More HUSD strike letters
By ksantos
Saturday, April 7th, 2007 at 5:24 pm in General, Hayward, Schools.
From Oakland’s Carla Schick:
The other day I saw an ad for entry-level diesel mechanics for Golden Gate Busses _ the starting salary is $71,000 with benefits. An entry-level teacher in Hayward earns about $48,000 a year, with benefits paid for out of that salary. No one wants to get on a bus that is poorly serviced. Yet we allow our teachers to be undervalued and underpaid, although the safety of our future is in their hands.
We must be willing to pay salaries that will attract and retain the best teachers, counselors, nurses and speech therapists. In Hayward, the money has been given to the district by the state, but the school board and the district administration have chosen to pass it on to high-level administrators rather than those people who work directly with students. Communities need to reclaim their public school system and take a stand in support of teachers.
From Hayward resident Lisa Brunner:
When the HUSD teachers announced a strike, I fully supprted them; I consider the 3 percent increase offer from the HUSD an insult for how hard our teachers work. The teachers are the stabilizing force within our school district. With barely 52 percent homeownership districtwide, we have a very unstable student base in some of our neighborhoods, causing a high turnover of students. Our teachers are dedicated. Over the past seven years, our teachers have worked with the district to keep it out of bankruptcy; in seven years they’ve received only a 7 percent raise against a 22 percent COLA increase from the state. The worst of it is our teachers have no health care benefits — they pay out-of-pocket. The cost of health insurance alone more than negates the 7 percent over seven years.
When the HUSD said they were offering 8.6 percent, it sounded like a good offer, and it would have been if it was offered under the same conditions as the 3 percent.
The HUSD has not shown that they value or respect the teachers who have made teaching a long-term career within this district. Like most parents, I would like to see the strike end, but until it does the teachers have my support. Please make an offer that shows our teachers are valued and quit playing numbers games.
From Hayward resident Eileen Samuelu:
I have three children, one in each level (elementary, middle and high school) who are now being affected by this strike. Due to this event, I have had to make last-minute arrangements with family and friends to care for my children.
As a parent, I have elected to keep my children at home during the strike because I don’t believe that, due to the strike, the schools are able to provide a safe and nurturing educational environment for my children. They are moving children into cafeterias, lunchrooms, libraries, or doubling up in small classrooms due to the shortage of substitutes who are acting more as babysitters than educators; they have lesson plans outside of the already in-place programs set by the qualified teachers and educators who now line the outside of the schools with picket signs. These teachers/educators for the past eight months have been preparing my children for college, for their future, guiding their education, but now they are not and my children are paying the price. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!
After calling each school to inform them that each child would not be attending due to the strike, the attendance person at my son’s high school (Mt.Eden) told me she would put down that he is taking a personal day. This, by definition of the school’s manual, is considered an unexcused leave, which is counted against him. She went on to say that because the school is still “open,” it is “his personal choice” not to attend. Yet in an earlier article, a student who did attend was told by the same administrators to go home. How is a teacher strike my son’s personal choice? Please tell me how she can have the nerve to say that it’s my son’s “choice” to remain at home because the conditions at school have changed and are currently unsafe and noneducational? Please explain to me how it is any parent’s choice to have their child stay home due to a strike we had no say in or control over, a strike that we had no part in negotiations for, a strike that now costs parents extra money that we don’t have to pay for day care because our priority is to keep our children safe?
These elected officials are there to prevent these situations from escalating to these levels, yet here we are placed in a position not of our choosing. Now my children have to pay the cost and I have to pay the cost. I do not appreciate these administrators who tell me that this strike is my personal choice because if it was up to me, if it actually was my choice, there would not be a strike on right now because I would have negotiated high enough that the teachers would have gotten an actual FAIR contract and not some ridiculous low percentage like 7 or 8 percent that the district has been offering after giving themselves a more than 16 percent raise. I’d throw in a supply expense program that would refund teachers for supplies they paid for out-of-pocket, which they do constantly to help stimulate the minds of our children.
These officials say our children are the future, they claim “no child left behind”, they say that education is top priority, but did they mean that “their” children are the future, that “their” children’s education is top priority and that the children, parents, and families of Hayward, outside of their own, aren’t so important? If they really do care about the communities in Hayward, then PROVE IT! Prove it by settling the teachers contract negotiations so that teachers can get back to what they love doing: teaching. Prove it by settling the teachers contract negotiations so that my children’s education and future are not jeopardized and can get back on track. Prove it by settling the teachers contract negotiations so that our children and our families are not penalized fir a situation we have no control over but have to pay for. DO IT because that’s what you are paid and elected to do.
My faith in California’s education system is diminishing quickly. We as parents and as voters tend to remember these things, especially around election time. I encourage them to settle this quickly as they may not be around next term to get the chance.
From Nicholas Halatsis of Hayward:
I have four children. Two have graduated from Hayward schools and gone on to college
This is a tribute to Hayward teachers. I will stand next to myteachers in the picket line.
Teachers deserve our respect and support.
Teachers deserve fair pay.
Schools … less jails.
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April 8th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Thanks to all the parents that are supporting us in this struggle.
I am a second year teacher, and I have already secured a job outside of the district for next year. My reasons for leaving have a lot to do with wanting to travel the world while I am still young, but it certainly made it easier for me to make this decision when my first year included being on the verge of strike and my second year has brought me to participate in my first strike.
Though I am leaving, I am strongly compelled to give every ounce of myself to supporting those that will stay behind after I am gone. Hayward is consistently losing teachers to other districts, not only because of the wage differential, but also due to the contemptuous attitude of those at the top.
What this comes down to is the quality of education in this district. If a competitive salary is not offered, many more will seek employment elsewhere. Students need to have experienced teachers to learn to their greatest potential, and even new teachers need experienced colleagues to help them develop as professionals. The students are being shortchanged by the policies of the district.
I would very much like to leave this district knowing that it is heading in a more positive direction. I would like to leave knowing that the teachers that are familiar with the communities and families that surround them will not be tempted to leave because they are disrespected in word and in action by their administration. Please support the Hayward teachers, because it means everything to the education of the students, to the strength of the community, and to the future of the district.
April 10th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
I would like to echo the same sentiments as “hayward teacher.” I am currently a fully-credentialed special education teacher with 7 years of experience in Hayward. I have taught at the same school since starting at Hayward Unified. While I enjoy teaching at my school site, I have been actively been seeking employment in other districts. I have been thinking about leaving Hayward for greener fields in past years, but events of this year have pushed me into actually submitting applications. I have had four interviews over the past two weeks and the special education director from another district actually gave me her home number to discuss potential employment in her district, despite the fact that she had no openings for the 2007-8 school year. It feels good to be respected.
I, too, am supporting this strike. The contemptuous attitude of HUSD’s administration has left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Yet despite my efforts to leave, I want to make sure that teachers in Hayward get competitive salaries.
I am not only an employee of HUSD, but I am also a homeowner in Hayward, so I have a vested interest in the education of this city’s students. I am a product of Hayward elementary and junior high schools and know and remember the dedication of my past teachers. My colleagues are dedicated professionals who really care about the quality of our students’ education.
Thank you to HEA, my fellow teachers, parents and residents of Hayward who support our efforts to make a better future for Hayward.
April 11th, 2007 at 9:55 am
For years I have heard… “AND they pay their own benefits!” this comment has never held water for me. Both myself, and my husband, pay our own benefits, what is the issue in that, many people do. I pay mine even after taxes, so that argument went over my head.
That was until a few weeks ago I was speaking to my friend that is a teacher at Shepard Elementary School. While discussing the possible strike issue she voiced the same statement. Because she is my friend and we were my house I felt comfortable to pursue this and said “So what, so do I.” Then she said, “I pay over $500 a month for my insurance.” I was astounded. She has Kaiser and so do I!
NOW my interest was peaked! I also have Kaiser and on an individual plan I pay $374 per month, I couldn’t believe that a person working for a non-profit organization with over 2,000 employees would pay that much more than me. Sooo I asked more questions… “What is your co-pay?” “Does it include other insurance like life, dental, etc?” Oh boy I was on a roll now.
The next opportunity I had at my daughter’s elementary school I began to ask teachers the question, “How much do you pay per month in medical insurance?” Whew… was I amazed because the answers varied from $400 to $1500 because they covered their families.
Now, because I am a “just the facts” kinda girl, I wanted more answers. So the next questions were “Why do they pay their own insurance?” and “How is it possible that it is so outrageously expensive?”.
The answer to WHY? was found on the HEA website entitled “October 18, 2006 – The Rising Costs of Health Care”.
“Health Care went on the salary schedule in 1996. At that time we added $4175 to each cell of each salary schedule. That amount increased at the same rate as the salary schedule. However, it became obvious that health care premiums were increasing faster than raises. Members therefore voted to move to CalPERS. The timing was good as health care premiums were being kept artificially low (the Hillary effect). Beginning with 2003 the increase in the salary schedule has not kept up with the escalating premiums. The negative numbers in the chart above reflect the amount the compensation for health care has fallen behind the average cost of premiums.”
Sooo, the answer for “Why they pay their own heath care?” is now clear, they voted to do that back in 1996 because it worked for them. However, due to the lack of cost of living raises from the school district the increase in coverage cost has now surpassed the original deal, making this now a hardship and bad deal for the teachers.
Okay, now that I know “Why?” I still have yet to find and answer to “How?” How is it possible that a large organization such as HUSD is cannot (or is it will not) negotiate a better premium for the employees? My health premiums have also increase (Kaiser is nothing but consistent on that) but I am still paying LESS than the teachers… How is THAT possible?
Kary Loredo-Welch, Parent Bowman Elementary School
April 11th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Teachers in Hayward deserve a far better deal than that which lay before them on the table. The deal that is on the website is not the truth and the statement that teachers and parents “aren’t leaving HUSD in large numbers,” contradicts articles and statements made by the administration and superintendent that teachers and students are leaving in droves. In fact, they can’t quite figure it out, although several parents have gone before the board and advised them that the curriculum doesn’t address every child. Teachers are forced to be NCLB compliant, ELL programs are being implemented everywhere; however, the GATE program is obsolete in our schools (unless phenomenal teachers keep them going, in addition to being NCLB compliant), gifted students are now bored and dropping out of school like flies or leaving the area. We need to differentiate our curriculum and give EVERY child and EVERY learner an opportunity. We have English Learners, G.A.T.E students, average learner, Special Needs learners and students requiring Intervention. We cannot put our focus and dollars on one type of learner. Additionally, I work for a district that actually gets along and respects its teachers. The students, parents, staff, administration, union and Superintendent work together with each other. Of course it isn’t a fairy tale; however, it isn’t a nightmare either. We don’t have individuals that are so far removed from the classroom, making decisions, which they aren’t completely sure of the impact on the KIDS in the classrooms. We have very wonderful teachers in the schools and they are compassionate to the students from all walks of life. They do their best to teach under the most severe cases, raising API scores and in some cases, being forced to “teach to the test.” This is an issue I won’t touch here, but it doesn’t work. Student’s learn through doing and enjoying education, not crunching numbers. They cannot retain knowledge in this way.
