California Educator

MARCH 2010

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA “Call your legislators and the governor now and tel l them to stand up for students by stopping the cuts and restoring funds to California’s future,” said CTA Executive Director Carolyn Dog- gett in a rallying cry echoed at March 4 events throughout Southern California. “Hundreds of thousands of students are suffering from the unprecedented cuts that are decimating California’s once nationally envied kindergarten-through-university public education system.” Joining Doggett at a Huntington Beach rally and march featuring teachers and ed- ucation supporters from the Ocean View, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach City, and Huntington Beach Union High School districts, CTA Board member Michael Stone told the crowd of several hundred, “Public education in California isn’t bro- ken. It’s broke!” Stone later commented, “On March 4, I saw local chapters that have seldom par- ticipated in CTA events get organized and stand alongside their communities to fight for public education.” Act ivities took place all across South- ern California. In La- guna Hills, Saddle- back Valley Educators Association members demonstrated on all four corners of a busy intersection, accom- panied by a rhythm band composed of four pink-slipped mu- sic teachers. “What’s happening to my col- leagues is such a shame,” said SVEA Secretary Chrissy Smed- berg, an English teacher at Trabuco Hills High School. “But even more important, what’s happening to the students we teach. California can do better than this.” Members of Associated Calexico Teach- ers in Imperial County invited members of the community to join them at a Stand Up for Education rally in Calexico that featured music and guest speakers. ACT members also hand- ed out fliers with infor- mation about the detri- mental effects of educa- tion budget cuts to par- ents at each school site prior to the beginning of school. “From Mexico to the Oregon border, and ev- erything in between, sup- porters of public educa- tion throughout Califor- nia are standing up to say that enough is enough! California cannot enact any more cuts to schools and yet claim to be pro- viding a quality education for its students,” said CTA Board member Jim Groth in a live interview with San Diego’s FOX 5 news at a before-school rally at Helix Charter High School in La Mesa. “It’s my hope that by raising the aware- ness of how harmful the cuts to education are,” said Helix Teachers Association Presi- dent Ben Stone, “it will motivate the pub- lic to take action by calling their legisla- tors to demand decent funding for public schools.” Facing about 360 pink slips, Riverside City Teachers Associ- ation members rallied at several before- school demonstra- tions throughout the city, wearing black arm bands and carrying black and pink bal- loons and posters. CTA Board member Mikki Cichocki, former CTA President Bar- bara E. Kerr, and RCTA President Mark Lawrence participated at Pachappa Elemen- tary, where four of the six teachers who have taught Cichocki’s daughter have received layoff notices. “There is nothing more im- portant than a child, and standing up for ABOVE: Helix Teachers Association member Rebecca Meyer marches at the Helix Charter High rally in La Mesa. BELOW: CTA Executive Director Carolyn Doggett and CTA Board member Michael Stone at the Huntington Beach March 4 rally. LEFT: National City Elementary Teachers Association members rally in South San Diego County. our students on March 4 was just one way I could show my support for my daughter, her teachers and all the members I represent who are being harmed by the draconian ed- CTA photos by Bill Guy

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