Los Angeles Teachers Cut Short Day to Protest; Chisel on Kids
by Lawrence MeyersFriday afternoon, I drove by a few schools on the way to my own children’s elementary school for the day’s dismissal. Or rather, I should the day’s early dismissal. The LAUSD School Board decided to let teachers chisel on their children’s education by cutting the school day short by 35 minutes. Other school districts throughout the state actually permitted teachers to take off an entire day to protest for higher taxes in Sacramento.
Apparently, these “devoted” teachers who are just “acting on behalf of the kids” have no compunction about abandoning them for anywhere from 35 minutes to an entire day to protest possible state education cuts. Now I have no problem with any employee, unionized or not, to protest against salary or benefit cuts. However, that protest should happen on their OWN DAMN TIME. I was pleased to see, and not surprised, that the outstanding teachers at my public elementary school were not out marching in red shirts with signs calling for higher taxes. Instead, there were just 5 chairs set outside the school with the names of the teachers who might be laid off. Simple, tasteful, poignant. Nobody chiseled on the kids, nor should they. The most truly devoted teacher I ever had, Edwin Barlow, never once missed a single day of school in thirty-five years. It didn’t matter how sick he was, how hungover he might have been, or if he had a cast on a leg he’d broken the night before. He showed up.
All this comes amidst a disturbing revelation that your intrepid citizen journalist is investigating. It’s been revealed to me that the LAUSD budget spent $77 million on consultants in the current school year. I wrote a letter to my School Board Rep asking for complete transparency in this massive expenditure — transparency I am entitled to as a taxpayer, and that LAUSD would do well to examine for the coming school year. By my estimation, there are 1,000 teacher salaries wrapped up in that $77 million, and I want to know who is receiving that money, what “consultation services” they are allegedly providing, and whether or not there are any relationships that exist between consultants and Board Members.
To date, I have not yet heard back from my School Board Rep. Readers of my column know, however, that in cases like this I can be like a dog on a bone. Stay tuned.
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67 Comments
Another nail in the public employees union coffin. Abolish them…problem solved!
Abolish the Education Dept. and Return States Rights.
The kids will never be alright as long as the unionistas are teaching them their socialist garbage without scrutiny or restriction.
There should be a rule to reasonably restrict union activities that says if you walk away from your scheduled work day without notice to engage in protests then you should lose an entire week's pay.
Teachers unions…for the kids…Yeah right!!! In another world maybe! These teachers are only looking out for THEMSELVES!!!! Abolish ALL government sector unions now!!!
The picture of the pit bull is perfect for this story. This is the mentality of the Unions when you try to stop the indoctrination into Marxism by these rabid beasts.
Notice they can never argue the substance of this……………………they are over paid, lazy, hate America and produce zombies. Precisely the wrong entity for this country.
What it all boils down to is the teachers are only asking for $1 from every tax payer ….
That being the last dollar in your wallet !
"Put our kids first"
Is code for:
Put our paychecks first!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry Missy, as an extremist, Obama labelled me, if you miss any part of your regular shift to protest you are fired, service no longer accepted.
How many conservative rallies have we all missed because we have to Work, in the private sector!
first part of article is a little over dramatic…. and the dog photo unrelated…. otherwise i will stay tuned… and will share on fb (if sans unrelated content)
I will never have the slightest bit of sympathy for greedy un-American union members ever again. In fact I recently saw a protest and drove around the block and booed and told them to get to work several times. I was sworn at repeatedly by the non violent lefty socialist union members. Heck now I am going to call ex, a school teacher, and call her a no good progressive socialist commie!
One whole day? Wow.
Our local teachers got the day shortened by 30 minutes for the entire year- instead of a raise 3 years ago, now they have their raise AND a shorter day.! We've been small cereal boxed! Test scores have not gone up, nor will they- 'cept salaries and pensions are safe. Whew! (sarc.)
So, 30 minutes a day for 180 days equals 13.85 DAYS off the school calender. Thanks teachers. With snow days, movie days, "special days" – we are lucky if the kids have instruction 150 days a year.
Lord, they want HIGHER taxes in CA? Ya gotta be kidding me.
I would definitely go there if I had the political power to do so but a politician never would, that's the difference between us and them.
The real question should be: When are the American People going to stop accepting the crimanality of the Government from the very top down to the very bottom and throw off the Elite Ruling criminal classby any means necessary?
I submit Jefferson's comment as evidence.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it's natural manure."