I came across an article from June of 2006 that spoke about the HUSD Administration needing a raise to equate them to the surrounding area, which they gave themselves. I don’t think they are thinking about the raise our teachers need to be equal to those in the surrounding area, nor are they thinking about how long the teachers have “compromised,” due to lack of money and dealing with the fact that the district has been in financial ruin for many years. WE, as community members, tax-payers and parents are tired of administration that comes into town and demands changes, all claiming that their way will work. WE need to make a change to our administration and get back to what works…building communities that work with each other, helping each other, where we have a vested interest in our children’s future. WE need leaders that FEEL the way we do and not those that want to LINE their pockets with MONEY and travel to Exotic Lands in FANCY cars. MY child and every child needs teachers that are well paid, treated fairly so that they feel respected and enjoy their jobs. When you enjoy teaching, you give more and offer up more volunteer time, creating homework clubs, after school enrichment activities, garden clubs, scrabble clubs, drama clubs, chess clubs, computer clubs, coaching sports activities and EVERYONE wins!!!!! Teachers stay longer and come earlier. Now don’t get me wrong, their ARE many teachers that do this anyway and I know many of them; however, treating them as individuals and giving them the respect they deserve. Teaching is hard work and we already have problems obtaining NEW teachers in this district, let’s give them what they deserve and do it now. Time is of the essence as teachers are currently planning for the new year and you know you don’t have enough teachers now. Come on, we had a PE teacher teaching Choir for goodness sakes. How can you give a student credit for watching movies? You know it, as I’ve been there too, working as a long-term sub. YOU need to think about your decision now and make the teachers, parents and students that back them happy or you will lose them ALL!
April 11th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
I too am a product of the Hayward Schools, Longwood, Rancho Arroyo (Ochoa), Sunset High School (graduated in 3 years), Chabot College and currently completing my credential at CSUH. (Cannot change the name) I never have experienced any contention when I was in school during those years and my teachers worked hard and were supported. The community bonded together and we enjoyed our small schools and our small community that helped support our endeavors and growth in the educational arena. I am still amazed at how “outsiders,” cause this to change. I’m not sure how or why “people,” believe that outsiders have more interest in our communities, schools, kids than those that spend their dollars here. We should have elected John Davini as Superintendent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep it in the community and that is where my heart and soul efforts will be placed! I’m a single divorced mother of four GATE students, very active in their community, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Church, volunteering, helping at home. I am a mother, teacher, small business owner and a F/T student!!! I WILL support the teachers in this community and I challenge anyone to follow suit with me! Let’s take a stance and make a change, as we are the only ones that seem to care!!!!
April 12th, 2007 at 12:24 am
Eileen Samuelu: I am with you 100%, my children are also staying home and I have two at Mt. Eden, one at Schafer Park and one at Lorin Eden.
Because of this strike, I’ve lost ONE day of pay, as a single parent and I’m having to pay $150 a week in child care expenses, which really is not my “choice.”
I am 150% in support of everything you stated and teachers pay for supplies, rewards for a job well-done, parties and the list goes on and on. You know, some teachers have to seek housing assistance because they cannot afford to live in this community on their salaries and that is a disgrace. I too believe the administrators only care about their kids and the school board officials, with the exception of ONE; aren’t doing their jobs. They also do not answer the phones when the community, who elected them, tries to reach them.
April 12th, 2007 at 7:42 am
Where is Mike Sweeney? The major of Hayward?? Who Promised when he was running for election that he would support and revidalize Hayward’s schools! He has been conspicuously absent throughout our trials. He comes from a background of parents who strongly supported unions. He actually was a teacher at the Sunset Adult School for many years! Where is he? Why is he hiding? Why isn’t he supporting us????
April 12th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Ms. Brenner,
can you speak to the rumor that the Schafer Park principal was calling parents, especially Latino parents and telling them that the police would be coming to their house if they didn’t send their kids to school? Someone “in the know” was teling people that at the rally at Birchfield Park. I was shocked since I know the principal at Schafer Park is a young Latina herself.
April 12th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
I have twins whom attend Markham elementry and since the very first day of school we have had nothing but problems. First the school intergrated the classroom to put first graders with the kinders (mine are kinder) instead of putting the first graders in the classroom that
had only twelve kids they decided to seperate my kids full class then add the first
graders to it so my girls had lost all the new friends they had made. The next day
the teacher quit then the next day they had a sub and after a few days i asked the sub
if he was a teacher and he said no it only worked in the library. So me and a few other parents went to the district and complained and a few days later we got a new teacher by the way is only a student. One of my twins took it very hard when her teacher left the first time and then on the first day of the strike it has tramatized her. She is under the impression that her teacher don’t want to work because of her and now she wants to take her piggy bank to school on monday so then her teacher can go inside. As a parent how can i tell my baby it has nothing to do with her? Now yeah i believe some teachers deserve a raise but NOT all. Markham has let a teacher that has pinched children still teach, My kids class in the morning has only eleven kids but yet are far behind the other two kinder classes , A friend of mines son is facing retention but yet the school and TEACHER basically says oh well. I had to bring it to the teachers attention the strengh and weakness of my daughter the monday befor last and as i believe the teacher should already know that. My point is “I SUPPORT MY KIDS” . The hayward teachers that have given the markham students the same we don’t care attitude should not recieve the parent support. Its unfair that teachers get paid little but hey i pay my taxes and as i believe why do my children have to suffer more because some idiot at the district missmanaged the money. The only ones that suffer is the kids and for the lady that wrote how teachers should be refunded the money cause of the extra supplies they bring in the classroom well in markham the parents have to buy the supplies ,they let us know that the second day of school. For every teacher in hayward yes i hope you get your raise but for markham teachers you all need a pay cut. Remember teachers took the job for kids not for money and if some commenters do their research better they would know kaiser will not charge a monthly fee of 1500 or more. I have kaiser and i pay close to 500 a month and that is under a family plan an out of pocket one with a very good co pay. Markham teachers get your picket signs put them in the garbage and do your job right then you would have the right to complain about a raise!!!!
April 13th, 2007 at 1:34 am
Dear Ms. Cienega,
I am sorry for the difficulties you have had at your daughter’s school. You are right to stand up for your children. I wish more parents did what you have done.
I think the problem with teacher shortage & retention of poor teachers can be in fact, tracked in part to Hayward’s teacher recruitment problem. At the school I teach at, there are classes (not many, but they do occur) still taught by substitutes & student teachers, because new teachers with full credentials are choosing to work in other districts.
I recall well that as a brand new teacher with thousands of dollars in student loans to pay off, I researched my future districts to select a district that would compensate me best. Sadly, if I were a new teacher now, I would not pick Hayward. Our pay is significantly lower than the pay in other districts. Regarding the health care costs, group plans do sometimes cost more because they do not have the strict rules re: pre-existing conditions that exclude many adults. A 100% healthy adult on a private plan may pay a lot less than an adult with a condition, even a common one such as seasonal asthma or diabetes. So, group plans can be either more or less expensive than private ones.
I do teach because of my love for students & desire to serve my community and country, but I do not feel that that means I should have an ever lower standard of living. We, the teachers, are not asking for more than the district has received in cost of living funds. We are asking that the increases that the taxpayers have paid, be distributed equitably, not concentrated in the district office, far from the employees and the children. And frankly, if some “idiot” as you put it, has mismanaged the money, no one should have to put up with it. Not you, not your children, and not the teachers either. It should be dealt with by the taxpayers who have the power to elect or recall the school board.
April 13th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Okay so we the taxpayers need to stand up for all teachers and complain so that you can get your raise . I get it. If I was in your shoes i would be pissed too. But I am on the outside looking in and from the outside i have seen that my kids education this year has been crap.. I blam it on the school and mainly its teachers. In the beginning of the year i was pregnant and had to deal with problems from the school. I had my baby and still had to deal with problems now my baby is almost six months and still problems. When will it stop!!!
Due to the new boundry changes my girls will be going to east ave and when i took all the paper work i was amazed. The school was very well kept i loved how everybody was nice and i found out how far along they are. Those kinder kids can read,write, and do art work wereas our schools kinder kids cannot. My kids need extra help and really it is only upon me to teach them because their teacher don’t know how. I have bought supplies at the lakeshore teachers store just so i can be my kids teacher. The homework they get is preschool work so i have to introduce them to new things. MY kids education is very important to me thats why the principle knew my name within the first week of school, thats why i have went to the district four times this year to complain. THE PROBLEM IS MARKHAM not the other schools!! SOME markham teachers but not all. So my opinion is based on my experience with them. And only them. And yes you teachers do not deserve to have a lower standered of living but neither does the man changing your tires, or the women working in the carwashes, or the people who have different jobs but get paid the same as you whom also live here in hayward that have expenses and families and health care to pay for and now on top of that have to pay for childcare cause the teachers are striking. Extra money that could go to their kids for food or clothes. Did you guys think of that! One thing i do know is money is everything in this world i see it with politicians and now teachers. Befor everyone was concerened with the kids and what can benifit them and now basically from what i see is the teachers are doing a bad job of teaching cause no raise or in other words why should they teach our kids when they don’t get paid good enough!! Once again i am commenting on markham not the others. Cause i do believe there is some great hayward teachers out there mainly ms.jun whom was their first kinder teacher. If only the other kinder teachers were like her. But as i know only one out of ten teachers are good. Two if your lucky.
April 14th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
To: Grant Peterson
From: Kary Loredo-Welch
Subject: Re: What can a parent do at this point?
