“We Are One”- Join the Nationwide Day of Action and Solidarity – April 4th

“We Are One”- Join the Nationwide Day of Action and Solidarity – April 4th

by STAFF on APRIL 3, 2011

in: CIVIL RIGHTS, ECONOMY, LABOR, PEACE MOVEMENT, SAN DIEGO

Events planned across the nation for April 4th, 2011.

On April 4th, We Are One!

Join the Nationwide Day of Action and Solidarity

On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, where he had gone to stand with sanitation workers demanding their dream: The right to bargain collectively for a voice at work and a better life.

This April 4th, stand up for the principles Dr. King fought and died for – join the “We Are One” Nationwide Day of Action! Just as in Memphis in 1968, nurses, teachers, students, firefighters, small business owners, and all working people across the nation are standing together to make our country a better place for all working people and ensure we build the future our children deserve.

There are over one thousand events planned across the country so far.

Take a stand against attacks on workers’ rights and show your solidarity by joining an April 4th event in your area!

SAN DIEGO

Candlelight Solidarity Vigil

6:30pm to 8pm at Civic Center Plaza – 1200 3rd Ave.

Contact Jerry at (619) 228-8101 for more information.

Here is the link to the national We Are One website -

There are April 4th events in these other areas of California sponsored by California’s Central Labor Councils:

Los Angeles:

Solidarity Action

5pm at First A.M.E. Church – 2270 S. Harvard Blvd.

Wisconsin Bratwurst Barbecue provided by IBEW 11 to follow

Contact Priscilla at (213) 276-3375 for more information.

Eureka:

March and Rally

5pm: Demonstration at Humboldt County Courthouse – 825 Fifth Street

March to the Labor Temple – 840 E Street

Contact Jim at (707) 498-3986 for more information.

Contra Costa/Napa/Solano/North Bay:

March Over the Zampa Bridge

11am to 1pm

On the Contra Costa side: meet at 20050 San Pablo Ave in Crockett

(shuttle bus available from 1333 Pine St in Martinez)

On the Napa/Solano side: meet at the pedestrian walkway entrace at Maritime Academy Drive in Vallejo (shuttle available from 404 Nebraska St in Vallejo)

Contact Tony in Contra Costa at (925) 228-0161 or Shirley in Napa/Solano at (707) 552-6601 for more information.

San Francisco:

March and Rally to End $$$ Greed

445pm: Meet at Bank of America – 555 California St

6pm: Rally at Federal Reserve Building – 101 Market St

Contact Amber at (415) 440-4809 for more information.

Oakland:

Solidarity Rally

11:30am to 1pm at Frank Ogawa Plaza – Clay St. between 14th and 15th

Contact Jean at (510) 499-2839 for more information.

Redwood City:

Labor-Community Solidarity Rally

5:45pm to 7pm at Courthouse Square – 2200 Broadway

Contact Julie at (650) 572-8848 for more information.

San Jose:

Solidarity Rally

5:30pm to 6:30pm at 100 Paseo de San Antonio

Call (408) 266-3790 for more information.

Santa Cruz:

Solidarity Rally

5pm at Santa Cruz County Building – 701 Ocean St.

Call (831) 422-4626 for more information.

Salinas:

Solidarity Rally

5pm at Salinas City Hall – 200 Lincoln Ave.

Call (831) 422-4626 for more information.

Sacramento:

March and Screening of MLK’s “I Am a Man” Speech

5pm: Film screening at Cesar Chavez Plaza, 10th and J Streets

March to Federal Building – 5th and I Streets

Contact Zak at (916) 927-9772 for more information.

Stockton:

Solidarity March and Rally

4pm: Meet at Cesar Chavez Library – 605 N. El Dorado Street

6pm: Rally at City Hall – 425 N. El Dorado Street

Bring a used pair of work shoes to show solidarity.

Call (209) 948-5526 for more information.

Merced:

Solidarity Rally

5pm at Veteran’s Park – 621 21st St (between 21st and 22nd on “M” St)

Contact Eddie at (209) 761-1377 for more information.