I believe it is time.
Sic Semper Tyrannis!
Fascinating, their argument is word for word from the NAMBLA web site.
You are absolutely right to cast a very bright light on consulting expenses that school boards across the country are spending. It's not hard to fathom that consulting expenses have increased significantly in the last decade while we have all observed that student performance has declined. The taxpayers (and the teachers whose jobs are at risk due to budget cuts) deserve transparency on these consulting costs.
No, they want you to pay higher taxes.
OK, do you want to get back at these school districts "using" our kids to prove their political point?……..
Each year they federal government has a day that they choose to officially count how many kids attend a school and it affects their federal subsidy. Pick that day to hold out your kids! Ban school that day and give them ZERO!!!!!!!
UNION, please explain to me why you aren't protesting on the weekend. Is YOUR work less important than mine?
Living in their own educators' bubble where this sort of thing is usual behavior, these Unionistas do not understand that they are flaunting their parasitic status to the host.
What happened to human dignity based on common sense, wherein on does ones job and gets paid for it, and doesn't whine when their employer cannot afford the raise the employee wants?
These teachers do not even realize the ludicrous position they have put themselves in with their protest. Higher taxes "for the children" is a part of the "common good" thread. If they were to be picketing for the "common good" they would not be asking for more, more, more, they would be humble suffering public servants working in their martyrdom and mediocrity for much less than their worth. By demanding more (particularly where there is no more, and gaining more would impoverish "the children"), they are admitting that they do not give a rat's backside about the "children". This argument needs to be laughed out of town.
Dear Leader of the Teachers Union made it clear. "it's NOT about the kids, it's about the POWER" – on video.
IF this were played at EVERY Board of Education, PTA, etc. would start to make an impact on this $hit.
Yep. It's just getting rolling.
How does an 80k a year pension, from a fund that's broke, starting at age 55, help the kids?
Too bad the CTA cant find the money to spend on students and classrooms as they do giving us ear aches with their constant whining crying on political radio ads.
An… "Apple"…. for my teacher.
Excellent point. The difference between them and US.
We follow the law and they break the law. We are looking for fairness and truth, and they are looking to force their socialist views on US and our helpless children whether we like it or now. We have to push back on this type of indoctrination/forceful approach, using Law wherever possible.
It's the Law that stopped Pelosi/Reid/Obama way down in ONE day.
Only in California would they want higher taxes for education. It's to bad these people don't realize that teachers are going to get less take home pay. After all they pay taxes to.
That right it's for retired teachers, oh I mean the older folks that act like children.
Well put; and we need to continue reining them in using our US laws. They perpetuate one another with their determination to use force to make US agree to THEIR way. Our solution must be to enforce our Laws on them.
It's our US Law that slowed down the Pelosi/Reid/Obama's out-of -control assault on our freedoms for the last 2 years. Why are our laws ignored? Zero tolerance. Enforce every single .aw on the books.
The teachers union in my state was whining in the paper recently that teachers haven't gotten big enough raises over the last 3 years and now they even take home less pay because of "givebacks" that they have so generously allowed.
The giveback? One day of unpaid training per year. One day. Welcome to the world of exempt, salaried employees, you pack of spoiled brats.
When I read about teachers that refuse to go to a 15 minute meeting once a week because it's "unpaid" in their "contract", it makes my blood boil. How do they call themselves professionals when they are just hourly mercenaries?
Exactly. Add to that, the fact that we need to start enforcing our EXISTING Fed Immigration Laws. Just because obama ignores them, we shouldn't.
Half of these little indoctrinated 'American hating' Illegal families don't have ANY right to even be here for the Unions to use! Deporting them would not only be following our laws but would take away the Unions/obama's army to indoctrinate against America and our way of life.
Nicely put!
"What do we want?……Higher Taxes……….When do we want it?….. NOW!"
The world has gone flippin' nuts!
I am more and more starting to believe in: No Representation Without Taxation!………it is not your money.
Why do parents allow carpet baggers to handle their 'precious cargo'?
Get those bastards.
They're not only chizeling on the kids, they're indoctrinating them, daily, into Socialism and Anti-Americanism.
Don't like California? Move.
If you stay you are part of the problem…. if you stay you are a Californian, you are Left Coast, you are a de facto Liberal.
'tis what is called Majority Rule, that whole Democracy thing.
Other States are more American.
You couldn't pay me enough money to live in California today.
