Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

appalachiablue

(41,052 posts)
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 08:01 PM Jan 2019

Los Angeles Teachers Strike Could Be Days Away

Source: NPR

Teachers in Los Angeles, the nation's second largest school district, are preparing to go on strike. The district last saw a teacher strike nearly 30 years ago. If no deal is reached, more than 30,000 members of United Teachers Los Angeles wouldn't go to work, affecting roughly 480,000 public school students.

The union has been holding out, primarily, for the district to reduce class sizes and hire more nurses, librarians and counselors, all of whom the union also represents. District leaders have resisted, saying they don't have the money to pay for the level of changes the union wants.

In August, 98 percent of union members voted to authorize a strike. But California law requires certain steps be taken before teachers can walk out, among them state mediation and fact-finding. As of Tuesday, those measures have failed to bring about an agreement.

United Teachers Los Angeles had planned a possible strike as soon as Thursday, but that may be delayed until Monday due to a disagreement over when and whether the union filed formal notice of its intent to strike.


Read more: https://www.npr.org/2019/01/08/682190775/los-angeles-teacher-strike-could-be-days-away





Los Angeles teachers and members of UTLA, United Teachers of Los Angeles demonstrate, Dec. 15, 2018.

CNN, https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/08/us/los-angeles-teachers-strike/index.html

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

ancianita

(35,812 posts)
1. I strongly support them. Teachers' teaching conditions ARE students' learning conditions.
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 09:35 PM
Jan 2019
I have much more to say about the public's view of teacher strikes, but will refrain. Maybe.

appalachiablue

(41,052 posts)
2. We must support teachers, their role is critical to society and
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 11:34 PM
Jan 2019

the future. Far right wants to privatize schools for profit, control the curriculum & eliminate unionized teachers. Nope.

ancianita

(35,812 posts)
3. California, 7th biggest economy on the planet, can afford what it wants to afford, and
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 11:47 PM
Jan 2019

so can the Los Angeles County Board of Ed and LA County.

No study has yet disproven a century of studies that show the top two predictors of student achievement:

1. socioeconomic status of students’ parents, and

2. the Teacher.

The rich have had a lot to do with why not paying professional educators what they're worth is ruining public schools.



appalachiablue

(41,052 posts)
5. Agree. Include the Waltons, Gates, Bradley Fnd. & more influencing
Wed Jan 9, 2019, 12:04 AM
Jan 2019

US public education. The most successful developed countries have all had positive educational systems, it's critical.

They want to break public school teachers by overworking them with few classroom resources, large classes, poor pay and benefits. Part of the long term plan. I have to condemn Libertarian-Neoliberal privatized schools and teaching for profit, with a few exceptions.

ancianita

(35,812 posts)
6. I blame Libertarian-Conservative-Evangelical corporatists. Just sayin'. Furthermore,
Wed Jan 9, 2019, 12:40 AM
Jan 2019

to take an investment framing on this:

Public schools are America's Human Development Industry.

Public schools are the ONLY industry with a Return On Investment — ROI — of $7: $1. For every dollar invested, society gets $7 back in GDP.

American public education is the ONLY industry that has produced our presidents, astronauts, scientists, mathematicians, architects, skilled workers, engineers, artists, film makers, musicians, computer technologists and university leaders.

No other industry has improved America like public education.

All our NATO and other Western allies know this. Their schools show it.

TexasBushwhacker

(20,043 posts)
4. I bet the administrators are shitting bricks
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 11:58 PM
Jan 2019

"The district also says students who attend school during a strike would continue to receive instruction from "qualified L.A. Unified staff," including administrators — though it remains to be seen how the district could fulfill this promise."

From being a public school teacher for 9 years, I can tell you the LAST thing administrators want to be stuck doing is teaching kids in the classroom.

ancianita

(35,812 posts)
7. The ugly reality:non-classroom people, scabs, still get any raise, benefits the teachers fight for.
Wed Jan 9, 2019, 12:48 AM
Jan 2019

This happens in every state district in the country.

If we chopped 90% non-classroom personnel and only kept local school ancillary people like security and school office staff; cut all top administrative salaries by 10% -- from principals to general superintendents; stopped the inflated no-bid contracting of limos, "consultants," catering, and other "services," then paid that money to teachers, the classrooms wouldn't even feel a ripple.

And the educational climate, for sure, would improve.

Keep education about direct services classroom education, and not business.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Los Angeles Teachers Stri...