LBPOST.com: Teachers Association To Hold Protest At Wilson High

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Teachers Association To Hold Protest At Wilson High

by Ryan ZumMallen | Long Beach News | 03.02.10 |

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3:55pm | The Teachers Association of Long Beach (TALB) will hold a rally protest at the Wilson High School gymnasium this Thursday at 4:15pm, to oppose teacher layoffs, student fee hikes and public school funding cuts. Several local education groups will be present, and guitarist Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine fame will perform.

The protest is part of a nationwide National Day of Action to Defend Education movement that will see similar rallies held across the state and country.

�We need to stop these devastating cuts.� In Long Beach alone, 651 teachers will lose their jobs in the LBUSD, classes are being cut at LBCC and CSULB while student fees are increasing � hurting an entire generation of children,� reads a statement from TALB president Michael Day.
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Included in the rally are the California Teachers Association, California Faculty Association at CSULB, the Long Beach City College Community College Association and student leaders from Californians for Justice.

�Now the Governor is proposing an additional $2 billion in cuts to our public schools and colleges,� reads the statement from Day.� �We must stand together and say to our Governor and lawmakers,� NO MORE CUTS, NO MORE COMPROMISES.�

Comments

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61 Comments so far.

Jeremy Colonna
Unfortunately, our legislature spends every penny that they get every year...in advance! Any time, there is a projected budget surplus, up goes the spending. That kind of mentality, coupled with the cyclical nature of the economy means that this will happen every time California hits hard times. The fundamental thinking of the legislature needs to change. If we, as citizens, are expected to save for a rainy day, then how is it that those responsible for our state are not. Walking around with signs is one thing, protesting at the ballot box is quite another. I am going to say something that may be a little bit unpopular, but is nonetheless true: The vast majority of our elected officials in the State of California were endorsed by the California Teachers Association. Maybe instead of protesting, you should work harder at selecting the candidates to whom you lend your support!

Ken
Why does TALB get to use school facilities to demonstrate? This is another great example that the Teacher Union could care less about the kids - disrupting the education process. Who are they kidding?

Randy LB Res
I sure hope you intend to the Ross Family there as your mascot! Oh, do not forget their piggy-banks!! Good luck and it should make you all feel reassuring while protesting to have Mr & Mrs Ross representing the "Person of the Year..." 'Nuf said!!!

Jeremy...again
In the interest of not coming across as overly callous, I totally disagree with cuts to our education system. I just think that we need to look differently at how our government operates. Most of us put money into our 401k, Savings Accounts, Life Insurance Policies, IRAs etc. with the intention of never working again. In the event that we run into employment challenges, health problems or family emergencies we can tap into these funds to help weather the storm. Obivously, California has no plans for retirement (Much less death), but it doesn't seem too much to expect the State to be able to anticipate and deal with shortfalls without rendering thousands unemployed!

Matt
As a recent student who just graduated from CSULB I fully support community action to show our unhappiness with the current state of the educational system. HOWEVER, please do NOT simply blame the Governor.... it is the entire legislature as well.... not to mention the political system in CA as a whole. The Governator is an easy target but there is much more at work here that is messing up this states educational systems.

InkPeace
With all due respect, Tom Morello is the blazing lead guitarist of RATM which is appropriate for such a protest. We have got to stop this bleeding!

NewportFiji
The idea that the teacher’s should not share in some of the pain given the state’s fiscal crisis is absurd and selfish. Teacher’s certainly saw their salaries rise while state revenues where increasing. They should agree to 10% across the board salary reductions (something many private firms experienced) and elimination of the bloated bureaucracy (a huge waste of taxpayer money). This would eliminate many of the cuts. The irony is that due to seniority (last hired - first fired) some of the younger and most energetic teachers will lose their jobs because older entrenched teachers would not be willing to accept a salary reduction. Further, because less experienced teachers are cheaper, a district must lay off more of them to close a budget gap. This seniority policy isn't about kids �' it’s about awarding job security to more senior members �' many of whom should have left the profession already.

lbresident
What a joke. The teachers' union is a big part of the problem. They fight just about every measure that would actually improve education.

