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Long Beach Teachers & Tom Morello Rally For Public Education by Ryan ZumMallen | Archive | 03.04.10 |
+ 5:30pm | A rally for public education led by the Teachers Association of Long Beach today at Wilson High School featured spirited speakers and a call to action, sparked by a rousing live performance by guitarist Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine fame. Similar rallies were held across California and even throughout the nation today to protest cutbacks to public education funding.  "We have to gold the legislators and the Governor responsible for what's happening in our schools today," said California Teachers Association president David Sanchez. "There is no more meat on this bone to cut."Speakers agreed that their energy is aimed squarely at state leaders in Sacramento, pointing out that California plans to cut even more from public education in the coming year's budget. "Our schools in Long Beach and across the state are in a crisis," said Teachers Association of Long Beach (TALB) president Michael Day. "It is time for our elected officials to protect education fudning and it is time to protect our kids." Feel free to send your own photos or videos to ryan@lbpost.com!       
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Anonymous Does anyone have video of Tom Morello's performance of Guerilla Radio from today's rally? Plz post. LB Teacher Great to see teachers unite. As I've said many times before to the non-believers, we (teachers) are not the enemy and we did not cause California's or the US's economic ills. It's time for all to pay their fair share for education. Our future depends on it. TheMan As a matter of fact I do have video. Coming tomorrow morning on www.562citylife.com. ^_^ Bixby Resident For all the teachers out there...one simple question, "Honestly, where should the funding come from?" The people have spoken for no taxes, so, what's left? Anonymous Pay cuts would solve all of this. USA Tax Payor What is with the fists? And, when so many children need private tutors in addition to public shooling - there is a problem money alone will not fix. Anonymous Wow how disappointing! Pay cuts? Fists?start thinking about the fact that your 5 year old will be in a classroom of 30 students with one adult!!! How about some support people?! Wake UP!!!!! Nayobi Here are a couple of fragments of the songs from the rally today: "This Land Is Your Land" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXBYiULRPXk "Guerrilla Radio" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWAe77lsFug BUGGA BOO BOO Well if you cut back on the pay & union dues, you'll have enough money to see & care these students through to their Collage years; It makes a lot more sense than raising taxes then showing your fists and music man! By the way, who paid for the party? LB Teacher Hey, Bugga Boo Boo, it's "college" not "collage." lbresident End tenure, support charter schools, support merit pay, support vouchers. These teachers are unbelievable. California couldn't even qualify for the Obama spending spree of $4B for schools because the teacher unions wouldn't agree to logical, simple reforms. So hypocritical for teachers to be out there complaining. But teachers haven't lived in the real world for quite some time so it's not surprising. DK Most of you are completely missing the big picture. The state and local governments have created an environment that is driving businesses out of the state which translates to fewer people with jobs, which translates to less tax revenue. Rich people are leaving the state because they are taxed too much. All of this leaves very little money to pay for education and other projects. Instead of demonizing each other, look for logical and clear solutions that will bring back small, medium and large businesses (employed taxpayers) and the lack of funds will become less of an issue for everyone concerned. We would all benefit, young and old alike. Wilson Alum Wrong! The rich are not leaving the state. CA just gave big corp.'s a $2.5 billion tax break in '08, the same amount the governor wants to cut from education this year. Read LA Times columnist Michael Hiltzik's column from 2/24 about how richies like the Dodgers owners get out of paying any income tax at all after making over $100 million a year. Phil Where have all of these protestors been as the California politicians have been spending (wasting!) all of the tax money they are intrusted with. Now that they have promised unsustainable pensions to all of the state employee unions and the taxpayers of the state are fed up and saying no more, you people are finally waking up! Of course, you're answer is to just tax the state's productive people some more. So now we have the highest taxes in the country along with the most anti-business climate. The only way anything will change is to get rid of the politicians who are responsible, cut spending, modify pension agreements, lower taxes for the productive Californians, and eliminate the red tape and lower the cost of running a business in California. Dennis @LB Teacher: "we (teachers) did not cause California's...economic