Cc: jeffcook4schools@comcast.net, mtruehill@sbcglobal.net, pfrumkin@co.alameda.ca.us, sgonz50@comcast.net, heahayward@aol.com, knoceda@angnewspapers.com, bschimmel@sbcglobal.net cpetermann@husd.k12.ca.us, cquinn@husd.us, dvigil@husd.k12.ca.us
Mr. Peterson,
Thank you for at least responding to my email, however, you did not answer my question? What can a parent do? I’d like to take this opportunity to point out that you have a dedicated volunteer in your face saying, “Please let me help!” and your response is to point fingers! THEN you take your response to the newspaper further alienating parents and teachers.
HUSD has lost its perspective – this is NOT personal. This is NOT a competition between Dr. Vigil and Kathy Crummy. This is NOT about one or two administrators that are so special that they receive overpayment because they CAN’T be replaced… EVERYONE is replaceable. This is NOT about giving carte blanche to administrators allowing them to blatantly disrespect the very people they are supposed to be serving.
Recently while my husband and I were preparing our comments for a board meeting we sat down and shared with each other what we each planned to say. His opening comments were going to be “Why don’t we just get Dr. Vigil down here and have him punch Ms. Crummy in the nose, then we could get on with this.” Personally I thought that comment was harsh and uncalled for, but since we don’t edit each other’s comments, I just agreed to disagree. In the end he chose a different opening but the thought has stayed with me making me pay attention.
Now, after your email to me and your letter to the public it has become perfectly clear… this IS personal and by meeting with the instigator of this battle on a nightly basis, you have now pushed one more parent out of the school district.
With everything I have said at the school board meetings about own my personal fight to keep my daughter in a the Hayward schools, you would have thought that you’d appreciate how hard I have been fighting for this district and encouraged me. However, you have made my decision to leave this district easier. Have you NOT been listening?? Without the children, there is no district! Without the parents there will be no children.
Even if this strike is settled today, the damage that has been done is severe, YOUR school district is going to take years to recover from this. Good luck because we are on our way out. Again, my question was… What can a parent do at this point? I get it now, they can LEAVE!
Kary Loredo-Welch
At 12:20 PM 4/13/2007, Grant Peterson wrote:
Thank you for your email. I applaud the interest you have in Hayward schools. I am committed to providing our teachers with the best possible financial package our budget will allow. You may recall that when Dr. Gonzales, Mr. Cook and I were elected to the HUSD Board of Education in November 2003, district finances were in a shambles and the district was on the verge of being taken over by the state. The Alameda County Superintendent of Schools rejected the district’s budget and assigned fiscal advisors to oversee all budgetary decisions. It was after Dr. Vigil and the senior district office staff were hired and given the responsibility for eliminating deficit spending and righting the financial chaos that had been left us by previously elected boards that we began operating in the black and had a positively certified budget. I have no intention of casting any vote that will jeopardize the progress that has been made.
How does this relate to the HEA demands? First, keep in mind that HUSD and HEA have gone through the negotiating steps that bring us to where we are today: (1) Impasse was declared and a mediator was brought in to assist in finding a solution, but to no avail; (2) Fact Finding was demanded and that occurred with a neutral person agreeing that HUSD did not have the funds to meet HEA’s demands, and she recommended a 5% increase beginning January 1, 2007; (3) a HEA negotiator rejected out-of-hand the neutral’s carefully thought-out recommendations, and that rejection paved the way for the current work stoppage.
We have spent many hours seeking an equitable solution within budget constraints. It is my judgment that each member of the board is committed to a fair and just settlement. I personally subscribe to that commitment. Unfortunately, the $15 to $18 million that would be required to fund the HEA demand is not there and even if the County Office of Education were to allow us to offer that, we would bankrupt the district.
Again, thank you for communicating with me. I share the frustration that comes through in your messages. I had hoped that yesterday’s negotiation sessions would show some real progress, but the proposal received from HEA was even more expensive than the previous two. It is very discouraging.
Sincerely,
Grant F. Peterson, President
Hayward Unified School District Board of Education
22441 Amador Street
P.O. Box 5000
Hayward, CA 94540-0001
husdtrustee.grant@comcast.net
Date: 4:59 pm 4/9/2007
To: husdtrustee.grant@comcast.net …snip… jeffcook4schools@comcast.net
From: Kary Loredo-Welch
Subject: What can a parent do at this point?
Cc:
I have started four emails then deleted them all because I want to offer a suggestion to help fix this situation and can’t seem to think of one. I AM however, offering my services to anyone that needs help to try to resolve this terrible situation before our children have to face picket lines again next week.
I must admit I agree with the taunt, “Shame on Schimmel”. Was he apologizing for the email and the degradation to the teacher and other teachers alike, or was his apology because he got caught? I understand that he’s done a heck of a job helping dig our district out financially, but if this keeps up there will be NO district to keep afloat. A speaker at the last board meeting pointed out that we are named Hayward UNIFIED School District, I would think that anyone caught sabotaging this should be reprimanded or fired.
Declining enrollment has been the buzz word from the District… I am curious… any good leader does an ‘exit review’ when someone leaves and asks WHY? Who is doing that with these students? For the transfers, who is contact these people and asking WHY? What is being done to RETAINE the students we now have? Is there a procedure in place for this? I have been asking, reading and searching I curiously find a lack of follow through with the children that are or have left.
Please let me know if there is any one particular thing that I can do to help change what is happening in our district above and beyond what I am already doing.
Kary Loredo-Welch
April 14th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
The reason he did not answer your question is that he probably didn’t even read your generous offer, Mr. Peterson sent you the same form letter my wife received from him.
I too agree that Schimmel should be publicly reprimended, and his 16%+ payraise rescinded as not deserved,
As a Hayward parent and tax payer, I believe Mr. Vigil and Mr. Schimmel should go. They are a lame duck administration that can’t possibly be effective since the service employees don’t want them, the teachers don’t want them, and the parents don’t want them. How can they be our leaders, considering where we are at?
I think the board should have at the very least acknowledged the e-mail snafu, and their silence tells me a lot about them…
After reading today’s statement from Mr. Peterson, I now believe we also need a new board as well. His attempt to blame the current situation on Mrs. Crummey is proposterous. Mr. Peterson, have you forgotten that the teachers VOTED to go on strike?
I have joined the teachers on the strike line. When the time comes, I will volunteer my time to the effort of finding a board that truly respects their teachers, and are willing to come forth in their defence when appropiate, instead of codling their overpaid administrators who have so poisoned the relationship between the teachers and the district.
Mr.Peterson, wake up!, It takes two to tango, and the board certainly has to share on the blame for the current situation.
April 14th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Let us not forget….Dr. Gonzales and Mr. Peterson are both former district administrators. Dr. Gonzales was in HUSD and Mr. Peterson was in New Haven. They are coming from the perspective of management…not of the teacher, the sudent, the parent or community member. Birds of a feather…
April 14th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Ms. Cienega-
I am sorry you feel your children’s education is suffering at Markham. As teachers, we try to create the most positive classroom environment possible, but school circumstances often prevent us from accomplishing many things that we need in order to help all our students. For example, I receive no aides in class, no money for teaching supplies, and no in-classroom support from parents. There are few intervention programs and no GATE programs available.
It was not a teacher’s decision to make your daughter’s classroom a split K-1 class. I can confidently say that no teacher wants to teach a split class. Those decisions are forced upon us by district management to save money. They are sacrificing your children’s education so they don’t have to hire additional teachers. Many teachers have left the school because they refused to teach a split class. They have years and years of experience, but know that teaching such a class is a huge obstacle to being able to effectively teach all students. How can a first year intern teacher even be asked to teach a split? Go ask Hayward Unified, and while you’re there you might want to ask how they’re supporting that first year teacher. The answer would be not at all.
Our school has had four different principals in the past four years. Although we have been making improvements this year, we still have a challenging environment to work in. We have lost many wonderful teachers to better-managed schools and districts. Markham has not been able to attract veteran teachers because of its impending closure.
As John Kennedy so eloquently beseeched us from the Berlin Wall four decades ago, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” It would be great if you could volunteer in the classroom and help make Markham a better school. If you could pour your energy for complaints instead into positive action, you could help improve the school climate. If more parents showed they cared about their children’s education in this way, I’m sure we could overcome some of Markham’s problems. Unfortunately, not all Markham students have supportive families and parents committed to improving their educations.
I wish you were more familiar with the dedication of our staff. I work from approximately 7:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday trying to do the very best I can for my students. I spend quite a bit of my own money on incentives and additional instructional materials. My paltry salary barely covers my living expenses. The veteran Markham teachers I know are extremely dedicated professionals who have chosen to stay at the site despite poor management, low pay, and lack of support.
I hope you’re happy with East Avenue, but at this rate, there might not be very many teachers left there, either. Hayward teachers receive no support from HUSD. We are constantly disrespected by them. I am planning to move to a better district, joining the hundreds of teachers who have already fled HUSD in the past few years.
April 14th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Let us not forget that last year the district also voted to close some schools in Hayward to help with the financial solvency. Schimmel has been shaking things up with the approval of the Board of Education since last year, while the teachers and students are being left in the dust. I was distressed to read the letter from the Markham parent. I know there have been plenty of qualified hard-working teachers there, but one of the problems now is, since the board voted to close Markham, it is “the school the district forgot”. There are still some great teachers and staff there, don’t get me wrong, but the district dumped 2 other schools at that sight (Charquin and Project Schools), dismantled a brand new state of the art computer lab, and hired teachers that are not fully credentialed (what teacher would want to take their career to a closing school?).
As for Mr. Peterson, I have been to far too many board meetings where I figured he spelled it “bored meeting”. Half the time the board isn’t listening to presenters or they look like they are asleep, and Mr. Peterson is one of the worst offenders. I also think he is passing the buck when he (and the rest of the board) need to admit they were wrong in approving 16.84% raises over the summer before looking at the teacher salaries.
Viva la Huelga!
a pissed off teacher
April 14th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Mr. Peterson should be concerned with test scores and losing Title One funds for not testing the required percentages of students at Title One sites at this point. The testing window opens on Monday and the teachers are in full blown “mutiny mode”. Rather than be so adversarial he needs to start trying to make peace with HEA and the teachers and nurses and counselors and speech therapists (and all the parents and classified staff who support the aforementioned!) or this thing is going to get really really ugly and the district will end up way worse off than they can imagine. The test scores are going to be way lower than usual anyway, which will have financial repercussions. The kids are going to be so “off” when they get back and there are only two weeks to get all the testing done at this point let alone final preparations that they will not do well. I do not understand why these people on the board and district bargaining team have dug in their heels on this issue and are not coming up with decent offers after letting Kowal and her crew rob us blind, and then be dazzled and conned by this new band of carpet baggers. this school board is not the swiftest group of people Hayward voters! You can RECALL the board!
