Oakland teachers take off work, students stay

[alp227]

Source: SF Chron

(11-02) 09:48 PDT OAKLAND -- At least 13 percent of Oakland teachers took today off to participate in the Occupy Oakland general strike, the school district said this morning.

More than 268 teachers missed work to join the strike, said Troy Flint, a district spokesman. That number will probably increase as the district determines how many teachers didn't announce their plans to miss work until the last minute, Flint said.

There weren't enough substitute teachers in a handful of schools so some students had to be moved into other classrooms, he said.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/02/BAGQ1LPJAD.DTL

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I've heard of some schools in Oakland that closed for today due to the general strike. Thing is, teachers are there to serve the students first.

[EFerrari]

1. Thing is, the 1% have declared war on public education

so teachers are going to be among the very first to support #OWS because they see the abuses every day and have to try to work through them. A lot of teachers will hold class off campus and do teach ins. Anyone who really does support our public schools should be standing right next to those teachers.

[murielm99]

2. And doing this, standing with #OWS, IS supporting

students first.

[OnlinePoker]

5. But not their working parents

Who unexpectedly have to take a day off work (probably unpaid) because they don't have daycare arranged or can't afford it.

[murielm99]

8. Then make sure they direct their anger at the right people:

the 1%, not the teachers.

Take your kids with to protest. They did it in Madison. Those kids will be telling their grandchildren about standing up to Walker and his thugs. This is a teachable moment!

[OnlinePoker]

12. You miss my point.

A lot of poor workers can't even afford a day off work to look after their kids. They may support the protests in theory, but have no financial wherewithal to support them in person. Being forced to unexpectedly take care of their children and losing a days pay as a result may have severe consequences for them.

[EFerrari]

14. It's still the lesser evil. If poor working people are ever to get relief

this movement must be built.

[No Elephants]

18. Your point was not based on any facts.

[lunatica]

10. And most of those parents probably support OWS

And they can do the same by not going to work for one day.

[EFerrari]

13. Oh, baloney. This action was not unexpected. nt

[No Elephants]

17. Before libeling these teachers, you might try clicking on the link and reading the entirte story.

The only day off without pay was taken by the teachers who took off to join the demonstration==AFTER they gave notice and followed the school procedures.

Even without clicking the link, you can read that the students were handled by substitute teachers and combining classrooms, not by sending them home.

[slackmaster]

3. I'm sure the kids who didn't have to go to school are delighted

And are looking forward to more events like this in the future.

No doubt their parents are thrilled too.

[No Elephants]

19. Whcih kids who didn't have to go to school? Maybe you should read the OP?

And, if you're feeling really energetic, click on the link and read the entire story.

[The Philosopher]

4. Someday those students won't be students anymore

Better to fix the problems now than let them suffer out of a naive belief. Just think of the kind of education they would receive if the leaders thought of them more than potential minimum wage workers. A rational argument hasn't been working for a while now. When talk gets nowhere, that's when it's time to strike and let people know what should really be valued.

[Iliyah]

6. The 1% plus gopers say

Teachers are unquailified and overpaid. Go figure.

[The Philosopher]

7. They're exactly right.

They're not qualified to teach ignorant, unthinking machines. And they're paid way too much to do so.

[lunatica]

9. You don't think trying to get schools better conditions is serving the students?

See, that mentality is what keep any progress from happening. Teachers aren't off on a lark. They're demonstrating that they, and their students, are the 99% who need better and smaller classrooms. The teachers who do this are doing it for their students.

People think they're so moral when in reality they just don't get the bigger picture. Going out on strike is about making conditions better.

[Doremus]

11. Thing is, RWers like to take our rights away.

You wouldn't want to take teachers' rights away, would you?

No, I'm sure you wouldn't.

[mopinko]

15. good on them.

[lbrtbell]

16. Those teachers ARE serving the students

Fighting for their students' economic future is a lot more important than freakin' algebra.

[No Elephants]

20. ? The teachers served the students VERY well. The teachers gave notice, followed school procedure

and lost a day's pay.

The school took care of the students via substitute teachers and combining classes, neither of which is a big deal for one day, especially when....

The students got a valuable object lesson in how to protest peacefully AND very responsibly and the teachers who stayed behind got a priceless teaching opportunity.

And, that is without taking into account that the demonstrations may have positive long term effects from which we may all benefit, including these students and their families.


BTW, how is it the fault of the teachers who gave proper notice if the school did not hire enough substitutes?

[Jennicut]

21. The kids will survive. I am a substitute teacher and we are aren't idiots.

You do have to have a degree to sub, at least in Connecticut. And it was one day.