ills." Who did you vote for in the last 4 elections for Assembly and State Senator? Who did your union support with money and volunteers in those elections? Who has your statewide association supported in those elections? Let me go out on a limb here and guess it was members of the party that have stranglehold on the majorities in both houses in Sacramento. Yes you have helped cause economic ills with your votes, your PAC contributions and your allowing your unions to blindly support the Democratic majority that passed all the budgets that have led to the problems we now face. Do you teach accountability to your students? Your profession is being made accountable now for its actions over the past decade and more in Sacramento and election contributions. Unfortunately my kids will pay while your leaders try to deflect their accountability to others. Thanks. DK Wilson Alum, no one stated that "all rich people" are leaving the state. Obviously, you only address one of the several points that i covered. MEGA Rich people have the resources to work the system as mentioned in Hiltzik's column. For example, Oprah who could certainly afford to pay any amount of taxes imposed on her, has her staff keep track of how many days she stays at her multi million dollar home, so that she can avoid paying California taxes. This discussion is aimed at the large amount of businesses that have closed shop here in California and moved to other more business friendly states. With a 12% unemployment here, that is leaving a large number of people not paying taxes due to their unemployment. No tax revenue equals no money to pay teachers, regardless of how much they deserve it or to the benefit of our children. We need jobs created. What do you propose we do to attract new businesses and to have existing businesses hire more people? lbtunstrops I'm sure there are many good teachers out there today. End tenure. Pat Whether you think the teachers are over paid and that they should cut the union dues, the fact of the matter is that the California Governor and Legislature has been trying to balance the budget on the back of education for the last 7 years or longer. It seems that is the first place that cuts take place. As a former student who graduated from CSULB with both my BA and Masters I can tell you that in the 6 years that I attended the school to get both of my degrees my tuition more than doubled from when I stated. No matter how you feel about taxes, what teachers make, etc. the fact is that if we keep taking money out of the education system our children will not have a future and neither will the State of California. Paul LBResident, End tenure, support charter schools, support merit pay, support vouchers." About vouchers you have my support, but you still don't get it about the merit pay. It won't work in a politicized system. Teaching is hard work not doubt about that, however, it has been made next to impossible by the so called, "Progressives," that want students to live and learn a political agenda. The students won't work hard for minimum wage and would rather not work at all, or if they do, that comes with, "ATTITUDE." A business owner who has been burned, told me that she hires students only from the private schools. Teachers you have only yourselves to blame from years of buying into the propaganda. Obama and the "Progressive" agenda is very harmful to our kids and Country. I know this from teaching shop, no longer taught, for many years. Watch today's Glen Beck at 2 for some exposure. Not all he says is correct, but having been there, more is correct than not. BUGGA BB to LB Teacher Thank You - that was my worst subject in school; Can't use spell check in this mode:) oski da bear ms. reger, lookin good! Anonymous It really upsets me to think how many of you see teachers as being at fault and complaining of being laid off! As for stating that teachers haven't lived in the real world for some time! Whatever! We live it everyday with these students (ELLs, Low income, some with parents that don't care) trying to prepare them for the future, while having to worry about lockdowns, taking work home, and on top of it worrying about how we can raise test scores! YOU try being a teacher! YOU try going to work everyday knowing that it could be your last year there! YOU walk in our shoes! YOU think we do it for the money? With all this, WE could have left years ago! But, WE didn't! WE care about the future! Do YOU? Bixby Resident So, from our list of "How to solve this problem" we have: 1) Cut Payroll 2) Cut Union Dues 3) End Tenure 4) Support Charter Schools 5) Support Vouchers 6) Support Merit Pay 7) Increase businesses in the state to increase tax paying citizens 8) Get rid of the politicians 9) Modify Pension Agreements 10) Increase parent involvement 11) Take tax money from other areas to support the schools WOW, that's quite a list. Which ones are supported by TALB and the Teachers Union? Remember though, it's the union's who help inform the teachers (and pour money into advertising) about who to vote for that will ultimately determine the fate of every item mentioned above (except item 10). B.A. Accounting