It is time to wake up and take ACTION!
April 14th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
I just visited HUSD site and when I tried to see what information they are posting in spanish, I was disapointed that they have not updated the information since the day before the strike started!
This comes to show how much they appreciate all those parents in Hayward that do not read english, by keeping them in the dark
April 14th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
I agree with you “another tired teacher” . Our kids will be the ones to suffer. So while everyone is discussing money and how much they want, can get , or can’t afford to give the teachers
our kids will fall more behind then they already are. What about the kids when will they come first. I have a great idea lets put ms. crummy and mr.vigil in a room and lock them in there until those two can reach a settlement. As a voter i did not vote for vigil but that doesn’t matter because he won anyway and now we have to deal with it. So lets deal with it. Cause while every one is busy standing up for their own rights I will be standing up for the rights of my kids.
1. All kids deserve a teacher that is QUALIFIED (not a student)
2. All kids deserve to get extra help when needed (not only when a teacher feels like it)
3. Teachers / HUSD all of you get your heads out of your *** and remember the kids
4. Lets not just recall the board members but lets fire the teachers that cannot perform their jobs correctly.
On monday i will not sport a sign on my truck that says i support the teachers i will have one that says “I SUPPORT THE KIDS” cause that is where the focus needs to be. Both sides for the benifit of the hayward kids get your acts together this distrct is already “crummy” lets not make it worse and remember these kids are our future!!!!
April 14th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
***To MARKHAM TEACHER***
First let me say i did offer my help ! I tried to be a parent helper! But i was rejected! Every single holiday that the classrooms have parties I HAVE PAID FOR THEM!!!!! Holloween i brought everything and to think a few hours later i gave birth to my baby!!!! I have brought supplies for my kids in the beginning of the year and where are they “I DON’T KNOW!! My kids have only did two art projects within the whole year and i brought eight boxes of crayons five glue sticks nine stencils and a big pack of construction paper from costo and where did it go???? Would you like to see the reciept cause yes i do still have it!!And by the way if you read my first letter on here you would have seen i went to the district and complained about the first graders coming into the kinder class! Oh and please get your facts straight the kinder kids are in the class from 8:30 – 11:50 and after lunch is when the first graders come in so let me break it down to you so you can understand our kinder kids are really in a seperate class with the teacher there is no comunication between the kinder and first graders they don’t even see each other so really in the morning the teacher has only eleven kids ! So please **MARKHAM TEACHER** explain to me now why room three is far behind room two and one?
Since you **MARKHAM TEACHER** have all the answers it seems tell me why the sub in room two is still alowed to teach after pinching my daughter , and two other students? I confronted her and the principle and yet because of her thirty years experience she still gets to work!
Tell me why my daughters teacher didn”t even know she couldn’t read until she over heard me asking another teacher for help? Then even to add salt to the wound she comes up a few days later saying that she was suprized to see my kids can read a little bit. Now their teacher is a good person don’t get me wrong i do like her but she is not doing her job to the fullest. And please no excuses cause she only has eleven kids !
Okay so you start at 7:30 well please insight me …tell me why at least four times a week when i arrive at the school at about 8:20-8:25 my kids teacher is bearly waltzing in herself? The chairs are always still ontop of the desks to where me and another parent take the ones around our kids down! You cannot say that i have not been an active parent in the school cause i have done everything in my power to help! I have even bought my kids their own kinder wookbooks ,cvc reading books and other teaching supplies such as coins to teach the value of money and counting ,flash cards and even i bought my own dry erase board ! I have a room in the house that now is a guest /school room!
So do not tell me to pour my energy into something else instead of complaining because at this point i “AM” my kids teacher and i am not getting paid or reimbursed for it . Still my tax dollars go to you and yours!! As for the district they don’t listen to the parent ” isn’t that right Debra “.
So basically **MARKHAM TEACHER** if your trying to say all im doing is complaining well then “it is what it is”. Your school is crap! I will not put all the blam on my girls teacher cause she was thrown into a bad situation and more cause she is still a student the ones who should have taken the intergrated class should have been the teachers in room 1 and 2 the ones who have experience! Now since you love your markham teachers so much then tell me why they let that happen? Oh i know why it’s cause they don’t care! Don’t tell me different cause “A” teacher did fill us in on how things run and teachers do get a choice! Opps sorry i spilled the beans . was that confidential info well sorry not no more! And about the strike lets see what happens monday cause i will be there with my girls and if its like it was on thursday then i will take them home not in support of you but because i will not leave my kids somewhere that is unsafe!! Oh and by the way **MARKHAM TEACHER** just so you know my lil one saw her teacher on that thursday holding the sign so now my baby wants to take her piggy bank to school on monday to give to her teacher she she can go back inside.. I hope that makes you feel good !!!!!
April 14th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
SO, where has and is all the money going? The state increased school districts’ budgets by a permanent 8.08%–this increase should be spread out evenly with an across the board increase in salaries for certificated and classified personnel, para-educators and members of SEIU 790. We should also be seeing an 8.08% increase in our classroom budgets.
Mr. Peterson continues to plea poverty. The school board needs to be held accountable for how they spend public funds. There is no reason why district workers should not receive our fair share.
Another point: the neutral in the fact-finding sessions had only the district’s budget to go by. The neutral is not an auditor. If the district is “hiding” money with “creative budgetting,” the neutral would not find this.
Why is HUSD acting like it is a corporation that needs to earn a profit? The district should be spending every penny it gets, except for the 3% reserve, on the education of our students. Part of that budget, and the biggest part, is the salaries of those who work with our students.
If the district administrators did not show up for work, education would go on as usual. If the people who work with the students everyday do not show up at work, everything stops. This is precisely what is happening during the strike.
April 14th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
There are actually no beans to spill when talking about job assignments. We fill out a form at the end of the year stating our first, second and third choices. If there is a combination class to be had, volunteers are sought out first. If nobody volunteers, the class is assigned based on who is next in line. Because combination classes are extremely difficult to manage, they are not often volunteered for. There is a cycle…if a teacher has a combination class this year, they won’t get it next year. I have never seen clandestine operations when doling out the combination classes. Principals have the ultimate say in what teacher is going where. If a principal wants us there…that’s where we will go. We have ABSOLUTELY NO SAY in where we are placed per the contract.
Ms. Cienega, I am sorry to hear of your negative experiences at your daughter’s school. This strike is heartbreaking for you, for your children and, yes…for us. The children are number one. I agree with you. We are seeing a pattern in HUSD that is severley jeopardizing the future of Hayward children. If the teachers aren’t paid a decent wage, qualified teachers will not come to Hayward to teach. The district will have to fill the classrooms with less experienced teachers. Once these teachers gain some experience, they will go to surrounding districts that pay a living wage. Hayward is becoming the training ground for new educators. Is this what we want for our city?
While the children come first, teachers have families of their own. Gone are the days when teachers were not allowed to marry. Gone are the days when teachers were not allowed to have children. Gone are the days when teachers had no lives outside of their jobs. Teachers are not clergy. We are not missionaries. We have rent to pay (mostly because we can’t afford to buy property), we have children to feed, we have $7,000-$19,000 in health care to pay for. We have all of the same expenses that everybody else has. Of course the students are important. But there is a point that people have to realize that teachers are people. We are human beings that need to pay the bills and feel like our employers value us. Why is it wrong for us to ask for that? I don’t understand why we should not have the same rights to a living wage as anyone else. I keep hearing about the taxpayer dollars. Taxes pay for police officers and firefighters, too. They get overtime pay, paid medical coverage and a beginning salary of about $80,000 per year, depending on the city they work for. They certainly deserve every penny. Why is it that people get so angry when teachers ask for a raise? They say that we should be “doing it for the kids”. Well…that’s all well and good…but it certainly doesn’t pay my rent. I do what I can for my kids. We can only give so much. If you could work in “Job A” for $47,000 per year or in “Job B” for $57,000 per year…which would you choose? We could easily go to “Job B”. We don’t want to because we ARE here for the kids. We love our community and don’t want to leave. Unfortunately, a love for teaching doesn’t pay the rent.
April 14th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
SPECIAL ED….
Did i say you should not get a raise no i did not!!! The teachers whom deserve it do and the ones that don’t no!!
I know you have bills to pay,food ,gas,ect.ect.. everyone does.
And sadly you have not seen what went on in markham so there fore you cannot comment on about what the teachers chose or was assigned in the kinder first grade intergration. I am speaking about facts real things not made up stuff just to make you teachers angry. Their first teacher had already taught an intergrated class so it was not her turn to do it.
Oh yeah i know teachers are people too and you seem to have all the answers just like the “MARKHAM TEACHER” so in my last little letter why don’t you answer those other questions of mine. And please read right I HOPE YOU ALL DO GET A RAISE!!!! only for the sake of the kids.
April 15th, 2007 at 9:17 am
Ms. Cienega-
Obviously, teachers don’t want your child to bring her piggy bank to school. Most of your message is a rant, and I am sorry you have been so disrespected. I don’t know why you’re blaming teachers instead of the District. The District hires unqualified subs, teachers do not participate in those decisions. There was a sub who actually dragged a student down the hallway earlier this year. Teachers complained and asked for that sub to be removed from the pool of sub candidates, but she was not removed and was used again after that. I would not accept her as a sub in my classroom. That woman is not a teacher and she needs to be dismissed. I don’t have all the answers. But I do know that HUSD is poorly managed at many levels.
I do my best for my class every day. I buy supplies for my classroom. I come in on the weekends to make my classroom better for them. But I have two children of my own who suffer when I am not at home with them. I am my children’s teacher, as is every parent who decides to bring a child into this world. Obviously, any hard work I do or my fellow teachers do will not be appreciated by you. I can only do my best for my class and try to imagine that most parents will appreciate my efforts.
In fact, your negative attitude and anger are destructive and toxic to the entire school community. I’m sorry I replied to you earlier. I was trying to explain the situation rationally, but I can see that your anger prevents any real communication.
I wish you and your children the best of luck in their new school. I hope it may become everything you want it to be and live up to your expectations.