THLDELMAR
How can teachers honestly protest when we spend more money per student then most states? Voters are tired of taxes, tired of teachers whining about everything while most are still guaranteed their jobs, their pensions, their four months off, all without producing quality students. Show quality results and the tax payers will show compassion.

Eric Bradley
To Jeremy, Randy and the rest of the LB GOPers having fun- I need only call attention to the fact that this state hasn’t seen a budget surplus in years. What was that the Guv said? “Over my dead body” would he allow cuts to education funding and here we are in 2010, with 750 teachers being laid off at LBUSD. I have a kid in LB Unified schools and am very worried that a whole generation of kids will be deprived of a quality education- something I’m sure most of you commenters enjoyed while going to LB schools. We’re at a tipping point and we have the chance to help our kids or hurt them in a way that will begin to show not long after high school, if they’re lucky enough to graduate. To everyone else out there, please make plans to attend the event at Wilson HS this Thursday at 4:15- way after school lets out, to demonstrate our resolve to keep LB Schools the award-winning places of learning they are right now.

Anonymous
Cuts in education hurt everyone. Stop spending so much money on unjustice wars and spend it on our education. I am tired of tuition going up when classes are being cut! The student-teacher ratio is insane. I support the efforts being held across the state!

LBCC Student
Great! There's a rally at LBCC to protest the cuts from 12-2pm in front of the T building. The Governor IS part of the problem, but so is Republican obstructionism in the legislature. Right now, with just a 34% minority, they can block any changes to budget and revenue that they, and the corporations that support them, don't like. The California Democracy Act (http://www.californiansfordemocracy.com/) would change it to a simple majority requirement. Support our teachers!

CHARLIE
You can protest all you want, BUT, when your State doesn't have the money - they have to do what you have to do when you don't have the money - you have to trim back and improvise. This just may be the time for the parents to consider a Catholic School where you pay your own way in schools with an excellent no-nonsence reputation and the highest education ratings in the Nation! Anyway, it's a solution for the student...

Esteban
To set the record straight, California had a model education system in the 60's with high per pupil spending (k-12) and basically the nation's best university system, basically free of charge to residents. We now rank at the bottom in per pupil spending and have basically raised tuition through the roof the last 10-15 years. When I graduated from the UC system 20 years ago, my tuition ran about $1k a year! The unions have nothing to do with the mess California is in. We have had a continual decline in union membership for the last 30 years. I applaud the protest and support the teachers in Long Beach.

Just Thinking
Dear Anonymous and any others that didn't continue to learn beyond 4th grade. The Department of Defense is funded by the Federal Government . . . not the State of California, so when making an argument, please be logical and not so willingly show your ignorance. And to those who support the teachers union spending millions backing left wing policies, remember this: Teachers have not been out of the classroom (sandbox) since kindergarten and most have no clue how hard the rest of us work! Yes, teachers need our support (and student/teacher ratios are very important) but perhaps teachers need a lesson (or 100's of lessons) on what groups and legislation they should support in the future. Keep in mind the old saying: "Don't bite the hand that feeds you!" So when you demonstrate and lose public support, remember you're causing your own grief!!!! P.S. Anonymous, aren't you thankful that the American Military is fighting facist groups in Irag and Afganistan that seek to KILL young girls and women that go to school and learn to read? AND don't you support the fact that our troops are fighting against these same monsters that openly claim they will MURDER all gays? Sometimes, it must be asked if one's core beliefs are only for oneself or for all of mankind? Your thoughts scare me . . . would you oppose the American Civil War too?

Cheri
Wilson has had enough. We've had a shooting death of a student, flooding, and crazy anti-gay/Jew protestors. Why doesn't TALB pull their head out and protest where it would do some good: at the superintendent's office building. Leave our children alone. They're the victims of budget cuts too.

