Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/29842
CTA members take action at the Capitol and throughout California At the Capitol: In a bold move to pressure lawmakers to pass the tax extensions our students and state so desperately need, CTA members are taking to the Capitol. During the week of May 9-13, members will be holding daily sit-ins to raise lawmakers’ awareness of the need for immediate action on tax extensions. There will be lobbying in the lobby and teach-ins on the lawn, but most importantly, educators will be front and center fighting for their students. cause the governor inherited a $25 bil- lion budget deficit when he took office this year, he proposed $12.5 billion in cuts to existing programs, along with a ballot measure that would allow voters to extend four temporary taxes to pro- vide the remaining $12.5 billion. The Legislature approved the cuts, but could not come to agreement on placing the tax extensions on the ballot. “Unfortunately, the Legislature has not been able to overcome partisan bickering in order to work together for the greater good,” Sanchez says. “And now it’s time for us to take some bold actions. We aren’t going to sit back while the negligence of some lawmakers bankrupts our schools, closes our parks, abandons our sick and elderly, and puts entire communities at risk. CTA has de- clared a ‘State of Emergency,’ and we are asking everyone to participate in events the week of May 9-13 designed to urge all lawmakers to pass the proposed tax extensions.” Set forth by CTA’s State Council of Education at its April meeting, the plan includes act ivities building from a week of sit-ins at the state Capitol to a massive “Not business as usual” mobi- lization on Friday, May 13, in which educators will participate in six major regional rallies. It’s anticipated that other groups will Throughout the state: To help local chapters organize and focus their events, State Council adopted the L.E.A.R.N. acronym, which provides a guide to activities. Here are suggestions for activities day by day: MONDAY 9 TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 10 11 12 13 THURSDAY FRIDAY L E A R N Choose from a number of LEGISLATIVE activities. > Role Reversals: Ask legislators, administrators, etc. to teach for a day. > Picket/rally in front of legislators’ offices. > Encourage people to participate in letter-writing campaign by offering raffle tickets. > E-mail members of Congress to pressure state legislators. > Phone calls and letters home to parents. > Hold “Grade-ins” in local malls to show the work of educators continues after the last Reach out to EVERY PARENT. bell rings. > Organize parent visits to classrooms so that they see the realities of class size. > College faculty can organize a teach-in. APPRECIATE Educators and ALLIES. > On Day of the Teacher, join with PTA and other parent and community groups to thank educators. > Make this a day of “Positive Action.” Coordinate blood drives, organ donor signups, etc. > Have public employees line the local main street to show support for public employees. > Meet with local chambers of commerce to talk about how cuts are hurting schools. > Focus on how much money has gone to bail out Wall Street and big corporations. > Every educator brings at least one friend to a regional rally. > Encourage mass participation of all college students at CTA rallies local to them. > Caravan to regional rallies. > Include voter registration drives at rallies. It’s NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL. > Ask each district to come up with “worst case scenario” budget and share this with everyone. > Have math teachers doing simple math lessons to show the consequences of budget cuts. > Educate members about the need for Tax Fairness. Utilize cta.org/taxfairness. Promote REVENUE extensions and tax fairness. APRIL 2011 | www.cta.org 9