With all due respect to the greatest living guitarist, the Teacher's Union IS the machine. I don't mind tax dollars going to pay teachers and their staff a nice WORKING wage. But I do have a problem paying for their more than comfortable retirement (non-working wage) for the remainder of their lives while they no longer contribute. Sorry public unions, but defined pensioned plans are not sustainable in an aging society. I would like them to be too but its just not realistic. If public retirement systems don't switch to a defined CONTRIBUTION plan, 401(k), or we don't have another baby boom the fund will eventually become insolvent. The math is simple, if there is less to people give (taxpayers), and more people take (retired teachers living longer), the well runs dry. C.W. Hey Bixby Resident, I'm not a teacher, My kids are not in school anymore, I'm not a union member and I own property in Long Beach I have no stake in this except for the future of our country and our community. I don't like paying taxes either either but I know I can't expect to live in a perfect world. Why can't you get it through your head? We'll pay now or we'll pay lots more in the future from uneducated, unskilled, unmotivated and disenfranchised kids! To use the age old, from the beginning of time argument and so tired argument."We're really mad at our government that we put in office for not spending our money the way we want won't stop these kids from sticking a guy in your face a few years down the line. Guess what good teachers, good cops, good firefighters etc. cost money. Pay now or pay later! USA Tax payor, So many children really don't need tutors. Stupid parents who don't want to spend the extra time it takes to raise a kid hire the tutors to their little johnny can stack up against their friend's little johnny. The poor kids who have parents that can't teach them for whatever reason can't afford tutors. That's why we need good, caring teachers! B.A. Accounting Lets say 10 teachers get paid a $50,000 annual salary that's $500,000 a year to pay those 10 teachers. Cutting their salary to $45,454 means one additional teacher can be hired. The 10 teachers get to keep their job while still making a descent wage considering they have 8-12 weeks off a year. Plus, one more teacher is hired (and no longer needing unemployment benefits). Classroom sizes are reduced, students benefit, and more teachers are employed. The only people that lose out in the short-term are the current teachers. I ask this to teachers, if you are so concerned with your students and community why would you not put yourself aside and accept this type of plan? If teachers were honestly concerned about their students and communities they would agree to some sort of temporary wage cuts. But I've spoken to teachers about this and they become furious when it is even mentioned? Why, because they are selfish, I am too, so I'm won't judge them for that. But I will pass judgement on this two face propaganda that they are worried about the students. What teachers are really worried about is their own behinds, wages, and benefits. I understand that, it's human nature, but at least admit it and stop lying to us. @Anonymous "We live it everyday with these students...while having to worry about lockdowns, taking work home, and on top of it worrying about how we can raise test scores!" Anonymous, enough with the persecution complex, as if you're the only ones under pressure. In the REAL world, if you fail meet your clients or employers needs you get fired. In the REAL world this is understood, good business owners and employees don't complain about it, they understand it and make sure to do what they can to accomplish it. If they do not complete what they are suppose to do, they get fired or lose that client. In the REAL world if an organization is underfunded then cuts and sacrifices are made. Welcome to the real world. LB Teacher Hey, Dennis, it's interesting that you deign to assume who I voted for in any election. If you recall the LB community rejected a ballot measure (F) in November to help schools with a small $92/year in taxes assessment. I'll bet you voted "No" on that one. And LB resident, some of us lived in the "real world" with "real jobs" for decades and gave it up to teach. Some of us are truly committed to our profession, not just a bunch of windbags. Anonymous In response to the one who thinks I know nothing about the real world. First of all, us teachers are not being fired for our performance in the classroom. We are receiving pink slips do to the economic issues we're facing. We understand that if we don't do what is asked of us that we would be responsible. The blame is always so easily pointed at teachers. My response was toward LBRESIDENT. I would really love for any of you to walk in the shoes of a teacher for a few days. @Anonymous Anonymous, first of all in response to "I would really love for any of you to walk in the shoes of a teacher for a few days." Again with the persecution complex. I've taught before (granted it was at community college), but it's not that hard. My career as an engineer has been infinitely more challenging then teaching a