Modesto:

Solidarity Rally

5pm at Tenth Street Plaza

Contact Tony at (209) 648-6659 for more information.

Fresno:

Tour of the Attack on Working Families

4:30: Meet City Hall – 2600 Fresno St

5:30: Arrive at School District – 2309 Tulare St

5:45: Rally at County Building – 2220 Tulare St

Contact Randy at (559) 275-1151 or (559) 269-7882 for more information.

Visalia:

March for the Middle Class

5:15pm: Meet at Mooney Blvd Bridge over Hwy 198

Contact Adam at (559) 635-3735 for more information.

Bakersfield:

March for Workers’ Rights

5:30pm – 6:30pm: March from the Plaza at Rabobank Arena to the Liberty Bell

Wear red in unity.

Contact Donny at (661) 201-7465 for more information.

Orange:

Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast

8am at IBEW 441 Hall – 309 N. Rampart St., Ste. M

Call (714) 385-1534 for more info and to RSVP.

Santa Ana:

Candlelight Vigil

6pm at Sasscer Park – corner of Ross St. and Santa Ana Blvd

Contact Joline at (714) 385-1534 for more information.

Voter Registration Drive (4/2)

9am at OCEA – 830 N. Ross St. Santa Ana

Contact Rob or call 714-385-1534 for more information.

San Bernardino:

Rally for America’s Workers

4pm to 6pm at 1631 E. Highland Ave, at Del Rosa

Contact Josh at (909) 825-7871 for more information.

To learn more and find events outside California, visit www.WE-R-1.org.

Call Lawmakers: Urge Them to Support Gov. Brown's Temporary Tax Extension California Teachers Association

California Teachers Association

Call Lawmakers: Urge Them to Support Gov. Brown's Temporary Tax Extension Use CTA's 1.888.268.4334 Number!

UPDATED 2 APRIL 2011 - ASK LAWMAKERS TO PASS THE TAX EXTENSION THEMSELVES, BECAUSE THE DEADLINE FOR GETTING THE MEASURE ON THE JUNE BALLOT HAS PASSED.

We need your help now to stave off additional devastating cuts to public education and other public services.

Use CTA’s toll-free number – 1.888.268.4334 -- to call your local Assembly Member and state Senator and urge them to support Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to extend the state’s temporary tax measures.

Lawmakers have a choice between extending the temporary taxes or authorizing billions of dollars more in crippling cuts to public schools and other public services.Urge lawmakers to pass the tax extension themselves and send it to the governor for his signature.

Background:

Schools would be hit with over $2.3 billion more in cuts if the Legislature does not agree to extend the temporary taxes.

This requires a two-thirds’ vote of the Legislature to achieve the goal, and it will require at least two Republicans in the state Senate and two in the state Assembly to join with all Democrats to extend the taxes or put the measure on a June special election ballot.

Key Points:

• K-12 schools and colleges have already been cut over $20 billion over the last three years--$3,000 per K-12 student.
• Class sizes are soaring, programs are disappearing and entire school years are shrinking in many school districts.
• More than 30,000 California educators and 10,000 other public school employees have been laid off over the past three years.
• Without an extension of current revenues, public schools and colleges will lose more than $2.3 billion.

Here’s what you can do to help!

Use CTA’s toll-free 888 number to call both your state Senator and Assembly Member. Dial 1.888.268.4334 and you will be put automatically through to one of your two state lawmakers.

If you are calling from your home landline phone, the toll-free number will connect you automatically to your Assembly member or State Senator.

If the hotline cannot read your number, it will ask you to enter your zip code and then you will be connected.

You will need to call back to be connected to your second lawmaker.

After you have made your two calls, close the loop by e-mailinglfeldman@cta.org to let us know:

1) Who did you meet with or reach by phone or e-mail?

2) What was the response? Will the lawmaker support the tax extension?

For more information, contact Legislative Advocate Estelle Lemieux or GR Communications Consultant Len Feldman at 916.325.1500.