Have you Think
Just Thinking, how about when the Soviets where sending those women and little girls to schools to get an education? Are you proud of the financing those terrorist were getting to get rid of the Soviets and set all women on burqas? Think again

To Cheri
Sorry, but TALB is completely unconcerned about our children. It cares solely about its members pay and benefits. As NewportFiji articulated, these layoffs could be avoided and student/teacher ratios preserved. All that's needed is for all teachers to accept a small pay cut, especially the top paid ones who receive well above $80k/year. TALB would never agree to a pay cut, much less offer one, not even temporary.

To Cheri
State revenues have declined. Therefore, spending must be reduced. TALB is protesting education funding cuts. IMO, they should propose offsetting budget reductions. If not education, from whom do teachers want to take the money? The homeless? The mentally ill? Those without health insurance? Cut unemployment benefits? AFDC? WIC? Cut highway funding for our already dilapidated roads? Layoff state workers (and hurt those union members)? Cut funding to prisons, release prisoners (and hurt the prison guards union)? Stop helping impoverished undocumented aliens? Stop the fight against global climate change? Reduce anti-pollution measures? WHAT?

Patriot
Stop children of illegal aliens to attend school. Demand to see birth certificates. Stop kids of greencard holders from going to school. That should cut back costs. Get rid of bussing kids. Make the parents pay for the bus fair if they want their kids to go 20 miles out to school.

Just Thinking
Once Again! To "Have you Think" More confusion and illogical thoughts . . . what do you know about the Soviet invasion of Afganistan except from what you saw in an "entertaining" partly truthful movie? (Charlie Wilson's War) Are you attempting to say that the Soviets were in Afganistan to set people free? Try harder to rationalize your irrational thoughts . . . or better yet visit Russia today and see for yourself the effects of the Soviet system . . . can you say "3rd World economy that (frightfully) has atomic weapons!?!?" 30-50 million were murdered in the Soviet Union by Stalin and you somehow think these butchers are good people. As said before, go back to elementary school: pay attention, read, and do your homework . . . education is priceless!

LBWorker
I have been trying to find day care for my newborn and its near impossible to find one that is avaibable beyond 430PM and is open all summer. After being shutdown three times I asked how they are able to find people who pick thier kids up by 430 and dont need their services in the summer. They said we only take children of teachers.....awesome.

Rick
As education continues its crash, those in government employ continue to think only of themselves. Think any of our teachers, brave policeman or firefighters would agree to a pay cut? Or even a reduction in their benefits? It's a very cold world for those not working for the government. Unions guarantee a seniority-based employee work force and it's sad that new energetic teachers who actually enjoy the challenge of their work are left in the cold. So protest with your signs rather than actually do something that might help your younger teaching brethern. You got your seniority, so you're OK.

Resident
These teachers have only them selfs to blame, I am pretty certain most all of the elected officials in CA are suported by the unions they are members of and they are the ones running CA in to the ground!!

America Liberal
A tax on gun owners, pitbull dog owners, churches, 8 cylinder engines, yachts and beach houses could yield some money for the shools.

mary smith
The teachers' union has done more damage to our community than any other organization. TALB/CTA exploits the community and, worst of all, are fine teachers. TALB/CTA, led by Michael Day, spent $80,000 of teachers' hard-earned money to elect Ellis, an individual that TALB/CTA KNEW was ill-equipped for the school board, then compelled our community to spend $300,000 for an election to replace him. TALB/CTA have ruined the lives of many good hard-working teachers who have disagreed with their leadership and been a drain on our community financially and emotionally. TALB/CTA please stay home on Thursday night and do not disrupt our community anymore than you already have!

mike shardlow
STAY HOME TALB AND LEAVE OUR COMMUNITY ALONE!! YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH DAMAGE TO OUR TEACHERS AND OUR CITY.