class. Why do some teachers act like their occupation is nearly impossible and nobody else can do it? Here is a reality check to all teachers, YOU ARE NOT THAT SPECIAL. In fact, most business managers TEACH various business skills to their employees everyday. Next, I guess you didn't read this the first time so I'll say it again. "In the REAL world if an organization is underfunded then cuts and sacrifices are made [THAT MEANS PEOPLE GET FIRED]. Welcome to the real world." Finally I would like to say that I'm not anti-teacher or anti-education. Just sick of all the complaining, do you know how many people have been fired in this country the last 2 years? People get fired, then rehired, then fired and so on. Deal with it. Jon_BeingSarcastic Anonymous, can you reveal your true self so that we may all bow down and worship you oh great one? Do not anger the teachers, like the Gods of Ancient Rome they mustn't be disturbed. For we must always pay tribute to them. I can't imagine a day in your shoes, especially during the 3 months you don't have to work. It must be terribly trying. Coming with lesson plans, how do they do it? Amazing. For the children Can't we just do this for the children of our future?? @Anonymous I know your job is tough, but just do what you can with what you have. I honestly don't want my 2nd grader in a class with 29 other kids. But, everyone has their own thoughts. B.A. Accounting Why don't we use some of the money that is being stipend to pay section 8 housing rents and hire a few more teachers? Reducing rent payments to section 8 housing in the city will mean they'll have to move inland (so less low-income and low-performing students) plus we'll have more teachers. Everybody (at least us in the middle class) wins! LBRes Wow you guys have it all figured out. The problem with your weak logic is that unlike a business, LBUSD makes cuts and we NEVER go out of business. That means that we have to do the job with nearly no resources. Imagine as an engineer you being asked to solve a major problem but you had to buy your own EVERYTHING in order to solve that problem. Unlike a business we don't go under. We are just expected to keep trying to reach goals with no support from geniuses like you and no support from the community. Hmmmm, the only group that seems to support us is the union. You and your REAL WORLD. I have an MBA and have since moved on from teaching. Let me tell you tough guy, city college is NOTHING like teaching in LBUSD. I have taught in City College and you know what, it's like a day in paradise compared to a West Side school like Cabrillo or Stephens. Most teachers never complain. They just go about their jobs with less and less while people like you get redfaced that someone might want to fight for their jobs and paycheck. It's rather pathetic. So keep blowing your hot air about the real world. I guarantee that 99 percent of the teachers will continiue to do more with little or no resources than you have ever done in your life. And, if you think you can do it better then get off your complaining butt and do it. @Anonymous LBRer, again with the persecution complex? Uugghh, THAT is what I complaining about. Not the performance of teachers, I'm just tired of this arrogance from teachers thinking they're gods gift to the world. Yes, we need teachers, but we need a lot of different occupations, get over yourselves already. Also, we have some of the worst test scores in the country yet are no where near the bottom in per student funding. You have resources, the schools just aren't using them correctly. Maybe school staffs need to take a small pay cut to save those jobs at stake then take another one so that the money can be spent on more books, desks, and computers instead of guaranteed retirements. Have I had to make with no resources, no, because the companies I've worked for aren't at mismanaged as the LBUSD nor have they been beholden to a union that wants their demands meant at all stakes, regardless of whether or not that means less funding for other resources. The reason teachers don't have enough resources is because all the money is going toward teacher salaries and benefits. And no support from the community? Who do you think has been footing the bill the whole time and continues to do so? Jon_BeingSarcastic California teachers are the second highest paid in the country. Stop complaining. http://www.employmentspot.com/employment-articles/teacher-salaries-by-state/ Blah blah blah Not sure what teachers you all know...or if you know any at all. But, seriously persecution complex? I received my pink slip today...all I want to do is teach. Would take a pay cut, furlough days, you name it...I drive in to school everyday knowing that this could basically be my last year here. After teaching sibling after sibling it just is tough. I know I've made a difference being at this innercity school for almost 10 years...hoping it doesn't have to end. Blah... LBResident Persecution complex? No, not really. Just sick of people like you telling me I make too much money. Frankly it's none of your business. It must be great having a job where you are not constantly told you make too much