Teachers Protest at Schools Today

Los Angeles Unified School District teachers staged a protest today angainst the Governator's plan to cut state-supported school funding. Teachers, parents, and even some kids marched in front of the schools. The protest occupied the first period or first start time of the school day.

At Manual Arts High School a large number of protesting teachers (visible because they wore red t-shirts) filled the sidewalk at the school entrance. (Students were essentially warehoused during that time; someone doubtless came and sat in the various classrooms to preserve order.)

Only a few teachers were protesting in front of John Muir Middle School I do't know if their first period was over or a majority of teachers didn't support the walkout.

Teachers from a continuation high school and an elementary school marched along the sidewalk to the bus stop, where they handed out leaflets explaining the issues and asking people to take action.

I'd like to see library workers take the same kind of job action - choosing a time when the library is busiest (say the hour school lets out), performing informational picketing, and handing out leaflets. The public still doesn't know what library workers do, how cost-effective libraries are, and how much bang there is for the buck. IMNSHO, librarians' unions are not aggressive enough in negotiations. Perhaps a few cases of "blue flu" would get the message across.