Hunger-striking L.A. teachers joined by fasting supporters

A group of Los Angeles Unified School District teachers and community activists who are fasting to protest proposed layoffs will be joined today in a daylong solidarity fast by about 100 faculty and staff members from Lincoln High School in Lincoln Heights.

The Hungry for a Better Education group is protesting the district's plan to lay off thousands of teachers. They are demanding the district use federal stimulus money to avoid budget cuts that will include layoffs and class-size increases.

The hunger strike is in its 14th day, during which time some have had to break their fast for health reasons while others have joined the effort. Only two people have fasted for the entire two-week period. Others have fasted in solidarity for short periods of time.

About 15 members of the group camped out Monday night in front of Lincoln High School after they held a potluck dinner for the community.

-- Raja Abdulrahim

Top photo: Lincoln High School art teacher Sean Leys, who occasionally needs a wheelchair to get to class because of fatigue from fasting for 14 days, joins about 100 fellow faculty members protesting proposed teacher layoffs. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Lower photo: Lincoln High School math teacher Nora King breaks down a tent near the school. Members of the group Hungry for a Better Education camped out in front of the school as part of a protest of proposed teacher layoffs. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[David]

OH COME ON, GET OVER IT.

From a unemployed professional who used to make well over six figures.

I for one do support our schools but our State and County have no money, So what are we suppose to do??

How about we get death roll, rolling again. How much does just keep Charlie Manson locked up a year cost our state? Plus since he will NEVER be let out??

Desparate times ask for desparate measures.

[JPP]

Freeloaders.

[RJ]

Doesn't the fact that they are willing to make such a sacrifice tell you how passionately they feel about it?

I think they understand that there is no money. Cuts need to be made elsewhere and taxes need to be raised on the wealthy.

[Marcos El Malo]

David, judging by your spelling ability, California schools failed you.

I'd like to know if these teachers are also holding their hunger strike outside of union headquarters, since the teachers' union is just as culpable as the school district for past and present failures.

[H Rolon]

As a teacher there is a passion and attachment to our students and our profession. Those of you that are saying "well the state has no money" WAKE UP! If certain "measures" would have passed many billions were gonna suddenly flow into our economy..okay.. Our district needs to set its priority straight. If there is no money then why are many OUTSIDE CLASSROOMS positions being opened with names never heard before. "Literacy coaches" were eliminated New position "Data Analysis Program Specialist" oh and does not carry a class roster and makes $100,000 a year. But wait the district has no STIMULUS $$. Go figure that out!! So to those teachers speaking and wanting justice for the kids of LAUSD More Power to YOU!! I truly hope Justice prevails. Why don't we challenge Cortines to take a pay cut and save a few teachers with his annual salary and living expense account. Hmmm...

[mazusc]

Teacher spend 4 years getting BA another 2-4 years getting credential and Master. Then we have to be to become "Highly Qualified". The very large majority of teachers being fired have spent their lives studying to be teachers. But you don't get it the classes in LAUSD will in some classrooms double in size, some basic math and English will not be offered. there will be 20% to 50% more children most classes. That is the point of the hunger strike.

[Claudia]

Arnold Schwarzenegger should have been on top of all of this -What is going on with him being impeachment? If he sold his expensive suits he could put some money back to our communities. He runs around saying were broke -mean while he spends our budget on his expensive Lavished Politician Events. He used everyone and California like a Hollywood Play Ground. He is the Big Girlie Man...

[robert in los angeles]

Some of he content of he comments reflect a lack of some of the facts that should be known as a general matter. The gripe over Gov. Arnold's expensive suits and using it for the budget is illogical at best. He's taking a dollar a year for pay, so there's some budget break. He's already wealthy and there's probably some campaign funds supporting many politcal events. Impeachment? Check the legal reasons for that; a recall migh be the word that was meant.

The elected lawmakers are escaping the blame for a history of spending like there's never going to be bad times. The bad tiimes came, revenue went down, spending worsened the condition and looking for MORE taxes for a solution is not a responsible attitude.

If there were some tightening up with spending years before, cutting waste and stopping the growth of state govt. (see hiring comparisons over the years) there would be less or none of this chaos. Everyone went along with spending. It's still going on to put the govt. in debt for decades even now with bonds for a Bullet Train and the subway to the sea.

No one would run their own home or their own business like this and expect it all to work out, but that happens in govt.

A lot of people have written off the LAUSD and don't want to spend more where overall results for the money are disappointing in general, and with many areas failing altogether, despite what the teachers think. Teachers want improvements but the money all around is scarce, taxes are already growing, performance is poor, and enrollment is shrinking. The union and district have not put students first when you look at what's been done and what's not been done.

And how effective is any teacher when physical health is suffering? The hunger strike's unintended consequence is a teacher that's not 100% in shape to teach at top level, and it's a distraction to students where it impairs the daily expectation of a productive session. Is the purpose to compare morality or fiscal reality? It's tending to look like emotional extortion.

[in L.A]

To the person who is on Cortines' case on his pay level, you apparently missed the news when he took over from Sup. Brewer; he kept his then-current pay level as Asst. Sup., $250,00.00, that was $50,000.00 less than what Brewer was getting for the poistion, as reported by the L.A. TIMES.

And there was no $45,000.00 annual expense account either, Cortines said when earlier challenged in the same way as here during a public forum.in January.

And he isn't getting the housing allowance Brewer had, around $3,000.00 monthly.

But with LAUSD you can always find something else to criticize, and rightly so, but sometimes it's not always the administration.

Cortines may not be the guy the Union wants as Supt. but he's better that the one before. Who would be a better choice? The LAUSD has a hard time finding just a prinicpal for High School #9, the Arts school, so who would want the to take the top job?

[alohateacher]

My support goes out to those teachers who have and still are sacrificing so much for the students of LA. It is a shame that the antiquated union system does nothing to protect the younger, more enthusiastic teachers willing to do what they can to close the nation's achievement gap in inner-city schools. The disparity of access to a quality education is our generation's great civil rights battle. We support you fully!