California Teacher Protests: 26 Educators Arrested

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California teachers were wrapping up a week of protests over education funding with mass demonstrations in major cities statewide and a rally that organizers hope will draw 3,000 people to the state Capitol Friday evening.

Other mass gatherings are planned for San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, 27 teachers who were arrested Thursday night were being released from jail on Friday, including California Teachers Association President David Sanchez, who was detained after a peaceful protest.

Teachers converged on the Capitol this week to make their case for more schools funding. They are trying to pressure Republican lawmakers to support Gov. Jerry Brown's attempt to extend a series of temporary increases in the sales, vehicle and income taxes. Without those, the governor has warned of deep cuts to public schools that could force thousands of teacher layoffs, larger class sizes and a shorter school year.

But Assembly Republicans countered with their own budget proposal this week in which they propose to spend about $2 billion from an unanticipated $2.5 billion in tax revenues on schools, which they say would leave them fully funded. Education lobbyists noted, however, that the GOP's budget plan would suspend a $450 million annual payment that funds programs in some of the state's neediest school districts.

Brown is scheduled to release on Monday his updated plan to close California's remaining $15.4 billion deficit. Republicans in the state Legislature have steadfastly opposed the tax extensions, denying him the two GOP votes he needed in each house to get his proposal on the ballot in June as he had hoped.

A group called Stand Up California, made up of university employees, home care workers and other activists representing health care, poverty and education groups also planned to take part in the rallies.

Thursday's arrests were the second this week. About 65 protesters, many of them students, were arrested Monday night after staging a sit-in at the Capitol after hours.

All were being charged with misdemeanor trespassing on state property.

Comments

[Peter007]

10:16 AM on 05/18/2011

The government has a monopoly on the education service. When you have a monopoly, you don't need to be sensitive to the demands of the people that purchase your product or service.

People will never be satisfied when they don't have a choice in choosing a product or service, especially one that is vital.

[becut]

03:36 PM on 05/16/2011

Teachers are tired of being scapegoated for the disintegration of the family. Television and schools are raising children today. Parents are told by politicians (administrators, school boards, mayors, corporate owned media, etc.) driven by their careers, that teachers are suppose to be surrogate parents. Parents need to realize that child psychologist say that a child's personality is set by age 5. Where are these babies from age 0-5............not in school?

But as with anything, if you don’t care, nobody else will. And after the educational system (teachers) raise your children, who will reap the benefits and take the credit for these successful children? So the one that has the greatest to benefit should put in the greatest effort (NOT!). Teachers are expected to invest more than the parents, who at least had the satisfaction of (doing the dirtyty deed) creating these babies.

[Blackorpheus]

01:06 PM on 05/16/2011

These are our kids. This is front-page news. Don't bury it.

[KJLSanDiego]

12:54 PM on 05/16/2011

Our rally here was great.
It went off without a hitch, and there were no incidents.
The speakers were great, too!
Some professor was the final orator, and he really got everyone riled up!

[becut]

03:29 AM on 05/16/2011

The education budget has gotten so bloated due to a lack of an extremely vital ingredient for the education system to work, "PARENTS". Teachers are not the beneficiary of the increased education budgets, parents are. California has the most illegal immigrants in the country. They do not speak English and the parents rely on their children for translatio­n; so who is in charge? As well, babies having babies-- these parents have difficulty supporting their children­. Many children in foster care and grandparents raising children due to removal or parents due to drug abuse (crack cocaine usually). The grandparents have difficulty controlling their angry grandchildren.

Schools have had to play the role of parent for years with: many more administra­tors (5 at one middle school in LA of 1200 students), full time psychologi­sts, full time psychiatri­c social workers, bilingual coordinato­rs, Title 1 coordinators (for poor children), attendance counselors, more regular counselors­, probation officers, school police officers at every school, not to mention free breakfast and lunch programs.

Taxpayers are paying for the fact that schools do not have parents, parenting, particularly in the inner city. Too many parents today just want to drop their kids off and keep it movin'.

[KJLSanDiego]

12:56 PM on 05/16/2011

Yep!
It really is sad that so many kids have no support structure at all!

[carmenalex]

02:46 PM on 05/16/2011

Yeah! Lets make these kids COMPLETELY destitute...How dare they be hungry!

[becut]

03:08 PM on 05/16/2011

How dare they be hungry for love (parents), most importantly!

Teachers are expected to be surrogate parents, yet no one is recognizing this, is the point.

[graffitijoe]

07:11 PM on 05/15/2011

These protests didn't make much of a splash - the media is embarrassed for the teachers unions.

[becut]

04:12 PM on 05/16/2011

No the media does not get ratings supporting teaches..............their ratings are driven by putting fear into parents and making them think teachers are greedy, lazy, unqualified and need to be fired. Corporations want to deflect from the fact that they are paying zero taxes. Blaming teachers is a calculated effort to have parents and teachers fighting. Now, who benefits from this? Soon they will have something to sell the schools to fix the problem, especially Bill Gates and Microsoft, who owns the new superintendent, John Dearsey. He is Bill Gates man, read his bio. Education budgets are up for grabs, while parents wait for "Superman".