Doesn't make sense
I believe all kids have the right to an education whether they are a citizen or not. That would be like saying send your American children to private schools then.

g daddy72
Ryan, I went through the lbusd system 38 years ago and am thankful for what I learned.Today I'm proud to say so did my five kids and all of them learned one thing "LIFE" and how to deal with it. My oldest said to me "Dad,I want to be a teacher".THAT WAS ONE OF THE PROUDEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE. Today as I read all the comments about teachers this and teachers that are they really looking at what they "DO" DAY IN AND DAY OUT? These parents are quick to critize but what are they doing to help? She has 210 students a day 5 days a week how many of us come in contact with that many people in a month? SO WHEN YOUR KIDS COME HOME FROM SCHOOL AND TELL YOU HOW TOUGH THEIR DAY WAS TRY TO THINK HOW IT WAS FOR THEIR TEACHER! YOU ARE ALL QUICK TO BLAME AND WANT A ANSWER, TO PUT IT IN ITS SIMPLEST FORM "TRY HOME SCHOOLING AND SEE IF YOU CAN DO A BETTER JOB"! The major complaint is about their Union, you really think that what they do and fight for isn't about "YOUR" kids FUTURE? THESE TEACHERS MAKE SURE YOUR KIDS ARE OFF THE STREETS GETTING A FREE EDUCATION(MAYBE THEY SHOULD CHARGE TUITION) JUST LIKE YOU DID, WHILE "YOUR" AT WORK,HOW SELFISH AND UNGRATEFUL YOU ARE! I have always taught them that the two things that the world needs the most are people in medicine and "TEACHERS". SO INSTEAD OF BEING CRITICAL OF WHAT THEY DO,BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE!

Have you Think?
To just thinking, your argument fails, Soviets were there to liberate that country from a teocratic machiavellian government system, who would like to stone women to death not to give them books. Now bring the troops home and invest the money in education, healthcare and job creation.

mike shardlow
gdaddy72, I don't think that anyone is questioning the great work that our Long Beach teachers do every day in the classroom. The criticism is of TALB/CTA, not the teachers. TALB/CTA forces our teachers to turn over $100 each and every month to them. $75 of those fees goes to CTA in Burlingame, CA. As someone else said, that is exploitation. TALB/CTA unapologetically takes from our community much more than it gives back. It ensures that the worst teachers remain in jobs that would otherwise go to enthusiastic, meritorious teachers. For these organizations to now hold a protest in the same community that they have so exploited is ludicrous. Encourage the teachers, not their exploiters.

uhh
Let's be clear. If there isn't the money, there isn't the money. Don't think for a minute that TALB and its members wouldn't take that money right out of YOUR pocket in order to keep from taking pay cuts. All this talk about the students is just that. Talk. Using Wilson to stage this event (stunt) is TALB just taking more advantage of students, whom of course love their teachers (mostly) and whom also haven't yet been taught or experienced real life and all its implications. I am seriously tired of public employees and their entitlement mentality. As a lifelong self-employed person I have had to take the hit time and time again when the economy struggles- why do these people think they should be exempt from this? Why? Are they better than the rest of us? I want to see students get a good education. If I hadn't spent 10 years teaching weekly in a local public school as a volunteer I might be tempted to believe the illusion.

Save Our Schools
The question we should be addressing is, "How do we best prepare our young people to become valuable, contributing, ethical, members of society?" Raising student fees, reducing student access to services (nurses, counselors, librarians, music and arts teachers, etc.), increasing class sizes, eliminating educational opportunities (i.e. Camp Hi-Hill), reducing the instructional school year (furloughs) and the lay-offs of numerous exemplary educators, will not solve our budgetary impasse nor promote academic achievement and social maturity. We, adults, are responsible for all of the young people in our nation. We must resist the inclination to believe that because one has no children in the public educational system, then those individuals should not have to pay (be taxed) for increased and improved educational services for all who seek them. Not everyone requires the assistance of a "first responder" (fire, police, etc.) but we all subsidize the existence of these services because we recognize the intrinsic value for everyone. The same is true for developing "life-long learners." What we fail to invest now will come back to haunt us in the future. Education is no place to be "Penny wise and Pound foolish."

