continued on Tuesday as CTA members and parents visited Legislators in the Capitol. In this photo Lily Walker, a member of the Merced unified High School District Teachers Association, tells a legislative aide for Sen. Cannella, R-12th District, about the budget cuts that have decimated her district. Walker, a French teacher, said there are now only two French teachers for the district split between four high schools. In addition, she said that six teacher have received pink slips and that last year nine were laid off. Walker told legislative aide Chris odneal to tell Sen. Cannella, a moderate Republican, that she is also deeply offended that on tommorrow, the Day of the Teacher, the Senate will consider legislation intended to cut teacher pay, eliminate teacher due process and prohibit teacher raises.