Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/32596
Services Association (CCSESA), California Faculty Association (CFA), California Federation of Teachers (CFT), California Labor Federation AFL/CIO, California Nurses Association (CNA), California Professional Firefighters (CPF), California School Boards Association (CSBA), California School Employees Association (CSEA), California State PTA, California Teachers Association (CTA), Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), Community College Association (CCA), CTA/NEA Retired, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Equal Justice Society, Just Communities, Central Coast, National Education Association (NEA), Operating Engineers Local 3, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California State Council, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1000, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1021, Student CTA, UC Berkeley Labor Center, University of California Student Association (UCSA) It was their home turf, and United Teachers Los Angeles had a large showing at the rally. Sixth-grade teacher and UTLA member Jessica van der Valk came because she and her col- leagues have felt the impact of budget cuts and layoffs, with class sizes at her school ranging from 28 to 42. “We do a better job when we really know the child,” she said. “But when they lay off a col- league, we can’t because of the extra students. We need to extend taxes we’re already used to paying anyway; it would make a tremendous difference!” San Diego More than 2,500 people from throughout San Diego, Imperial, Orange and Riverside counties traveled to participate in the huge “Not Business As Usual” State of Emergency rally for public education at San Diego’s Embarcadero Marina Park North. San Diego Education Association President Bill Freeman welcomed participants to San Di- ego, and CTA Executive Director Carolyn Doggett gave welcoming remarks from the statewide Education Coalition. Rally speakers included California Teacher of the Year Darin Curtis from the Lakeside Teachers Association and Superintendent of the Year Lou Obermeyer of the Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District, both in San Diego County, and repre- sentatives from the District 9 Parent Teacher Association, the California School Employees Continued on page 38 clockwise from top left: Kasha Maslowski from Elk Grove rallies outside the state Capitol. Recently pink-slipped teacher Madalyn Gonzales (right) came to Sacramento with her daughter and grandchildren. High school students from Elk Grove joined the rally after school. Parents, teachers, public employees and other citizens gathered in San Bernardino in support of education. In Los Angeles, Pershing Square was full of people who believe in public education. MAY 2011 | www.cta.org 13