April 15th, 2007 at 9:28 am
Mrs. Cienega,
The person you need to take all your answers to is the Principal in charge of **MARKHAM** not the teachers. The PRINCIPAL IS IN CHARGE! The PRINCIPAL determines who goes where it is all done by the teacher completing a form 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice, but the overall outcome is classroom assignments are done by the PRINCIPAL. The PRINCIPAL is in charge of making sure all their teachers are there on time so that class is ready to go when the bell rings in the morning. **DON’T BE ANGRY AT THE TEACHERS GET ANGRY WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE WHO MAKE THESE DECISION REGARDING CLASSROOM ADJUSTMENTS IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR** WE ARE ALL TIRED OF THIS STUFF TOO!!
April 15th, 2007 at 9:33 am
ATTENTION PARENTS:
OUR children ARE the District!
Without our children there wouldn’t be jobs.
There would be no need for teachers,
administrators or school board members.
Parents we MUST take ACTION! If changes are not made we will continue to see more of the same tragedy that is already happening in our school system.
- Join a parents group at your child’s school! (PTA, PTO, Booster Club, etc). GO to a meeting, listen, ask questions and find out what is happening at the school.
- Tell the school board how you feel by going to the meetings, sending them emails, or calling them!
- Talk to the teacher or principal and ASK what you can do to help.
- Write a letter. Make copies and give them to the principal, the parent group leaders, school district and the school board.
- Join the “Hayward Parent Link” yahoo group. Talk to other parents. Go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hayward_Parent_Link/ or send an email to: Hayward_Parent_Link@yahoogroups.com
- Encourage other parents to get involved. Join forces, raise your voices and speak up!
April 15th, 2007 at 10:44 am
You say that my “negitive attitude and anger is toxic and disruptive to the entire school community”. Well if you had read clear enough in my last letter to you then you would see it has been markham and some of its teachers that have made me this way! And I am not the only parent that feels like this. I am the only one strong enough and bold enough to say what i think and feel. Isn’t it why we are allowed to write letters like this so we are able to say what we think and feel.
So really what you and the strike supporter are saying is that it is the districts fault that our class is behind. Well sorry to burst your bubble but it IS the teachers fault Mr.vigil is not in the class teaching them. She is! Now my intentions were not really to make all markham teachers look bad cause like i have said before it is not ALL of them it is a few! And yes there are some very good markham teachers and i have been lucky to meet them. So do they deserve a raise YES. Does my daughters teacher NO!
My only expectation is that my girls have a teacher that cares about their education, that knows their strenghts and weakness without me having to tell them, and one when i ask for more help or more homework can provide it or at least recommend what materials i can buy. Is that too much to ask for. Maybe in your eyes yes. You say all im doing is ranting well then take it how you want cause really i could care less what you think!
you call me toxic well is that not a insult! As you can see i am brave enough to use my real name. I am not scared to stand up and say what is on my mind. And about blaming the principle. Well i have already brouhgt everything to sandras attention and she knows that some of us parents blam her for whats going on within the school but once again it is not her fault that the teacher cannot keep up it is the TEACHERS fault.
From what i see from you is that you can dish the insults but cant take them. Well guess what all your doing is ranting to. But this is freedom of speech i can say what i want and so can you. If you feel the need to call me toxic you can approch me at the school every morning at 8:20-8:30 and then from 11:45-11:50 i am always there! I will be the one with the twins and the baby so if there is anything else you would like to say or any more insults then i invite you to say it to my face.
Editor’s note: An offensive statement has been removed from the end of this post. While The Daily Review is supportive of free speech and all parts of the First Amendment, the HayWord is not a venue for name-calling — no matter the language — or comments that do not contribute to the general dialogue. The HayWord is an extension of The Daily Review, therefore, we will not allow anything that wouldn’t be publishable in the newspaper. This includes profanities. Should this happen again, the poster(s) will be blocked from further commenting on the blog.
April 15th, 2007 at 11:22 am
Dear Leslie:
If what you are trying to do is excersice your right of self expression I support you on that, however, why hide your comment by writing it in spanish!
I won’t lower myself by translating the last line of your previous comment for the benefit of people who read this blog but speak no spanish, it is simply unacceptable to use that kind of lenguage in ANY context if you expect constructive dialogue to take place,
You obviously have some issues with your child’s teacher. If you have received no satisfaction from your principal, take it further up, but please, lets keep the dialogue civilized. I certainly hope you are not teaching your children these words, I hope for their sake they don’t take up your attitude.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Thanks, Fernando. I know exactly she said as I speak Spanish. I have no comment for her. Her words speak for themselves and illustrate her character quite clearly.
Thank you for your calmness, Fernando. I was merely trying to say that there are many good teachers at Markham. If she chooses to go postal, that’s her choice. I choose to reject her vitriol.
Freedom of speech and respect for everyone’s right of self-expression is extremely important to me as a teacher. I choose to try and not make this personal. I have better judgment than that.
I hope she realizes that no one in their right mind would willingly approach a woman who would use such language. I only hope she doesn’t expose her children to that type of language at home.
April 15th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Oh my! Ms. Cienega. I speak Spanish too and am appalled at that last comment. Please refrain from personal insults. Your anger is clearly noted, though misdirected. There ARE bad teachers, just like there are bad doctors, pilots, mechanics, engineers, etc. I certainly agree that those teachers either need to be “relieved of their duties” or receive extensive training.
Please don’t take your anger out on the school. You say you offered to volunteer and were refused? At first I thought, “Why would a teacher REFUSE the help of a parent?” Then I read your final insult (in Spanish) and it all became clear.
You also insinuated that you teach your child as much as the teacher does. But you said she still has trouble reading. It’s a tough job, isn’t it?
Please try to keep focus on the point at hand which is, teachers in Hayward are due for a raise, the state has provided the funds, so we are asking for what is due to us.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
the last comment in spanish was really my husband and what he thinks of ms. markhams comments to me. and no ido not teach my kids to speak bad and from the mouth of their teacher ” your girls are the best behaved”. i was mot the only one denied to help so once again you are passing judgement . If that is how you all work and think then you know what you dont deserve a raise!!!! My kids can read because of me not for their teachers work . Because my love for them and their education so now i see it is fine for one of YOU to insult a parent but it is wrong for us parents to insult you. Well i certainly see why mr.vigil has not givin you guys a raise!!!!!
April 15th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
A strike is hard on families, the teachers and the school district–on that we can all agree—I’ve had three children go through the Hayward School district and I’ve heard put-downs regarding our schools (some subtle, some not ) for years. I’d like to applaud the number of hard working teachers that have taken special interests in my children over a 15-year ( and counting) period. Fine teachers at Treeview, especially, gave my kids the framework that allows them to continue their endeavors today. That being said, these men and women did not take a vow of poverty in order to teach. I’ve seen much flight out of Hayward over the years by those in search of “better schools” and “better areas”—If we want to stop that flight and want familes to continue to invest and reinvest in Hayward, support the HEA so that our good teachers stay in Hayward!
Support Hayward Teachers!
April 15th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Wow
I can fully understand the teachers wanting better for themselves and their families. However the only ones suffering are the children. A teacher who teaches because of the love of teaching would stay in the classroom and use other alternatives for getting a better contract. Unfortunately a teacher who is only working for a paycheck is one who does not care about the children and would be one of the first ones on the picket line. Many of the children are below basic in several areas of education this is due to lack of desire in alot of teachers. Do not get me wrong there are so many GOOD TEACHERS out there and I greatly appreciate that . I live Do you know that the starting wage in Sacramento school districts is 39,691 and in Heyward it is 46,758 ? My Sacramento teachers work hard and also pay for many things out of pocket . A motivated teacher who was having trouble with supplies and the district was not responding would rally for donations from local chains like Walmart you would be suprised how much assistance can come of a few phone calls . My Sacramento teachers brought a school that was close to closure back up to success with all students rising in california test scores . All on their own back . When a teacher does not even know if a student can read or not that shows me that they are not doing their job. It is almost May and our children are going to pass to the next grade .How are we sure that they are ready. This type of teacher is just working to get a paycheck not because they care . Poor Ms. Cienega she is just frustrated that her babies are not getting a good start–isnt kindergarden the base, without a base what is in the future. As a parent I can understand that worry. As for healthcare we all have horrible expenses. As part of kaiser family plan if you are that low income you can get better rates just opt out of company insurance many do it . In the end the only ones that are suffering are the children and we are forgetting about our future …
April 15th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Shame on you.
April 15th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Tiime out! No more name calling this is not helpful, Anyway, it is not up to Mrs. cienega nor Dr. Vigil to decide whether we deserve a raise. We got a raise in the form of a cost of living allowance from the state and it was withheld from us by the board. That is the point of this whole fight. The board again is failing to excercise their authority and realize that they are in charge not Dr. Vigil. They are his boss, not vice versa.
Mrs. Cienega, you deserve to feel that your children are getting the best education possible. If you are not happy, you have the right to demand that the district allow you to change schools.
April 15th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Don’t let this blog generate into name-calling or focus on one person’s issues. This is about wider issues. Focus on all the parents who are supporting teachers. Focus on all Hayward graduates who are now teachers in the district.
We should be using this blog as an exchange of ideas; not personal problems or vendettas.
Most teachers I know work very hard–60 or more hours a week, with work after school and on the weekends. Most teachers I know say they have no time for friends. Most teachers I know work even during our so-called vacations. We do this because we care about the quality of our work and our students.
With all the bureaucratic and political nightmares in education right now, we keep going because of the students.
We, as teachers, don’t expect to get rich. But as one sign said–we did not take a vow of poverty to become a teacher.
During this strike, let us honor the students, parents, community and teachers who are striving for a better educational system for all.
During this strike, let us remind ourselves that Vigil and Schimmel and many of the district administration have come to Hayward with huge salaries and will leave with great retirements. They have no commitment to the Hayward Community. Teachers, many of whom have taught in Hayward for 20 to 30 years, have a commitment to the community which we serve. We are here until the end of our career.
So on these pages let’s reflect on what we can do to win the struggle for education and justice for students and workers.
April 15th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
I tried to post a comment earlier, but for some reason it is not posting. So let’s try this agin. I am a mother of a kindergarden student at Markham Elementary. Unfortunately, my son has been robbed of a decent education, considering the events that have already taken place this school year. As Mrs. Cienega mentioned earlier, our kindergarden class was disrupted at the beginning of the year, the kids went through a couple of subs before they finally got their permanent teacher. And of course, they got a teacher who is still a student. For the district to throw a student into an already difficult situation was totally wrong. I, along with a few other parents, immediatley took this to the principal, Sandra Escobedo, and she told us to go to the district. So we did, and we got the run-around. (I am sure that all HUSD teachers are familiar with that).