lbresident
As a teacher I agree we should also take pay cuts. My husband is a public employee and is taking furlough days. The main problem is as teachers or employees of LAUSD (the district I work for) we see EXTREME waste on a daily basis. There is NO need for the kinds of waste that we see. If the public knew how their (also my) tax dollars were wasted there would be an uproar. I don't have a problem w/ pay cuts I have a problem w/ over crowded classrooms. Do you know anyone who would want their kid in a class of 40 plus students? How much time does that leave for individual instruction?

hannah davis
Save Our Schools, Of course, we all need to work together to ensure that we are providing the best education possible for our students but TALB/CTA's protest at Wilson High School tomorrow is disgusting. Those students have suffered enough this year and had enough disruptive activities. The City of Long Beach should prohibit the use of Wilson's gym for TALB/CTA's protest. TALB teachers, call Michael Day and tell him to protest elsewhere (how about the district headquarters or city hall) or stay home.

g daddy72
Ryan, Lets breakdown the TALB/CTA. The public is so mis-informed about the process of how they work.TALB(Teachers Association of Long BEACH)IS THE TEACHERS UNION!They act on the vote of each Member not the vote of the "Group". CTA(California Teachers Association) acts on the Vote of Every Teacher in the state. They don't act seperately. To say they are acting on a whim and that they should be forced to leave Long Beach is the most assinine thing I have ever heard. The "UNION" IS ONE VOTE ONE VOICE, DON'T GET IT TWISTED! It's like asking every teacher that belongs to this "UNION" TO LEAVE.

Bixby Knolls Resident
Why does everyone believe their kids are receiving a "great" education from the public school system? That's like polling each and everyone one of you and asking if you feel you are doing a better than average job at your place of employment. The irony is that everyone of you will say, "Yes, I'm doing a better than average job." Which implies that half of you are lying. The results of our children do not support your endorsement of these "great" teachers - I realize this goes against the world view you have - but, let's face it, our children are less equipped to handle life today than ever in our history. Perhaps though, it's not the teachers fault, perhaps the teachers are doing an excellent job, then the only other response is that you parents are failing at enforcing the teachers requests. Sure, I can say all this because my kids are home-schooled - by 14 they have been taught Logic, conducted a court trial, nearly fluent in Latin, applied the scientific model, read classic literature and of course all the writing and mathematics. I do not think of them as special and it saddens me when they take the CAT and it indicates they should be in college - based on the average score. This implies that something has failed in our public system. Therefore, let it fail - it needs to fail so that it may rise again, better than before; like a phoenix from the ashes.

lb res
Tax payers, There is MUCH more that goes into teaching than delivering material. On a daily basis I deal w/ parents who don't want to parent - kids who just don't want to learn (and I feel like I make the material as interesting as possible)and the PUSH to teach to A TEST. Remember when we were kids and the emphasis wasn't on a test but on reading, writing, and mastering basic math skills. Look at what kids are "learning" in elementary school. They aren't given the chance to master anything. Do we want a nation of test takers or a nation that is literate and functioning? Why have we taken out industrial arts? Are plumbers, electricians, artists not HIGHLY valued members of society? Why this push for all children to go to college? You would be amazed at the number of parents who have told me their kid is going to be the next soccer star or name your sport! I teach approx 50 kids throughout the day and I have only met 15 of my students parents! THAT IS A SHAME!!! Yes, I contact them (I've even held raffles to get them to attend meetings, etc). Education starts at home and is supported and continued at school. Yes, there are great teachers and then there are BAD teachers but MANY of us care. NO TEACHER CAN REPLACE GOOD PARENTING!

Squawk squawk squawk
All I read is bickering and opinions, don't blame the politicians, unions or teachers, they're doing the same thing you all are doing, bickering. The core of the problem is that we as a society have no control of where our money is going, who's spending it and if they're spending it wisely. The latter, the answer is no, as for gaining control, we need to come together and quit bickering. There is always a fat cat who cries they're being overtaxed or they're money will create jobs,while they sit there doing nothing. Find the cat.

lb
LBWORKER I'm unclear as to how it is the teachers fault that you can't find newborn care. I have a newborn and called at least 15 places, many do not take newborns. Maybe you should call more before blaming the teachers for the lack of childcare. I had trouble finding early morning care because as a TEACHER I go to work early in the am (7am). BTW MANY places charged over the summer (to hold my spot) even though my son would not be going there. Is that our fault also? Oh, and do to my choice of career I will miss my son's first day of kinder, his plays, etc - should I be bitter too? No, I went back to work because I had to and that is one of the consequences of having a child.

