Nearly 300 teachers from 13 teachers' associations in the Antelope Valley area attended a Day of the Teacher Rally at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center on May 8, where they were saluted by CTA leaders and local politicians.
With the theme "Proud to Teach," the event was organized as a show of unity. None of the participating chapters has yet settled contract negotiations for the 2001-02 school year.
CTA President Wayne Johnson salutes teachers in 13 chapters where contracts had not been settled.
Following proclamations presented by Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford and Lancaster Mayor Frank Roberts, CTA President Wayne Johnson offered strong support for the teachers' bargaining efforts.
"These districts that are offering 0 percent for this year ought to be ashamed of themselves," Johnson chided. "They deliberately built budgets that took into account a full 3.78 percent COLA from the state and then told you they had planned nothing for you. This shows you where teachers are among their priorities. Day of the Teacher proclamations are nice, but frankly, they're platitudes. And you can't pay your bills with platitudes."
Johnson urged the teachers to fight for what's right. "You are the education program. Nothing goes on without you in the classroom teaching the children."
This is not the first time that Antelope Valley locals have joined together around a common cause. CTA/ABC Committee Chair Bonnie Shatun praised their successful coalition efforts last November, when local chapters elected 15 out of 21 endorsed candidates to local school boards.
"People are looking to the Antelope Valley and seeing you as a strong political force," she said.
High Desert Service Center Chair Ken Kerr also praised the group's unity. "We stick together up here," he observed.
The rally generated further support for AB 2160, CTA's sponsored bill to allow teachers a voice in decisions about professional concerns like curriculum and textbook selection. Postcard writing tables were set up at the event where teachers could write to local legislators.
Chapters participating in the event were Acton-Agua Dulce Teachers Association, Antelope Valley Teachers Association, Eastside Teachers Association, Keppel Union Teachers Association, Lakes Teachers Association, Mojave Faculty Association, Muroc Education Association, Palmdale Elementary Teachers Association, Rosamond Teachers Association (So. Kern), Teachers Association of Lancaster, Tehachapi Association of Teachers, Westside Union Teachers Association, and Wilsona Teachers Association.
Frank Wells