After reading all of the comments on this page, my goal is only this…to try to help people understand that parents like Mrs. Cienega and myself are angry..and yes most of it has to do with the quality of education that our children are given. But under no circumstances do I want anyone to think that I do not support Hayward teachers. I do, just not all of them! And I am completely unhappy with the way that the district handles things. What can we do as parents to prevent things like this strike from happening? What can we do as parents to keep subs out of the classroom that put hands on our children!? I do understand that teachers have to pay their bills, but why do our children have to pay the price!!!
April 15th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Perhaps home schooling would be a viable option.
April 16th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
It’s seems our children are paying the price. The District AND the teachers are BOTH responsible for this. I am defenitly moving out of the district, this summer! IMHO both sides are being selfish.
I guess our children will be having a longer summer vacation, then expected. Cooler heads will not prevail in this situation because you cannot reason with people whom do not want to listen!
It has been shown neither party cares about the children. I see more of the community leaving Hayward. Im sure the Mayor is also more concerned about who will win the next Ball Game Giants/or A’s then to also give a helping hand in this matter. Like i stated above, all whom should be concerned are not! BYE BYE HAYWARD, Hello to a district ( NOT HAYWARD) that really cares!!!
April 16th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
home schooling for a kinder the district is really against that since they need the social interaction these are not special or troubled students these are normal healthy kids
April 16th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Special Ed,
Are you saying that since Markham School teachers are inadequate that we should home school our kids?
April 16th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I’m sorry, let me be a little more specific…because my son’s teacher is inadequate, I should home school him?
April 16th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
hey how about this if we are all homeschooling our students then you would not have a
job. A higher unemployment rate oh and i dont know why this did not post earlier last night to markham teacher—shame on Who??? you should be
ashamed !!! all of your opinions read IIIII there is no I in team , teachers students parents and staff alike are a team for our children. Do you care that your students are losing education. I did not think so . It sounds like to me you are the complainer and you just want parents to support you without being able to voice things. You speak about going to the district to complain . Have you ever tried that?? Complaints fall on deaf ears . You are turned away . FrComplaints go from teachers who say to go to the principal, who tells you to go to the district who then tells you to go to the principal it is a circle that the parents are getting pushed out of yet you want our support
April 16th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
“TO ALL WHOM HAVE MADE NEGITIVE COMMENTS TO ME”…….
My point on this blog is to show another side of what is happining with MARKHAM school and some of its teachers . I have said many times that the teachers do deserve their raises. I am not against it i am all for it. But when you have a teacher who hurts little kids and then is demanding a raise then sorry but she should not get one. And another teacher whom has only eleven kids in her class and cannot handle them or teach them correctly and whom is still a student then no she should not get a raise YET! When ms. markham started to insult me i got offended so yes i will fight back and i will do it full force!!!!
Today i had a very bad experience at markham with my kids. My daughter lissette said she wanted to give her school work to her teacher so she could see “how good she colored within the lines” I said okay ! when we got there i approched her and and said can she at least correct the things that are wrong(my baby likes to make her teacher happy so when she makes a mark that something is not right then lissette will come home and right away fix it that is what makes her day) Then another male teacher approches and basically starts problems in front of my little ones saying that she wont take the work and telling her not even to look at it!! All in front of my baby. And he mentioned about the raise and money so i got angry went to my truck and then handed the teacher almost double her hourly salary and he took my kids work folders from her and put on my truck basically rejecting it in my daughters face. so yes i told the teacher she was “a bad word up” and then all the teachers basically came after me yelling at me saying how i am basically i am bad parent in front of my daughters. Now yes i do cuss but i have taught my kids better than that and that is why they do not use bad language. Every body who knows me knows what kind of good manners my kids have so for you to judge me by saying i am a bad mother than “SHAME ON YOU’!
I then walked into the office and yet another surprise the school hasnt even had packets ready for the kids so i left markham with my twins and my baby in arms and we headed for the husd.
When i got there it was the same thing so many protesters but i held strong and get going when a teacher commented on how cute my girls are then started talking to me. Along with her and a few other teachers they broke it down to me and explained everything even the new proposel which does seem reasonable and then i explained to them everything that has happened to me and my kids at mark ham from the begining of the year until this morning and they were shocked!!!
They told me alot of good information things i did not know. And basically they told me that teachers like that are the ones that give the good ones bad reps. I do not lie or sugar coat things i told them teachers that my experience at markham has been one of the worst things in my life! and really what shocked me is finally a groupe of teachers understood me and said that all my complaining was legit.
I came to the district today to pull my kids out and just enroll them in all saints like my husband said to do in the begining of the year but after talking with those teachers on the picket line at the district they had changed my mind. “some teachers are not dedicated at all” I was told that today. and those teachers showed me that there is hope and because markham is basura don’t mean that the other schools are the same. Thank you picketing teachers in the district office for today. Words cannot say how much i appreciate you. I have apoint ment with mr. vigil (after bothering in the office then making a million phone calls when i got home) and i will mention the strike and how he and the others need to get their act together and step up for you all. I DO SUPPORT THE TEACHERS!!! And after talking to those teachers they talked me into staying in the husd . And thanks to those dedicated teachers my kids will. That is what i mean when i say say markham teachers are bad instead of talking to me like a human they attacked me like animals in front of my kids! I would never disrespect anyone infront of their children under any circumstance. SO ms.markham i am toxic and disruptive to the school community well i think you need to take a good look at yourself and your markham teachers and see that it is you people that are toxic!! And like the other teachers said today it is the parent whom “RANTS AND RAVES” that get the work done and makes the changes. I have been to the district somany times to complain and also to the principle so I have been doing my part. Parents whom say you support the teachers well today at the district i didnt see any just beeping horns and nothing more. Mr. vigil has an open door policy but not no more he refused to see me and i wouldn’t leave so his people got my name and number and a little while ago i got a call with an appointment. So i know how to get things done! Do not accuse me of doing nothing good.
I felt like bad cause all your insults you teachers have written about me on here has been really harsh and those were direct jabs at me as a person when none of you know me. For one of the parties this year the teacher asked me to pick up pizzas and she would pay me back i said okay cause it was last minute and we didnt know that it was the last day of school before x-mas break so with my newborn baby and a friend we went getting goodies presents and pizzas and when the teacher tried to pay me back i told her no that it was okay. I did that cause i know as it is teachers get paid little so i rather her use the money on her kids that is what kind of person i am. So if i am so toxic like you say i am and if i am a bad parent cause all i want is the best for my kids and their education then so be it I AM TOXIC. If you are angry cause i stand up for what is right for my kids then too bad i don’t care. As one teacher put it too me today “honey girl remember sticks and stones will break your bones but word can never hurt you….. I wish you were one of my parents “. This is my last and final blog i still think markham is bad but i will try to help put an end with the strike mainly for the new teacher friends i made today. And i will continue to do as they say ” put up with markham theres only a few months left stay in the district and let your girls go to east ave and dont let no markham teacher put you down for they are just angry cause you are letting them know that they are doing a bad job with your kids…it is them whom are in denile”
I DO AND WILL SUPPORT THE TEACHERS!!!!!
April 16th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Again, let’s not, make this personal!!!!
Yes, the children are suffering right now…and so ARE WE! Every teacher I have spoken to wants to be IN the classroom. We want to teach the children. However, after 9 months of “negotiating” with nothing being resolved (while staying in class), we had to take a more drastic approach. The district does not listen to teachers, and is more likely to listen to the parents and community. I’m frustrated to hear that parents also got the run-around when they went to the district with legitimate concerns regarding the shuffling of teachers in their children’s classrooms.
I think the “Hayward_Parent_Link” suggestion is an important one. The district may not listen to one or two parents, but there is power in numbers. And we, the teachers are hoping that our numbers will prove to be powerful too. We want to be back in the classrooms. We do not want the students to lose one more day of instruction, so we have to put the pressure on the Hayward Board of Education and the District Office. They have yet to budge from their original offer. The teacher’s union has adjusted their demands. We are hoping that the district will counter-offer with something else that shows more respect for the thousands of teachers that DO CARE ABOUT KIDS!
In the meantime, parents…please join a parent group and let your voice be heard.
April 16th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
well i have read every comment on here and i am really surprised. Mrs. Cienega i am too a parent with concerns of my own. I have also tried to get a group of parents together to go to the district but i ended up going on my own and by me going numerous times i had got results. Mrs. Cienega you have my support. As a mother to another mother i would have reacted the same so i guess that also makes me toxic. I also use bad language when upset or angry in front of my son and my daughter and also like you it is the education that i gave at home why my kids do not. If only more parents were like you and i . I hope one day we can meet and start our own club. One that is like you say all about the rights for the kids and their education.
I have been in the pta and is is only about how much money we can bring into the school to benifit it. But yet it was never used in the right way so really SOMETIMES the money would get mismanaged. Mrs. Cienega you are brave and from what I have read you are truly a dedicated parent.
~MARKHAM TEACHER…SPECIAL ED……PISSED OFF TEACHER…,
YOU ARE THE ONES WHO SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELFS. ATTACKING A PARENT ONE WHO HAS BEEN ACTIVE IT SEEMS IN HER CHILDS EDUCATION. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?GOD! WELL OBVIOUSLY NOT! AND ABOUT THE PERSONAL ATTACKS FROM WHAT I HAVE READ YOU TEACHERS ARE THE ONES THAT STARTED ATTACKING MRS.CIENEGA FIRST. sHE HAS WROTE NUMEROUS TIMES THAT SHE DOES WANT YOU TEACHERS TO GET A RAISE. I AM NOT A COLLEGE GRAD I ONLY HAVE A GED BUT I CAN READ! CAN YOU! CAUSE IF YOU COULD YOU WOULD HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD WHAT SHE MENT. I REALLY DO NOT THINK SO. ALL THREE OF YOU OWE HER AN APOLOGY. ONE SHOULD NOT GET PUNISHED FOR TELLING THE TRUTH. THAT IS WHAT YOU DID TO HER. AND FOR THE TEACHERS AT MARKHAM I AM UNDERSTANDING NOW WHY THE DISTRICT CHOSE TO CLOSE MARKHAM . AND I AM PRAYING THAT THOSE TEACHERS WHOM BASICALLY ASAULTED MRS.CIENEGA AND HER CHILDREN WITH WORDS DO NOT BE ALLOWED NO WHERE NEAR MY KIDS SCHOOL.
At this point the teachers whom are attacking people and their children are ungrateful,animals and they are the teachers that are giving the other teachers a bad “rep”.