[Angel R1240]

10:44 AM on 05/15/2011

Welcome to the new America we are now arresting teachers because they are protesting cuts in education. If we keep going down this path we are not going to have any public education left and we just have private schools for the people that can afford it and to hell with the poor people. This is part of the reason why our kids are not learning anything in school because we are cutting education all around the country because we are in debt. Why not raise taxes? Why not bring our troops home from the middle east? Why not end the subsidies for the oil and gas companies? These are some of the ways that we can either raise money or save money and not have to cut education.

[3daywkend]

11:08 PM on 05/15/2011

They are fighting for their jobs, not "education". Can't say I blame them. No need to raise taxes, it wouldn't do any good anyways given all the waste. Time for an experiment with vouchers.

It's always about the teachers.

[KJLSanDiego]

12:57 PM on 05/16/2011

It's not your taxes that should be raised, the top 10% are where it counts.

[carmenalex]

02:37 PM on 05/16/2011

No....its about wars we cannot afford, tax cuts we cannot afford and then making the "little people" pay for it all..affecting education..affecting the middle class.

[KJLSanDiego]

12:57 PM on 05/16/2011

All great questions with very sad answers!

[BeautifulWorld]

09:32 PM on 05/14/2011

"I don't think we'll get rid of schools anytime soon, certainly not in my lifetime, but if we're going to change what is rapidly becoming a disaster of ignorance, we need to realize that the school institution "schools" very well, but it does not "educate" - that's inherent in the design of the thing. It's not the fault of bad teachers or too little money spent, it's just impossible for education and schooling ever to be the same thing."

- John Taylor Gatto accepting the New York City Teacher of the Year Award on January 31, 1990

[captainindustry]

04:59 PM on 05/14/2011

Don't take the teachers out of the classroom. Take the disruptive elements out... Once they realize that they are not going on to college, and this is it for them, they are going to raise holly heck. Just to have a little fun and get a street cred, and also to make sure no one else learns anything either.

[BeautifulWorld]

09:35 PM on 05/14/2011

Maybe you should read this.

http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/john_gatto.html

[Larry Motuz]

11:51 AM on 05/15/2011

Thank you.

[supergenius02]

03:33 PM on 05/14/2011

Please don't be fooled into feeling sorry for California teachers. Over 50% of the California state budget goes to education, a state that represents the 8th largest economy in the world. Educators in California are the highest paid in the United States, "According to the CTA's [California Teacher's Association] parent union, the National Education Association, California teachers were the nation's top-paid, with $64,424 average annual salary in 2007-08." That amount is a jaw dropping 25% above the national average. Good pay for only 8 months of work for the year and frequent budget cut no school days on top of that.
Cite: http://articles.ocregister.com/2009-03-08/opinion/24666578_1_highest-average-teacher-salary-public-school-teachers-teacher-union

[graffitijoe]

05:42 PM on 05/14/2011

I do feel sorry for them bwecause they have been sold on the false promises of their union bosses - 30,000 or so will get a rude awakening this September.

[corwin]

09:31 PM on 05/14/2011

God, I miss KO.Where's he grilling burgers?

[becut]

01:11 AM on 05/17/2011

No, the parents are the ones that have been sold false promises. Teachers are hired to teach a particular subject, not be responsible to parent. Politicians (mayors, school boards, administrators, etc.) interested in their careers, get elected to office by telling parents if their child is failing it is the teachers fault. Too many parents just want to drop their kids off and keep it movin'. Schools must affort psychologist, psychiatric social workers, 5 administrators for 1200 middle school students, school police, probation officers, etc. All of these people are being paid to do the job of parents. The high cost of education is due to "Parents" expecting television and schools to raise their children.

[corwin]

09:30 PM on 05/14/2011

The children! They're doing it for the children!
And,by what misguided idea do you dare bring information to HuffPo? Some of these people, "Sir" are severely allergic to facts. Their death could be on your conscience .Sir/

[gethersw]

10:36 AM on 05/14/2011

Sad but true. Teachers do more than just teach. They love us when we are not, they see us when we are small, they pull us up when we are down, they find us when we are lost, take us home with them when we are at home. The inspire us to run faster then the wind and cause us to dream that which is undreamable, and reach for that which is beyond our capacity but within our potential. They mold and us shape with hands of care and propel us to go where others dare to go. Where would we be without the teacher that care. Perhaps the republicans know, because they show are determined to take us there!

[sydneymoon]

01:20 PM on 05/14/2011

Yes

[graffitijoe]

05:43 PM on 05/14/2011

Sounds like you could have used a good nanny - broken home, right?