Ken W
Teachers for years have benefited from a strong Teachers Union, to strong in fact. The quality of education has been in a decline while teachers salary's and benefits always seem to be enhanced. The State of California is in a fiscal crisis. The teachers certainly particpated during the good times while producing an ever increasing inferior product. Now the ship is sinking and they refuse to take a cut in compen-sation or leave. All of us in the private sector have felt the results of the finacial downturn why should teachers be exempt? If they want to protest that is fine but not on tax payer property!

CHARLIE
Reminiscing: Come 3/21 I'll be 81 and I remewmber very well what the teachers & professors use to be like back then all through grade, jr. high, high and finally Notra Dame; They were all mostly Liberal then, with the exception of ND which were more Conservative with high Ideals and concern for the students rather than the pay check, and of course, discipline is a thing of the past, but you still and always will have in the Catholic Schools...

LBCityGirl
@Bixby Knoll Resident: I think your comment is the most arrogant comment I have ever read. How elitist of you to assume your home schooled child really is surpassing my children being taught in LBUSD. The majority of us are not independently wealthy or of enough means that we can instead of working, spend our day teaching our children a dead language. Incidentally, my children too, have participated in mock trials, learned logic and the scientific method--my kids are even learning ethics! My 13 year old tests as high as your 14 year old! I would suggest that since you inferred that my child's performance is merely anecdotal and not really proof he's getting a good education, that perhaps the same could be said of your children? In addition, I'd suggest that your kids probably aren't learning to play well with others, with your attitude to guide their way!

Interesting
TALB after campus security reduced due to budget: Total silence. TALB after Melody Ross' murder: Total silence. TALB after budget cuts affects teachers: Massive public protest. Hey TALB, please don't tell us how much you care about students, okay?

We are LB
How can we take all of this passion, all of these ideas and work together to prioritize a) our viable options, b) our budgets, c) our community planning, all the while keeping our young people at the center of our thinking? I'm not in education, but when I look into the eyes of Chris Steinhauser, Eloy Oakley, and King Alexander, I truly deep down believe them and believe in their vision. We really won the blue ribbon with them. I'm pleased with the education my kids are getting: 1 son in LBUSD, 1 daughter at LBCC, and 1 daughter at CSULB. I don't know about TALB, but I do want to help Mr. Steinhauser, Mr. Oakley, and Dr. Alexander. They make me proud to live in Long Beach.

Esteban
I support TALB; they represent hard working, dedicated teachers and are worth every penny that they receive from union dues. Go unions! Tomorrow will be a great day and let's protest these cuts to education. Stop scapegoating teachers and unions for the economic mess we are in.. it is counterproductive.

LBResident
Simply said...it is obvious why this country is in this financial pickle. All you anti teacher, anti union toughs who think teachers and other public employees should not be spared this economic downturn are probably the same people who have no problem with our government bailing out banks that continue to hand out millions in bonuses while lining their own pockets. Conservatives are OK when their taxes are used to shield corporations from economic downturns but god forbid teachers get a pass. Teachers are obviously low life scoundrels with only their own best interests at heart. If any profession deserves to be shielded from bad economic times it’s teaching. Conservative ideology is morally bankrupt and predicated on short term thinking based on socially stunted mores. Let’s try some facts. It is in the TALB/LBUSD contract that the union can use school property to hold events. Look it up. Teachers remain one of the lowest paid professions given their education level. We have all failed our teachers by making them deal with situations that are ridiculous. Many of you don’t know that teachers are basically forced to keep disruptive kids in their classroom in LBUSD. They have little help or resources. They deal with parents who would rather be friends with their children than discipline them properly. Teachers are not to blame. The union is not to blame. The society that refuses to give the proper resources to ensure the success of children is to blame. I have a Master’s degree in history and received 5 stellar evaluations in LBUSD along with huge gains in testing before I quit. My ability and dedication were not valued by my community and my paycheck did not reflect the work I put in. All of you, if you want the best possible people teaching your children it is time to pony up. NOW.