Mrs. Cienega I hope everything works out for you and your baby and i hope today has not givin here a bad impression of teachers. Or of school. thanxs to markhams teachers they might have damaged her for good. MARKHAM TEACHERS : I HOPE IT FELT GOOD TO CRUSH A LITTLE GIRLS HEART!
April 16th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Poor Ms cienega I think you should sue that teacher who made the circus outside in front
your babies for the mental trauma. Being young and having to see a teacher she has respected and has been a second home since sept reject her like that , the trauma,
remember what goes around comes around . OH and again to the teachers this it truly
a shame completely you say you do care about our students . What are the names of their parents are you completely aware of what level they are in class? What if us parents went on strike and took our kids out of school for 1 week . Where would you and your family be without us ?? I do not support teachers who are unaware how good they have it compare your salaries with those of others
April 16th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Leslie Cienega, if your so discusted of your Teachers, why don’t you remove your children and put them in private school, or move to another District? I am sick and tired of parent’s who constantly complain but do nothing to try and solve the problem.
April 16th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
The children are the ones who are losing here. You teacher’s say you care, how so? By having the kids stay home day after day instead of them being in a learning institution? You will not win this round so have a great day striking tommorow, and the day after and the day after that. I hear many are moving out of Hayward because of this. Your just as bad as some money hungry Corporations!
April 16th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Where is the Mayor? Seems like the City Council are sleeping through all of this chaos. Don’t they care about the children? They are sitting on their duffs and doing nothing to try and help! I AM ASHAMED TO BE A RESIDENT OF HAYWARD!
April 16th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
Now why would you put your child in a situation like that?
As a child, my parents did not support the teachers’ strike at the time, but respected the teachers’ “no work” rule & just quietly walked me across the picket line without making a scene & without putting me in the middle of a conflict among adults. You could have simply told your child, “the teachers are not working today, we’ll save the picture for when the teachers are not on strike.”
And pushing money at the teachers just taught your daughter how to respond angrily & tantrum, instead of how to work things out.
I care very much about the kids. I am very tired of people using that as a reason to blow off our concerns. Doctors care about their patients, but no one seems to make that a reason not to pay them adequately.
It has taken several YEARS of abusive treatment by this administration to get us to the point of striking. I’ve been a teacher for 16 years & have never been on strike before. Most of the time teachers accept things most people would not, such as poor working conditions (dirty, crumbling buildings with roaches, mice) & disrespect (sometimes from administration & sometimes even parents who do not know how to handle conflict politely & then model that rudeness for their children to emulate).
And when we do put up with those things for the sake of the children, I’m not sure that serves them in the long run. It tells them that they do not have to respect teachers either & tells them they are not worth a nice building with polite discourse.
A strike is a serious choice with serious consequences for all involved (loss of education for the chilrdren, loss of pay for staff, loss of routine, loss of child care for parents & teachers with children, relationships placed under stress). I do not condone yelling at parents or children who cross into school, but I also cannot condone parents aggressively challenging their teachers’ carefully thought-out choice to strike in front of children.
Please, let’s all remember that when the strike is over, we’ll be back in the classroom together, working together. Let’s not create bad will or disrespect that will last longer than this labor negotiation will.
April 16th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
BE RESPECTFUL…
I forgot to mention you . you had said “We should be using this blog for ideas not personall th problems or vendettas” . well sorry to have to bring this to your attention but your pay checks and raises is your “personal” problem. The rise of health care costs was not just a raise for teachers but for everyone. Because the gas prices have also risen i guess now you need more money to cominsate for that too right. I hope the price of fruit don’t go more high cause then you teachers will need an extra ten grand a year too right! It seems that you all are suffering from p.m.s…..stop cryin you knew from the get go that teachers are the lowest paid so you chose this perfession not i so why DO our kids have to suffer for your career choice!
April 16th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
I think the harm is done . We are all human no teacher is going to forgive and forget as with the parents. How do you know that these teachers will not lash out at those children .
You chose your profession and I hope made an educated decision just like doctors did. You know how much money your career will be worth even before you have graduated . So that to me is no excuse . It is sad that a building would be in such disrepair you should report that to OSHA as that is harmful working conditions.
April 16th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
You see i have left all alone. After meeting the right teachers who do care and whom say my actions were justified i was commeted to helping out the fight for a raise for them. I was not going to post any more but after “HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER’s” comment i feel the need to once again.
HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER so basically i am a bad parent is what you are saying. I am not teaching my kids to throw tantrums I am showing them how to stand up for themselfs maybe it is not how you would do it but we are two completly different people. Another thing i am not a rich woman but when my baby wanted to give her work to the teacher i thought since we were going to pick up more work why not!! I never would have thought that ‘that would have happened. Or else i would have told her no . So are you saying it is okay what that male teacher did couldn’t they have done things differently like say ill talk to you later about it did he have to go about things like that when i went up to her calm and respectful. I offered her money cause that man mentioned how its about money and really to me i rather give up money so my baby wouldnt get hurt. when we go to the store and they want toys or candy i do not give in cause children need to know that they vannot always get what they want. but this time i couldn’t stand by and let some PUNK hurt my baby. When an animal attacks another animals baby that mama animal will attact to prevent harm to her baby.
So once again you are taking cheap shots at me for the sake to excuse what the teachers did today. Well sorry sir or mam whom ever you are because it didn’t work. You can repeatedly call me a bad mother it will just go to show that in your old age you are still very imature i am not young i am in my twenties but assuming sixteen years of teacher you should be about middle aged so you should see that yeah maybe i was a little bit in the wrong nut the teacher that did that to my girls work was the real person at fault. I went up to their teacher calm and very nice but look what happened a TEACHER had to act like a fool but yet i am still the person at fault.
when will you or the other teachers admit that what some of you has done is wrong!
GIVE RESPECT AND YOU WILL GET RESPECTED
April 16th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Of course I’m not saying it’s okay. And I definitely do NOT think you are a bad mother. If you remember I commended you earlier for your involvement in your children’s education. I think under stress, this wasn’t the best situation & we should ALL (teachers & parents) be careful to keep the little ones protected as much as possible. And perhaps I misunderstood you, that you were being kind in offering money, rather than angry.
And yes, it is becoming increasingly difficult for all of us under stress to behave ideally.
Parents are under stress because they need their children in school. Children are under stress because they need & miss their teachers & daily routine. Children are especially under stress when they perceive conflict between teachers & parents. Teachers are under stress because we’ve had to take this action because our year of efforts short of this have not been heard. Many of us are very stressed being both teachers and parents.
No one is perfect here. I do feel upset when people lash out at teachers in general and it is hard not to react when I read a letter that sounds very angry.
Some teachers are not behaving wonderfully. Most though are handling this very well.
Some parents are not behaving wonderfully. Most though are handling this very well, also.
Let’s look at the overall pattern. I love working in Hayward. I love my students & care about their families.
I promise you that I would not hold it against a child whose parents wanted them to attend school and by far the vast majority of elementary teachers are kind people who love children (as you said, we’re not in teaching for the money) who will understand that this is a labor dispute among adults & not take it out on their students.
April 16th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Thank you … now you understand me. maybe not to the fullest but you do. I feel sorry for all teachers it is not fair that is why i have said that i do support them and with my up coming apt. with mr. vigil i will put him on the spot. He needs to answer my questions too. I have found out today that the woman who pinched my daugher was not disaplined. the paper work was never givin to mr.vigel. or anyone else. That is why i asked an higher authorty why she was allowed to work in room two. That is giving her a chance to hurt another child.
When i went inside the district office to help out you teachers in this fight they were brushng me off and mr vigil wouldnt see me. then i asked about all the stuff about the incident and i waited while they did research and found out they had nothing. Lucky me an officer was there while i was talking and she asked me if my daughter can tell her exactly what happened and i said let me talk to hewr first cause i wont force her to do anything. Then my baby said before i could say anything ” the lady with the curly long hair like mine grabbed me like this and put her nails in me and it hurt really really bad ” and then her eyes started to tear up and of course mine did too. After that they took all my info down and said when mr.vigil was done with the press i would get a call back with an appointment time. So you see really i am not the enemy here. Its management and certain teachers are. The man teacher who did that to my daughters work is so angry and wrapped up in this fight that he couldn’t see what he did was wrong i know cause at times i can be like that too. everybody can. But he was trowing the money thing in my face as if i am the one that has rejected his raise. So of course the same way i buy food,clothes and pay rent and support my girls i figure why no also give my extra cash to a good cause that would benifit my baby.
When my girls were in pre school parents were to volunteer 8 hours a month well i was there every day from the begining to end. i got my tb tests done and because of my nursing clases i was taking i already had fingerprints done so besiddes going to my school i also worked for FREE at theirs.
When i tried to do it here basically it was excuses and oh you have to do this and that. So i gave up. And when the teacher said we need to bring our own supplies for the kids to use in the classrooms i can back up later in the afternoon and not only bought stuff for my girls but for the other kids in the class. I did that with my own money …money that could have gone to my unborn baby at the time. But i love the help out and more when i see it is needed and i feel that “man” the twins education this year has been this bad. Its up setting. All i want is the best for my girls and i will always be the parent that will work with the teacher to better my kids education.
That is what i have done last year for pre school this year for kinder and for the rest of the years to come.
April 16th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
IT is not often when parents want to become involved certain schools accept it and others do not. Teachers should be grateful for parents like Ms. Cienega and the things she had done . It looks to me she has done more than enough financially and tried to be there physically even with a brand new baby. I take my hat off to you Ms Cienega and by all means you are not a bad parent you are just wanting what is best for your babies .
I have a challenge for all these teachers –
when you get back to class try to make it personal , give the same quality education and caring that you would want for your children –Who knows down the line you may go through what Ms Cienega has went through in her school and then the shoe will be on the other foot. IN the end these kids-our future will be better doctors , lawyers, TEACHERS, and will make this world a better place
April 16th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Hola Mrs. Cienega, my name is Antonio Cervantes I have worked at Markham School for the the last six years. I’m sorry that you’re feeling so frustrated, but this strike is frustrating for everybody, parents, kids, teachers, and the community at large. I’m sorry that your Markham experience thus far has been negative, but I believe your’s is an isolated case. I think that if you had all the information about how and why things transpired the way you say they have, then you might have a better understanding as to why you see things the way you see them. I will not chastise you for expressing your frustration, but I will defend our teacher’s character. If you would like to discuss the history and some of the reason why your child’s initiation into Markham was as you describe it, I would be happy to sit down and talk to you. In the mean time, during this strike take advantage of the time and take your children on trips to the zoo, to the park or any number of interesting places. Sit down with your children and have them draw and write about what their feeling. Have them write letters and draw pictures for their friends and teachers, these can be shared when everything comes back to normal. In the mean time let’s all try to keep a prespective on this strike and try to remember that children need parents and teachers. Again, I you would like to talk I’m more than willing to speak to you–you’ll find me on the picket line supporting my colleagues.
