‘Starvation diet’ for schools protested by California teachers, officials, students at Capitol
More than 1,000 California teachers, students and school district administrators marched in downtown Sacramento and rallied at the state Capitol on Wednesday afternoon, adding their voices to a statewide advocacy day for school funding.
The event, part of the national “Red for Ed” movement, brought together union members and school administrators who have sometimes been at odds, with teacher strikes unfolding this year in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Oakland. The groups put aside their differences Wednesday to push for legislation directing more money to public education
“For too long, we have been on a starvation diet for our schools,” said California Teachers Association President Eric Heins.
Some teachers and staffers from the Sacramento City Unified School District shared concerns about out-of-date textbooks, a shortage of physical education teachers and librarians, and worn-out portable buildings.
“I am at nine schools and I take care of about 3,700 students,” said Noh Le-Hinds, a school nurse and union representative in Sacramento City Unified. “We think healthy students learn better.”
Katie Carr, a special education teacher, said her elementary school doesn’t provide reading intervention for its most vulnerable students.
“These are kids that are already struggling with academics,” she said. “Books are a basic right, and kids deserve better. “
“It’s difficult to make ends meet as a teacher,” said Sacramento City Teachers Association President David Fisher. “We are in a crisis of losing teachers, because it costs a lot to become one. Paying your mortgage or rent are extremely difficult. ”
Many at the rally said they are concerned that charter schools are undermining the public school system.
“Charter schools laws are basically destroying public education, and we don’t think a dime of public funds should go to corporate charter organizations,” said California Teachers Association Vice President David Goldberg. “Every school should serve the needs of the community.”
A package of bills backed by teachers unions and currently under consideration in the Legislature CONTINUE READING: California teachers, students, officials rally for school funding | The Sacramento Bee