New Edition Of The ESL/EFL/ELL Blog Carnival Just Posted! | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

New Edition Of The ESL/EFL/ELL Blog Carnival Just Posted! | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

New Edition Of The ESL/EFL/ELL Blog Carnival Just Posted!

by Larry Ferlazzo

David Deubelbeiss has just posted the Twenty-Second Edition of the ESL/EFL/ELL Blog Carnival, and it has a record-setting number of submissions.

There will be a special May 1st edition focusing on Young Learners and hosted by Shelly Terrell. You can contribute a post to it by using this easy submission form. If the form does not work for some reason, you can send the link to me via my Contact Form. You can also send it to Shelly directly.

The following edition will be published by Eva Buyuksimkesyan on September 1st. The November 1st edition will be hosted by Berni Wall. Let me know if you might be interested in hosting future editions.

You can see all the previous editions of the ESL/EFL/ELL Blog Carnival here.

Jersey Jazzman: Disappointment, They Name Is Arne Duncan

Jersey Jazzman: Disappointment, They Name Is Arne Duncan

Disappointment, They Name Is Arne Duncan

by Duke

Oy vey:

Q. Let me bounce off you three of the key concerns I’ve heard from those who are opposed to the reforms, or are skeptical. One: Charter schools are not dramatically lifting student performance, and they harm traditional schools by diverting money and active parents.

A. The data on charters is very clear. The highest-performing charters are a huge part of the solution. There are some in the middle, and there are some that are part of the problem. The key for Newark is to bring in more of the high-performing charters. There are some amazing players out there who can help. And at the end of the day, it’s a false argument against charters. These are public schools,

Steve Lopez, Proposition 13: It's time to tinker with 'untouchable' Prop. 13 - latimes.com

Steve Lopez, Proposition 13: It's time to tinker with 'untouchable' Prop. 13 - latimes.com

It's time to tinker with 'untouchable' Prop. 13

• STEVE LOPEZ
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No, older homeowners don't have to be put on the street. The most obvious thing to do, an analyst argues, would be to quit giving owners of commercial property the windfall break they've gotten under the proposition.

By Steve Lopez

April 2, 2011, 5:37 p.m.

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Now I've done it. I made a few idle comments last week about rethinking Proposition 13, and the column ticked off hordes of senior citizens — the most loyal of all newspaper readers.

"The question I ask you is, would you have my husband and me homeless in order to balance the state budget?" asked Betty Vanole, 71, of Burbank.

No, Betty, there's no need to start packing.

"May we get together over a cup of coffee and talk about Proposition 13?" asked Barbara Menendez,

Gazette » I’m Sorry I’m a Teacher

Gazette » I’m Sorry I’m a Teacher

I’m Sorry I’m a Teacher

By

Alan Haskvitz

Alan Haskvitz is a member of the National Teachers Hall of Fame and has been recognized many times as one of the nation’s most successful and innovative teachers. Accounts of his students’ accomplishments have been featured in books, periodicals, and on national radio and television. He is a classroom teacher with experience at every grade level and every major subject area.

For over 45 years I have enjoyed making a living teaching. It hasn’t been easy or lucrative, but it had its rewards, one of which was a secure retirement plan.

Now, after reading the recent California Little Hoover Commission Report that recommends that public school retirements be reduced, even for those who are already retired, and the actions of the Wisconsin Republican Party in accusing teachers and their pensions and bargaining rights as mainly responsible for that state’s

Jersey Jazzman: Bring Democracy Back To Newark

Jersey Jazzman: Bring Democracy Back To Newark

Bring Democracy Back To Newark

by Duke

The Star-Reformer-Ledger gives over its op-ed pages today to yet another round of corporate reformer love, courtesy of editor Tom Moran. What's striking this moring is how completely oran has swallowed all of the premises of corporate reform.

Take his interview with Cory Booker:

The core idea is that the performance of students should guide everything. That means killing tenure to get rid of bad teachers, giving families more choice by expanding charter schools and magnet schools, closing down bad schools of any type, giving principals authority to hire their own staffs, and perhaps expanding the school day and school year.

The discussion, finally, has moved beyond money and is focusing on how that money is spent.

