Teachers to Strike in...

[YvonneCa]

...National City, Ca. (San Diego County). http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/feb/02/national-city-teachers-walk-out-friday/

[snappyturtle]

1. Thanks for posting. Will be interesting to find out how this turns out.

Will you keep us posted?

[YvonneCa]

2. Absolutely. Local TV news reported tonight that...

...mediators would come in tomorrow and Thursday to try to bring the parties together again. Hope it works.

[Reader Rabbit]

3. Wow. Getting teachers to strike is like moving a mountain.

Conditions in National City must be really bad.

[snappyturtle]

4. I agree. From my experience in the 70's, we struck because of class

size. I was one of four girls' P.E. teachers. My first class was at 7am and I was the only one in the department there at that time of day. The year we went on strike I had 103 students in my first hour class. That was difficult...not to say dangerous considering gymnastics classes and sports, e.g., archery. Things did not change that year but the following year, class sizes were reduced with the hiring a a few more teachers.

[Reader Rabbit]

5. My mom worked in LAUSD when they struck in 1989.

And that was after something like 20+ years without a pay raise; the teachers finally decided they'd had enough.

LAUSD has always treated their teachers like crap. Mom's health was shot by the time she retired. Bastards. :mad:

[snappyturtle]

6. I never had to deal with the teachers' health insurance because I

was on my husband's. I started out in 1969 at $6100 paid out over twelve months and we were paid monthly. The problem with this particular district, east side of Mississippi River across from the arch on the IL side, Cahokia District 187, was the school board. The battles we had just tyring to make the school environment better for this poor community. Many of the students were from East St. Louis, a declining city in all respects. I was one of eighty new teachers hired in 1969. Total teaching staff numbered 120 so you get the idea. We had four shifts daily to accomodate the number of students with the facility. I like to think we made a difference. We were young and enthusiastic and I should add all certified and licensed teachers! The forty teachers who carried over were the best and mentors/friends to all us newbies!

The strike drew parents with guns in the trunks of their cars! I guess they somehow thought reduced class sizes meant reduced teaching! Never understood the opposition. We ended up after that with security guards and id tags for everyone allowed access to the school.

The school board was stingy. I got three reams of paper for the school year. Lots of extras were bought by teachers. I had to buy paper and other supplies because I taught three hundred students a day...I had two health classes with only a classroom set of textbooks. When reading comments about teaching, I realize some don't understand what all teachers do besides teaching. For example,the girls' pe department had a Christmas party each year in the gymnasium so kids could come during their pe scheduled classes or study halls for a celebration that for some was their Christmas. I had two parents over my years of teaching show up for parent night! However, I loved every minute of my time there, well, most anyway, and still wonder how my students fared in life.

[YvonneCa]

7. There are some challenges...

...for both students and teachers. High poverty and transiency rates, 99% F&R lunch program, 80% + ELL students. For teachers, it's a small district, so very little opportunity for teachers to advance. On the cutting edge of school reform...so both the positives and negatives of that...including stress and data issues. :)

On the positive side, some schools are making great progress (AYP score of 10 on similar schools rankings). Many dedicated teachers...committed to students' success. Current superintendent IS an educator (has been a teacher, principal, curriculum coordinator, etc.) ...not a CEO type.

I really hope they can get past this.

[YvonneCa]

8. UPDATE: Meeting tomorrow...

...http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/02/last-minute-attempt-made-avoiding-teacher-strike/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#

A little hope...

[YvonneCa]

9. STRIKE Averted...

...at 2:30 am this morning. :) This is GREAT news. I am so glad tentative agreement has been reached. Let's hope it is ratified. This is a GOOD day for education, a GOOD day for students in National City, and a GOOD day for district educators on both sides.



http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/03/national-city-teachers-prepare-walk-negotiations-c/#

[Reader Rabbit]

10. Congratulations!

What a relief for everyone involved!

[YvonneCa]

11. Thank you! I am relieved and...

...I have already retired. :7 I am sure the educators on both sides are thrilled...tired, but thrilled. ;)

[YvonneCa]

12. More...

...info:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/04/national-city-schools-work-on-repairing-damage-in/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#