money and should take a pay cut. Sir, you make too much money and I think you should make half of what you make because engineers are socially inept and evolutionarily stunted. Where is the value? Is your job more important than mine? Where do you get off telling me I should make less money? I think you should make less money and the difference should be sent directly to LBUSD to cover a teachers materials costs. The larger picture here is the politics of this country. In the mid part of this century the top 5 percent of earners were taxed at 85 percent. We were at the top of education, manufacturing, and job security. Now because of 30 years of conservative backwardness the top 5 percent are taxed at 39 percent and we are at the bottom of education, manufacturing and job security. The values of this country have changed drastically. Somehow teachers are the flavor of the decade to blame. Hopefully next decade it will be engineers and Republicans. LBResident Oh yeah and Mr. Sarcastic. California has the highest cost of living in the nation. I know you would prefer for teachers to be dormed up in Compton sharing toothbrushes but I think teachers deserve to have a salary that reflects their education and the cost of living of this state. Was that sarcastic enough for you chief? LakewoodRes Anonymous. You make a lot of assertions and generalizations. You say the district has resources? So I assume you have supporting statistics, empirical evidence, and have done an in depth research project that supports this claim. I didn't think so. So that claim just makes you sound stupid. Secondly, you claim that all teachers don't know what the real world is like. Did you conduct a poll? Were you aware that 60 percent of teachers come from the private sector? Again, another claim that makes you sound like a bitter windbag. You claim that teachers are arrogant. Of all the professions out there you pick teachers over lawyers, businessmen, car salesmen etc etc. Wow, did a hot teacher dump you at some point in your life. Did a teacher beat you up? The reason I ask is that your anger at teachers just seems lame. Maybe you should focus on the businesses that avoid paying millions in taxes. Their arrogance seems a little more dangerous. Lastly you claim that, and I quote, "we have some of the worst test scores in the country yet are no where near the bottom in per student funding." Wow, once again you are just dead wrong. Do you get your news from Glenn Beck? According to the federal school census CA ranks between 45th and 49th in per pupil spending, has the highest average number of kids per classroom, and and has more special needs kids and non-english speakers of any state. Once again, you are wrong. Maybe you are just bitter because you can't even make an intelligble claim. Facts are a troublesome thing for people like you. Sick of LB Resident LB Resident, you have way too much time on your hands. Persecution complex only begins to describe your problems! TheBro Lol @ Oski da bear " ms. reger, lookin good! " Haha Sick of Sick of Long Beac If you haven't anything intelligent to say then don't say anything at all. Of all that was said in his posts you can only reply that one weak sentence. Idiot only begins to describe your problems. Devil_in_the_Details LBResident, you really need to read this, http://www.newsweek.com/id/209962 . "Munich's IFO Institute and Stanford, among other places, show that simply spending more on education doesn't yield better results. Kids don't necessarily learn more if they sit in smaller classrooms, in more modern and better-equipped schools, or even if their teachers are better-paid (as opposed to just better)." @anonymous LakewoodRes, here is supporting statistics and empirical evidence from the US Census Bureau reported that California is 23rd in per student funding. Here is the link to the Census Bureau's report http://www2.census.gov/govs/school/07f33pub.pdf. Can you provide the link to your source from the "federal school census" (especially since no search engine could return a result with that phrase). And of course I'm generalizing. I was talking about the arrogance of the teachers posting on this site. Please provide a quote where I wrote "every teacher". Also, I'm actually happily married to a teacher who consistently comes home with stories about how many (not all) coworkers complain about nonsense. I will say she along with some others are very happy with their teaching jobs. LakewoodRes, YOU make a lot of assertions and generalizations. @anonymous Blah blah blah, you sound like one of the good ones. Sorry to hear about your situation. Hopefully the union leaders and school boards will wake up and join reality. Mark LBresident- you are classic. and right on the money.I teach at a downtown middle school in LB. Do I agree with all the decisions TALB makes? no. Do I agree with all the decisions LBUSD makes? no. I just work hard and educate my kids each year. I want nothing more than to make a decent salary and enjoy life. Peace.
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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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