LAUSD Teachers Finally Make A Stand Publicly

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:57:04 GMT

By Holly Minnoy

Ms. Sugimoto

LAUSD teachers have been protesting against budget cuts, teacher layoffs and the rising number of students per class expected in the fall. On Fri. May 15, teachers made a stand publicly. The teachers' original plan was to hold an all-day strike, but the teachers union, UTLA, threw that plan out when the teachers were told that if they defied the court they would risk facing $1,000 fines and the possible loss of their teaching credentials. When this news hit the fan, the union changed plans and instead decided to demonstrate before and after school. At Venice, teachers passed out flyers to passing cars, held picket signs and shouted slogans against the proposed teacher layoffs. Though most teachers heeded the judge's warning, some teachers still felt the need to be heard far and wide and participated in an act of civil disobedience. The Los Angeles Times reported nearly 45 teachers being arrested and booked for unlawful assembly outside LAUSD district offices in downtown Los Angeles on May 15. KPCC, a southern California news radio station, reported that before being arrested, the teachers and union leaders walked up to the district offices where they faced police officers who wouldn't allow them inside. When they couldn't get inside, they then locked arms and sat down in the middle of the street. They were warned there would be consequences due to their unlawful assembly, then officers arrested, searched and booked the rest of the remaining teachers. Ms. Greta Enszer, a new English teacher at Venice High who received a pink slip, participated in the act of civil disobedience by locking arms with other protesting union members, thus barricading the exits to the district offices. But she didn't stick around long enough to get arrested. "When they told me to move, I moved, I didn't want a record of arrest if I was going to be looking for a new job!" she said. When asked what the human barricade symbolized, Ms. Enszer replied, " That we will not be run over by the bureaucrats. That we will take a stand." In reference to the Black Panthers of the 60's, she continued, "Power to the people! In the spirit of Bunchie Carter, we will not let the government take us out like weeds." Being a part of the act of civil disobedience, Ms. Enszer was " witness to a militant action that would send a message that teachers were willing to participate in civil disobedience." Ms. Enszer stated that she was protesting for maintaining class size and didn't want current class sizes to "balloon," believing that the less individual attention a student receives, the worst they will do on the CAHSEE and other exam writing. "Students fall through the cracks, fail without the attention needed when having the social support of small class sizes, " said Ms. Enszer. " We are standing up for our students' rights to equitable education which goes back to Brown vs. the Board of Education and civil rights issues," she said.

The Oarsman

LAUSD Teachers Finally Make A Stand Publicly