Then again, the state of California can't pay anyone a dime anyway since it is broke.
Roger that.
This is not unique to LAUSD. Same thing is happening in thousands of school districts around the nation. I think that halt the time members of school boards are drinking the same kool aid.
(unrelated) After all these years I get a little uneasy looking at Ed Barlow's photo. His photo was a snake in my yearbook.
Uh, I wouldn't broadcast that. Just sayin'.
JC — Read my book. You may find some surprising revelations about the "snake" that makes him extraordinarily human in your eyes.
For those unfamiliar with the incredible excesses of the "public" service employees, here's just the tip of the iceberg:
Currently, OVER 12,000 "public" employees in california receive MORE THAN $100,000 / year in taxpayer-funded pensions, PLUS LIFETIME FULL MEDICAL COVERAGE The number of such rip-offs are increasing at nearly 50% / year. These thieves contribute a mere 3% of their inflated, generous salaries to their pension, but get back 80% of their salary, with guaranteed generous annual increases. (For two years there have been NO INCREASES in Social Security benefits, but CalPERS retirees have still gotten generous INCREASES EACH YEAR, using a scheme that is practically guaranteed to increase their benefit each and every year no matter what really happens to the economy.) These pensions are fully and completely PROTECTED by law against any change.
Furthermore, from the summary report for the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS): In 2010, the average RETIRED teacher in California, who got a staggering $51,072 annually, made more than the average WORKING teacher in 28 states, according to the salary rankings published by NEA. Last year, the CalSTRS CEO warned that returns of 20 percent annually would be needed to fund all pensions. Without further increases in revenue or cuts in benefits, the system could be completely broke in 35 years.
Normal, non-unioinist californians will work until 70 so that privileged public-sector employees can retire at 50 with their comfortable 40-year-long retirement pensions that pay government union members twice what non-unionists ever see in their golden years. Not surprisingly, California’s Public Employees’ Retirement System now faces $75 billion in unfunded liabilities that non-unionist taxpayers will have to cough-up.
The Icing on the Cake: The nearly bankrupt city of Newport Beach pays lifeguards more than $200,000 per year and they stand to get more than $3 MILLION EACH in retirement benefits over their lifetime.
When is enough enough?
Really I am so tired of the idiot teachers telling the kids they are going to cut all the stuff the kids like, like band and etc. It isn't going to work this time, I bet. Too many people haven't had raises in years, so they won't really be sympathetic
to the over paid teachers here in Kalifornia.
Greetings and salutations pnipni, President Obama: Stop the Jokes – Secure the Border,
this here video should be viral: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_VLiHjTrvI&fe...
Cheers (and I am not Irish, but I am half Welsh)
Mister Meyers, you write with a great passion and I appreciate it. I read a lot of books (besides selling them too), you sir, have a gift. Keep writing, you are right on in my book.
I too suffered a partial-public education in So Cal (went to public school in Michigan too), but that was before the teachers were unionized and corrupted. Back in the day when I was young, the teachers actually taught because it was their calling, now-a-days, they do it for a check and an easy pension.
Funny thing is that a 30 second t.v. spot costs from 103k to 180k, and here in jersey the NJEA has show a anti Chris Christi ad at least 4 time a day so adding it you can draw your own conclusions, However this goes out to all of you who can answer this, in your state how many pro union ads have you seen in your state? That money could be used for the children.
Hey DA. There are so many things wrong with your post that it would take three grad students' thesis to decipher all the malignant statements you have made. Let me begin with what my Mother taught me regarding teachers – you better dam_ well please them.
And you, with elementary kids, at your age. Instead you should be working in your yard and yelling at kids in your neighborhood: "Get off my G_ddam_ grass!"
Public unions are to governments what the mob was to Vegas back in the 50's, 60's, and 70's.
Get rid of them!
Cheers my Welsh friend no_more_deceit!
Treat yourself to a trip over there. It's so much fun! The weather was sunny & beautiful.
I had the best time! Dancing and laughing my way through all the great Pubs and Hotels. The people were amazing. Sooo friendly and funny! Now I've got the bug so I'm going to go back.
There's a deliberate determination that they have, . to have fun. It was amazing. Every meal you eat is accompanied by live music!
The dollar is weak though. (Thanks Obama for spending an additional 3T dollars in 2 years.) I'm going to watch your youtube right now. Cheers.