Paul
If one wants to go to the core of one of the reasons that schools are short of money, go out to Firestone Blvd. in Downey. See the County Office of Education in a former aerospace office building that covers acres. Go in and open a door, to see hundreds of busy people in cubicles on every floor. These busy bees are doing burecratic work that can be mostly cut without any notice by classroom teachers. I taught shop for many years using my own money for some basic resources since by the time anything arrived, if at all, the school year had passed. BTW this was not LBUSD. So cut at the top and not in the classroom. Also, many of the schools are deep into internal politics. Who "likes" who. A better more professional way of dealing with individual school business has to be developed. That system turns off many new teachers. We lose almost half of them. In addition, good inventory systems need to be implemented. Employee theft was huge in some areas.

Robert L
Teachers Unions, Police Unions, Fireman Unions sole goal is to further their own cause despite the effect of anything outside of it. They are myopic by design and can not and will not see past what is best for the community and state at large. 80k for 9 months of work and every none holiday to man, amazing health benefits, pensions I could only dream of. I wonder how many work days a teacher actually works during the year. What a racket. Have you ever tried to get a bad teacher out of the system, it is nearly impossible, thanks to the Teachers Union. The truth is coming out about these state and local unions and it truly smells horrible. I say fire them all and rehire the good ones and pay based on merit and results. Lastly using Wilson as a backdrop, that is truly audacious and an insult to every parent and child who goes their. TALB, I will enjoy watching you slide into irrelevance.

Paul
To Robert L. "Fire them all" you said. That is way extreme. I have found that there are very few truly 'bad' teachers. Some who are among the best are labeled, "bad" by some students, parents, and administrators because of low grades, school politics, rumor, etc. The schools are politicized by all involved. That was the main reason for teacher tenure. A professional approach will work, but merit pay would further the problem, and would add a huge incentive for dishonesty. Yes, it is sad that people cannot be taken for their word in this society. Perhaps the moral values that schools and parents once passed on are less. Individual responsibility has been not taught like in the past, so the schools reflect that. I agree a new start is needed, but how without extreme measures is the question? One way would be for more outsiders to have a say. Educators cannot be trusted for real reform, but firing them all is no solution.

Juan Pardell
Jeremey Colonna: What are your solutions for restoring California to fiscal solvency?

Paul
LBResident was so right about the irresponsible situation as far as discipline in the schools. That more than anything, without any costs, can do wonders. I had to give up teaching shop and go to a minor area, because I did not want to see a student hurt. Who would be responsible for an impossible situation? The teacher of course. No amount of money would be worth someone being hurt because the machinery knows no political correctness. That is real world. Education in Califonia has moved away from it like a speeding bullet. Heavens, should I have said, "bullet?"

LBResident
Rober L, you need to stop getting your news from fox and friends. 80k a year? What are you smoking? After 5 years I barely made 50K and thousands came out of my paycheck to cover items the district didn't pay for. Furthermore, I would really like to see you work 1 school year at a LB school like Stephens or Cabrillo. You would not last a week. Multiply the hardest job you have ever done by 1000 and that is half as hard as it is to keep 40 kids motivated, energized and on task. Now do that 5 times a day with no support from genuises like you, the community and the district. You should limit yourself to talking about things you know something about. I suggest you change where you get your news and lay off the fox, Limbaugh and Hannity. It's bad for the brain.