That's the corporate reform agenda in a nutshell:

- Gutting tenure, even though there's no evidence that there are large numbers of inefficient teachers with tenure.

Schools Matter: secrets Behind the KIPP Bump, Part II: Keeping the Best, Dumping the Rest

Schools Matter: secrets Behind the KIPP Bump, Part II: Keeping the Best, Dumping the Rest

secrets Behind the KIPP Bump, Part II: Keeping the Best, Dumping the Rest

by Jim Horn

This is second of several posts with results from a widely reported new study of the KIPP phenomenon.


A couple of pictures are worth thousands of words, but a few words are thrown in, too:

Click charts to enlarge.

Schools Matter: In Wisconsin, One Koch-Head Down With 7 to Go

Schools Matter: In Wisconsin, One Koch-Head Down With 7 to Go

In Wisconsin, One Koch-Head Down With 7 to Go

by Jim Horn

From DFA:

Local Wisconsin Democrats submitted 100% of the signatures needed to demand a recall election ofRepublican State Senator Dan Kapanke on Friday. The news is sending shockwaves through the state -- and revitalizing those who are working tirelessly on gathering the signatures needed to recall the remaining Republicans senators.

Layoffs Go International: US Says Paalam to Filipino Teachers

Layoffs Go International: US Says Paalam to Filipino Teachers

Layoffs Go International: US Says Paalam to Filipino Teachers

by admin

First Filipino teachers used to flock to the US for teaching jobs. Then they were abused by placement agencies.Now they’re getting laid off and forced to return home, not on the basis of seniority or performance, some claim, but because of their nationality. Only those who teach in areas of high need, such as special ed, are being

Sunday, 4/3: Webinar with Dr. Stephen Krashen :: Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action

Sunday, 4/3: Webinar with Dr. Stephen Krashen :: Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action

Sunday, 4/3: Webinar with Dr. Stephen Krashen

by TeacherSabrina

March 28th, 2011

[Translate]

Register now to join us for our next online teach-in with Dr. Stephen Krashen!

Dr. Stephen Krashen is a professor emeritus at the University of Southern California. He has written numerous books on his research into literacy and language acquisition. In recent years, he has emerged as a persistent voice pointing towards the basic steps we should take to build literacy and strong academic skills for our students. He tells the tough truths about the real issues that create the inequities we see in our schools. Please join is for an evening of conversation with Dr. Krashen. The webinar will begin at 8 pm Eastern, and will feature a presentation, followed by discussion. We will save ten spots for people willing to host house parties. Those who register will receive a link to the session a day before the event.

Register now to ensure your space!

Grading the teachers: Singled-out L.A. Unified teacher shares skills with colleagues - latimes.com

Grading the teachers: Singled-out L.A. Unified teacher shares skills with colleagues - latimes.com

Singled-out L.A. Unified teacher shares skills with colleagues

Miguel Aguilar was cited as among L.A. Unified's most effective in an L.A. Times article on the 'value-added' evaluation method. Since then, many at his Pacoima school have adopted his methods. But budget cuts threaten his job.

Miguel Aguilar forces his fifth-graders to slow down and think before answering questions. Many instructors at Broadus Elementary School in Pacoima have adopted his style. Now Aguilar may be laid off. (Michael Robinson Chavez, Los Angeles Times / March 18, 2011)

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• STORIES
• Hawaiian Gardens school enacts ambitious change

By Jason Felch, Los Angeles Times

April 3, 2011

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In February, fifth-grade teacher Miguel Aguilar stood in the front of a class, nervous and sweating.

The subject — reading and comprehension — was nothing new. But on this day, his students weren't 11-year-olds in sneakers and sweatshirts: They were 30 of his fellow teachers.

It was the first time anyone at Broadous Elementary School in Pacoima could remember a teacher there being singled out for his skill and called upon to share his secrets school-wide.

"A teacher coming forward … that hadn't happened before," said Janelle Sawelenko, another fifth-grade teacher.

Months before, Aguilar had been featured in a Times article as one of the most effective teachers in the Los Angeles Unified