Ok, That was great! I sent it out across the Country. You're right, that youtube needs to travel. Take care friend, and thanks again for that send-off music. Perfect timing. I got to sing it in real life over there!
I live in CA, I don't want higher taxes. Unfortunately I'm outnumbered.
EOD, some of us have no choice but to stay. I'm in the middle of a divorce and child custody laws prevent me from just up and moving without a Court Order and those are hard to come by.
Trust me, if I didn't have kids with the dolt I married, I would have left California 6 months ago. But here I am, stuck. I am not a "de facto liberal".
I wouldn't hold my breath on a response from your school board, unless of course it's a form letter. These people don't really think they are accountable to anyone, just like our so-called representatives in Washington D.C.
"Let me begin with what my Mother taught me regarding teachers – you better dam_ well please them."
If the teachers are good teachers, we'd be happy to please them with a competitive salary and benefits. But most of them are nothing but union/communist shills and thoroughly incompetent. But yet there they are, getting paid day in and day out. And then when they do wrong, they sit in rubber rooms for a decade and still get paid.
So guess what – phuck the teachers' unions and phuck the incompetent teachers and the union/communist shill teachers.
And here's the really sad part. You'll defile teachers and defund PBS to in your obsession to put another Reagan/Bush in the White House. Tell me again who's destroying this country? Because maybe I forgot.
"Tell me again who's destroying this country? Because maybe I forgot."
Yes, you did. PROGRESSIVES (regardless of Party) are destroying this country.
Sue in Federal Court for millions of Taxpayer Dollars.
The State of California cannot legally keep you in the State against your will, other than imprisonment for a crime.
Thank you so much for this wonderful compliment, sir. And if you are reading and selling books, please do me the great honor of purchasing and selling mine!
misterbarlow.com
tvwritersroom.com
We're talking Family Law here, EOD. I am now under the jurisdiction of the Family Law court and they now make the rules regarding me, my children and my property. (Mind you, the divorce was not MY choice.)
If I pick up and leave, then I abandon my children and have to pay child support to the dolt who is their father. I would never abandon my children.
Under Family Law (and it's probably similar in every other State), I am not permitted to move and take my children out of state without the permission of their father or permission of the Court. Think he's going to agree to me taking the kids 3000 miles away from him? Doubtful?
And I'd have to have a pretty good job lined up already and even then it's not guaranteed. I could still wind up NOT being the primary custodian and having to pay child support to his sorry ass. And I'd be abandoning my children.
So again, not moving does not make me a "de facto liberal". It makes me a person at the mercy of the Family Law Court because my dolt of a soon to be ex-husband doesn't know how to man-up and work on a marriage. Apparently he was looking for a passive yet highly ambitious nymphomaniac and I didn't measure up.
Family Law Court in the State of California does not superseded the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.
Best of luck to you.
Keeping me in the same area as the father of the children in order to facilitate custody and visitation issues and what is best for the children does not equal slavery. And I seriously doubt my case would make it past the initial pleading phase.
I may not agree with how tough the Court makes it to move if you want to or need to, but States have a right to make laws involving divorce and family issues (10th Amendment) and this is one of them. If there were no law, one parent could up and leave a state, leaving the other parent to do what exactly? Just follow that other one around at whim or abandon the children, and be forced to pay the maximum in child support (which is tied to visitation, btw – the more you see the child, the less you pay and vice versa).
The USA, a country with some of the best qualifed idiots runninig it at all levels!
NEWS FLASH: Gov Walker in WI is going to have a school choice situation for low income students. And, they can choose Private schools or Parochial schools….PTL The program is starting in Milw., WI. After the "bugs" are worked out, then the program is going to a few of our large cities, such as Green Bay and Racine, WI.
PTL
In Milw., WI, it costs $15K per student in the Govt system. The Private and Parochial schools cost about $6K – $7K per year.
Here's the Union Scam in Action. The health insurance provider company for the State Employees and teachers is WEA Trust. WEA Trust is Owned by the Union, ok. Now they charge $28K per year for the employee's family plan.
The same plan can be purchased from Blue Cross/Blue Shield for about
I wonder if California will EVER learn to resist the almighty state employee unions. Sadly, I think those that are left in that God-forsaken state are too dumb or too far into the marxist campt to resist any increase in state control and state taxes. Good luck useful idiots!
The sooner, the better.
)
When you have time, read this:
How Did We Get Here?
http://20turns.com/new_web/wp-content/uploads/dow...
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