Robert L.
Not too much creativity here on cutting the budget. Was this the best the union and board could do? Looks like very little true financial analysis was done. How about pay cuts? Didn't the LBUSD teachers just receive a pay raise? Give that raise back and implement a district-wide pay cut. That means everyone. Administrators, secretaries, janitors, etc. What will be the cost of this reorganization? Has this been figured? Also, what will be the cost of hiring and training new teachers when all the near-retirement age people finally leave the classroom, district, etc? Shouldn't everyone within at least 3 years of retirement be shown the door? Or at the very least be given an offer they can't refuse. It would be interesting to see the seniority breakdown within the district. Sure this latest cut may get rid of some bad employees but my guess is there are just as many (if not more) bad employees that are keeping their jobs...at a higher wage for that matter. I heard there are even high paid Phd's in the district office that are tasked with rearranging the order of the text book chapters to optimize teaching effectiveness. I'm sure the textbook company took care of this research anyway and that is why Chapter 1 is Chapter 1 and not chapter 5. What a waste of resources. Oh well, this is what happens when the union is involved. Hopefully the people that keep their jobs are grateful and can get past complaining about their class sizes and workload being increased. Those of us in private industry have accepted this and are grateful for our employment during this difficult time.

DJ
All you complaining and putting blame on the teachers, TALB, district, gov't, etc... fail to look inside yourself and ask, "What are you doing for our schools and/or community?" Probably nothing! You whiners are part of the problem, rather than helping to find a solution to these serious problems. I am a teacher and I welcome anyone to walk a day in my shoes and then tell me how we teachers don't care or how we fail our students!!!! I'm your child's parent, nurse, confidant, provider, educator, moral-advisor, biggest fan, and the list goes on and on.... Too many parents in opposition to the schools/teachers! We do everything we can for your children when you are at work (or at home watching novellas) not worrying if they are wandering the streets or lying in some gutter. YOU'RE WELCOMED!!!!

DaBizz
Being a teacher I can say that the cut backs really suck. I've been a member of the Union for 5 years now. I've personally wittnessed my Union Rep for my school use his power to get back at a pricipal at the expense of our students over a personal grudge. Now I am one of the many on the chopping block and can't help but feel cheated by my own union and the leaders. They claim I need to be in the union so I can have protection. But when it comes down to it they only protect the sitting seniority that are retired on the job. I think Michael Day should give me back all the money I have given TALB because he didn't deliver on anything that he promised.

Esteban
DaBizz.. your anger in possibly losing your job is ironically directed towards TALB. They are fighting these cuts in education... why don't you direct your anger at the LB voters who shot down several bond measures that might have saved your job? Why don't you blame our fiscal priorities in California... we are #1 in prison spending and #48 in education spending. Don't blame the union for being on the chopping block due to one of the biggest economic contractions since the Great Depression.

MrTeacher
Wow! I sit here and read these comments and cannot believe the ignorance. I can see many of you are the parents of the children I teach (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!). How can anyone justify spending 32K per year on each prison inmate, yet only 7.5K on each student? This is where the uproar is. This is what you numbskulls don't get! We need the unions. Otherwise, we would have no quality teachers becasue no one would want to join the profession!

LBResident
MR. Teacher is right on the money. Unfortunately people like Robert L who posted above have been so fooled by the conservative echo chamber that they can only grunt caveman like ramblings. Unions bad. Teachers bad. Unions bad. Teachers bad. The conservative right in this country has waged an all out war on labor and the middle class for 30 years now and their deep pockets are winning. What people like Robert L don't realize is that the right would sell him out and ship his job overseas in a heartbeat if it meant even a small profit. This country will resemble the third world if labor and the middle class lose this war with the right wing. We have a chance to save the public institutions that made this country great. If we elect someone like Meg Whitman brace yourself for more rough times ahead.

Alan
Dear MrTeacher, There are a number of problems with the arguments you presented. In the interests of space, I will address just one. If you wish to persuade those who disagree with you, it's a bad idea to call them numbskulls. I hope you do not model this behavior in your classroom.

Anonymous
Yes! Wilson has had enough this year! However, the education process was in no way effected by this protest because it was after school!!!

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Ryan ZumMallen has served as the managing editor of the LBPOST.com since 2007. He graduated from CSULB with a degree in Print Journalism in 2008 and is a member of the 2009 class of Leadership Long Beach. You can find him on various basketball courts around the city.

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