[supergenius02]

03:37 PM on 05/14/2011

What does that have to do with the fact that California is in a severe budget crisis and has to make cuts? Californians are the highest taxed citizens in the country and for what. California teachers are the highest paid in the nation and make 25% above the national average on ever-shortened school years? I will feel sorry for a poor underpaid teacher in Mississippi before the overpaid teachers in California. I dated a public school teacher here in California that made $100,000 solely from teaching and running an afterschool program at the school she taught. And yes, she got the entire summer off too.

[gurrldog]

05:51 PM on 05/14/2011

It has NOTHING to do with California's financial crisis. The ridiculous supporters of teachers' unions in general pull out the "warm and fuzzy" card when confronted with FACTS. I received my Sec. Ed Teaching degree from ASU in 1991 knowing full well that I made the choice to teach because it's what I loved, not for the money. There's no shame in making the choice to do what you want, all the while knowing you are not going to be monetarily rich in your lifetime. It IS an honorable career, no doubt. However, teaching has become the Liberals' VOICE for worker's rights...unions, and teachers are groomed from day one to believe that their 'champion' is the Democratic party who demonize the Republican party.

[PedroInfante]

06:53 PM on 07/01/2011

Hey supergenius, didin't you know that you get the "genius" label by speaking in truths, not lies? You are a fr@ud!

[RocheTm]

12:36 AM on 05/14/2011

Sure is a lot of selfish people around here. Maybe we should focus on teaching sharing more, after a few decades we may finally have herd immunity to conservativism.

[havana62]

12:25 AM on 05/14/2011

The Republican congressmen who are voting for these education cuts are the ones who should be arrested, not the teachers. No good deed goes unpunished...

[graffitijoe]

05:45 PM on 05/14/2011

Are they voting for education cuts or just sticking to the deal that was made with the taxpayers. What part of "temporary tax" do you not get?

[havana62]

11:09 PM on 05/14/2011

graffitijoe, I never mentioned a 'temporary tax' you Hugh Jasol. However, let me know when those 'temporary taxes' are going to expire. Because the state won't be able to function without them for a long time. What part of Hugh Jasol do you not get??

[Warren Lauzon]

06:05 PM on 05/14/2011

How about the Democratic ones that pushed the state into near bankruptcy?

[havana62]

11:09 PM on 05/14/2011

Which ones??? Show me some data you freakin TEABAGGER!

[Deejc]

11:11 PM on 05/13/2011

Our education system in this country is going downhill quickly. I just don't understand how we can justify any cuts to education. If anything we should be increasing teachers salaries because they deserve it with all the crap they have to deal with from students and parents and we should be pouring monehelping our schools which are struggling to educate our students. Yes, you will have that lazy, apathetic kid who is beyond helping but if we have the right tools in place our teachers can make a big difference.

I have a friend who is a math teacher in Nashville and her evaluation and potential compensation is based on her students test scores and comprehension of the state standards. One of those standards is for students to know how to use a graphing calculator. Does she have any graphing calculators for her students to use? Nope! So how is it fair for her to be compensated based on STUDENT performance when the state standards she is required to teach are not possible? An, art teacher I know recently had her whole art budget, $3,000 completely taken away for next year. She has $0 to buy supplies to teach her students. Should that money come out of her own pocket when we pay her a measly salary? Absolutely not....

[captainindustry]

04:57 PM on 05/14/2011

Tell her to write Texas Instruments here in Dallas. They will donate some older ti 83 plus calculators. Excellent machnes. Good enough for any engineer.

[AnnainLA]

05:57 PM on 05/15/2011

If the students are good in math ( which is genetic) , they can get 700 on their math SAT without a graphing calculator.

[PedroInfante]

06:57 PM on 07/01/2011

Genetic!? You must be of Aryan descent, right?

[ticktockman33]

10:06 PM on 05/13/2011

The misunderstanding of our education system and how its funds are allocated is astounding. I thought the people on this forum were more educated and less “screech and point” but I guess I was wrong. Simple fact of the matter is that education has changed since the 1970’s- much like everything else has so those "it was like this when I..." arguments are anecdotal at best.

And for those arguing that teachers are greedily looking for more money, where are you getting that teachers are asking for a pay raise? Granted they are concerned about further PAYCUTS as anyone being affected by this scapegoating should be, especially after most educators have ALREADY taken a 3-9% paycut within the last few years alone. How awful of them not wanting to absorb more of a hit! I mean shouldn’t they be able to make a decent living wage, be able to pay their bills, oh yeah, and buy the supplies that the school and/ or parents no longer supply?

And please don’t even think of throwing out the tired –it’s their free taxpayer pensions that are ruining the state because here’s a fact that’s conveniently ignored…teachers, and most public and union employees PAY INTO their pensions. So please, do some reading up on the subject before spewing erroneous talking points.

[corwin]

10:30 PM on 05/13/2011

They are doing it for the kids ! CPS is the envy of the free world.Those people in Utah fake their SAT scores ! And ,the teachers use whatever they may receive from their modest pensions to fund preschool programs for illegal kids stricken with cancer/What next? Require them to give up their Arbor Day off?

[AnnainLA]

05:59 PM on 05/15/2011

They get back far more than they pay.