LOS ANGELES
Labor rallies for public
education
By
J. La Riva
Los Angeles
Thousands
of union workers descended on Los Angeles March 28. They were united and their
message was clear: "Save public education! Make L.A. County work for working
families!"
The
action began at the Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters. Hundreds
of teachers rallied there--members of United Teachers Los Angeles and the
Service Employees International Union.
Teachers
and school support staff march ed over a mile to meet with thousands of sister
union workers at Pershing Square. They carried banners that read, "No to merit
pay" and "Safe, modern
classrooms."
Although
the marchers blocked two commuter lanes and brought traffic to a standstill,
drivers honked in support and cheered them
on.
The
local media has joined a campaign attacking the teachers started by LAUSD
Interim Superintendent Ramon Cortines and Chief Operating Officer Howard Miller.
Cortines and Miller are intent on imposing quick fixes, grabbing headlines and
making names for
themselves.
But
the community is solidly behind the thousands of teachers and other workers who
are fighting for the future of public education and a decent living wage in Los
Angeles.
When
UTLA members marched into Pershing Square, they were met by the cheers of
workers from 20 other unions. All the unions represented are negotiating for new
contracts this year and next.
The
grassroots coalition of workers, parents, community activists and students vowed
to continue its united struggle to make L.A. County work for working families.
Rich
state, poor
schools
Although
California is one of the richest states in the country, it ranks 43rd in money
for public schools.
Many
of the state's schools are overcrowded and broken down. More than half are over
25 years old. Many classrooms go without sufficient heat. Paint is peeling off
walls, classrooms are dirty, facilities are overcrowded and textbooks are in
short supply.
While
administrative salaries have increased 62 percent in the last five years,
spending on classrooms has increased by only 38 percent.
And
Los Angeles faces a 7,000-teacher
shortage.
The
school district's recent demand for merit pay is the latest attack on teachers.
It punishes working-class and poor families. The proposed "merit pay" for
teachers will be linked to student results on racist and class-biased tests,
exit exams and grade retention.
The
teachers want all students to receive a quality education. But they are also
aware that punishing the youths because of problems like lack of materials,
overcrowded schools, unassisted new teachers, dismantling of bilingual education
and conditions of poverty is not the answer.
While
the district imposes linguistically and culturally-biased tests like SAT-9 on
the student population, students, teachers and communities become scapegoats for
the real problems facing schools.
The
school district, as well as local, federal and state governments, can't pretend
to be interested in free public education. If they were, Interim Superintendent
Cortines wouldn't have made his most recent proposals for upcoming teacher
contract negotiations, such as sweeping take-backs in health benefits, increases
in obligatory time on the school site, a one-percent pay increase and the flawed
merit-pay scheme.
If
district officials really cared about educating children, they would demand that
the government provide clean, safe, uncrowded classrooms, sufficient textbooks
and equipment, support for new teachers and better pay to attract and retain
qualified teachers.
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)
HOME :: U.S. NEWS :: WORLD NEWS :: EDITORIALS :: SUBSCRIBE :: DONATE
Email
this article
Printable
page