April 16th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
To everyone reading my reply to Mrs. Cienega, I apologize for the many errors and misspellings, while writing I could not see the entire window on which to comment. In particular, the last sentence should read, “Again, if you would like to talk I’m more than willing to speak to you–you’ll find me on the picket line supporting my colleagues. Other errors include:
reason should be reasons
Gracias,
antonio
April 16th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Agreed.
When I taught elementary, I can’t tell you how very much I appreciated parents who would help out, either with supplies or time. I hope you will continue to do that for your kids & I hope that the teachers you work with in the future will see that your heart is in the right place. Also that your daughter will have better school experiences soon. Elementary school is so important & having experiences that make children love learning do last a lifetime.
Hang in there, hopefully we’ll all get back to normal business soon! Take care.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Mrs. Cienega and other Markham parents-
It seems you have a lot of anger in your life towards this one teacher. There are steps you
could have been doing to make your voices heard. There is a complaint procedure
that is posted in every classroom. The school office has a complaint form that you may
fill out and file your complaint that must be logged and sent to the district office. But, remember where ever you transfer to, there too may be a teacher, principal, office manager or noon supervisor you do not like or get along with. I live out of the district
and I too had problems at a school site with a teacher that when I complained that
teacher took it out on my child when they themselves had done nothing wrong. It became very ugly if I complained about something and this teacher found out she told the class they would be punished. It got to the point my child would not tell me things that happened in that class they were afraid.
Just remember pick your battles wisely and find out how to make a complaint and always
do it in writing to the school and district. Believe me not one employee is happy about this strike, and we all pray it will end soon.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Has anyone checked the HUSD website lately? There is now a “Myths and Realities of the Hayward Strike” link. Personally, I think it is a bunch of crap! I think that you all will too. Heres is the content:
Myth 1: The District left the teachers no choice but to strike.
Reality: HEA leadership made the choice to strike. The option to continue negotiating
without a strike has always been available. HEA leadership can also make the
choice to end the strike so teachers and students can go back to a normal routine.
HUSD leadership will continue to be available to negotiate and seeks new ideas to
repackage the affordable dollars in a way that is acceptable to all.
Myth 2: The strike will eventually force the district to give in to the union demands.
Reality: The strike does not change the fact that HEA’s proposal costs more than
the District has available to spend. The proposal would bankrupt the District by the
2008-09 school year.
Myth 3: Substitute teachers, who are working during the strike, are not qualified.
Reality: The substitute teachers working in our schools during the strike are the
same substitutes HUSD and other districts use during the regular school year. All
hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher, have passed a teacher competency test, and
have been fingerprinted and cleared to work.
Myth 4: The District cannot afford the teachers’ salary demands because the
District Office has too many centralized administrative staff.
Reality: Hayward’s district administrative costs are 3% of the budget, which is
substantially lower than the statewide average of 5%. HEA leadership has misled
its membership and the general public by claiming that costs have increased in this
area. Expenses for centralized district administration are actually less than in the
previous two years. The District has eliminated one Assistant Superintendent and
consolidated services in several other administrative areas, resulting in a savings
of almost $200,000.
Myth 5: No learning is going on in our schools during the strike.
Reality: Students report to the gym or cafeteria in the morning, and are assigned
to a substitute teacher. Substitute teachers take their classes to appropriate
classrooms. Students are being provided work to do that is tied directly to
the California State Standards. HUSD has samples of student work from April
5th and 6th available for viewing at the District Office at 24411 Amador Street.
Myth 6: The District doesn’t care about teachers and students.
Reality: The administration and Board of Trustees has made a solemn promise
to the Hayward community. They will provide safe schools. They will provide
our students with a quality education. They will ensure the fiscal solvency of the
District. We cannot accept the demands placed upon the District by HEA leadership
without compromising student safety, decimating educational programs,
and bankrupting the District.
Myth 7: The District is hiding money.
Reality: HUSD books are open to the public. We welcome parents, the press or
community members to come in and review our budget AND our three-year
projection, which, by law, we must provide to the County Office of Education.
HUSD’s budget has been reviewed and approved by:
• the Hayward Unified School District Board of Trustees,
• the Alameda County Office of Education, and
• the staff of Perry-Smith, Accountants, LLP (our independent auditors)
Bonnie Castrey, the Chairperson of the Fact Finding Panel, found the District
able to afford a 5% mid-year raise for teachers. The District went beyond this
concept and proposed additional monies by making budget changes and reductions
in an effort to provide our teachers with a fair and reasonable compensation
package within the boundaries of our budget.
Myth 8: The District refused a fair deal on April 12th.
Reality: The demand made by HEA leadership during the April 12th negotiations
is simply a repackage of their 16.12% demand. While the proposal does cost
less to fund the first two years, within fourteen to eighteen months (somewhere
between July and December of 2008), the District would be in a state takeover
situation. By the 2008-09 school year, the most recent package proposed by
HEA leadership represents a 17.11% increase in teacher salaries, more than
their original demand!
Myth 9: Teachers are leaving the district “in droves”.
Reality: According to a U.S. government study, California teachers, in general,
relocate at a rate of 11% per year. The District’s teachers are leaving at a slower
rate (estimated to be 10% per year) and for a variety of reasons.
Myth 10: Schools have been unsafe during the strike.
Reality: Schools are safe. The Principal of each school is on site, as is at least
one additional administrator. Some regular classroom teachers have chosen
not to strike and are teaching along with a sufficient number of substitute teachers.
Classified staff members are working each day.
Some striking teachers have blocked entryways to the schools and have harassed
students, parents and teachers. This creates a threatening, unsafe environment
that security personnel and principals are working to correct. HUSD
schools have hired additional security personnel so students and teachers can
safely enter school grounds without incident. HUSD has asked HEA leadership
to stop these types of incidents from occurring so that those wishing to be on
campus may do so peacefully.
April 16, 2007
April 16th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
okay this is really my last blog now….
Once again thank you high school teacher.. I will always be around to help my kids and their schools. It is a shame that a school and a few of its teachers have not done their jobs! In the office both of the attendants were saying how much they supported the teachers and really i thought then why are you not out there with them. I also overheard one saying how they better get their eight hours. When you stand up for something you need to take action just like me and jessica did. and as a parent i will always stand up for what is right.
As for the MARKHAM TEACHER i am not afraid of you or the others. When school starts up again( i refuse to let my kids go to school while the strike is going on they did not stay the first day and they will not go until it is finished) i will bring my kids inside with my head held high. When my daughters go back and show their teacher that they can now read cat in the hat by themselfs and count to one hundred and also give me one dollar in a mixture of dimes and nickles i WILL be proud cause that is what i have taught them in a week in a half. which is more than what she has done in months.
As angela has noted i hope and pray that the markham man will not attack anyone else with words and that they let the cars pass freely into the school and not like today to where the parents had to beep over and over again just to get in. I hope they will change and make this a peaceful protest cause right now the one at markham is an acident waiting to happen!!!
Lets listen to Angela and THE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER .put down the boxing gloves and join forces to help the kids and the teachers. Lets get the teachers that are bad out and lets help all the good ones get their raise!!!
That was my point in the begining..and it is still my point now and no matter what i still think markham is trash but that is ONLY based on my experience. I hope this will end soon….
April 17th, 2007 at 8:17 am
Mr. Cervantes,
I read your reply to Mrs. Cienega, and I am sorry to inform you that her situation is not an isolated case.I can tell you that at least three other parents feel this way about Markham, including myself. And as for ‘having all the information about how and why things transpired”, four of us parents tried to get that information and were only given the run around, from Sandra Escobedo and then the distict office. So please understand that Mrs. Cienega is not the only person that feels this way.
As for your ideas on how to spend time during this strike with our children…they are wonderfule ideas, but not all of us have the means or transportation to do those things. I reallly hope that this mess of a stike is over soon so our kids can get back in the classrooms.
April 17th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Hayward teachers quit your whining. This strike is total B.S. As I see it, if you don’t like what you are getting paid then go to a school district that will pay you more. I am more than certain that there are unemployed teachers that would love to have your job. I see on your picket signs that all you want to do is teach and this is about the kids…. That is crap! The district is offering you a 10% raise – 3% this year and 7% next year which leaves out the additional 3% that you are asking for. that 3% is equal to around $1,800. So our kids haven’t been able to attend school for 2 weeks because you want to cry over a few dollars.
April 17th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
The teachers care about the students? yeah right, then why are they being so stubborn? No way am i keeping my kids out of class, just because of some selfish individuals! The head lady of your Union is misleading the teachers and should be promply fired!. The kids are losing on this and the teacherss do not care!
April 17th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Mr. Moses:
Maybe you should read the district’s offer more carefully,
The district is NOT offering 10%,
The first 3% is a one time “bonus” for last year’s work. This 3% would NOT carry over to next year.
They are offering a 7% for next year, and maybe an iffi 1.6% if enough teachers retire or don’t apply for step/column increases.
I can assure there will be many teachers who will be going to other districts, which will be a loss to our schools. We need to retain those more experienced teachers to help the new, less experienced ones,
Since when is $1800 a “few dollars”?
April 17th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Mr Cervantes.
This is a personal question did you attend Grant High???
April 17th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
I say $1800 is a few dollars because it breaks down to be $3-$4 per day after taxes. I don’t think that will make or break an individual. Bottom line is the kids are suffering due to the teachers whining about this amount. Like I said before, if you are not happy with your job then look for a better paying one. If you have the experience that you claim you have then it shouldn’t be a problem…
Unfortunately, in my opinion the Hayward School District is garbage anyway.
April 17th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Mr. Cervantes i will see you tomorrow ,
I will surly take you up on that offer to talk to you. Like mrs. Moses has said we have talked to sandra that had gone nowhere we have also went to the district and talked to mrs.calvin and also she had done nothing. So we have tried. Yesterday when i came to the school and handed my kids teacher their work to be graded and looked at i did that for my baby cause she wanted her teacher to see it and i NEVER told mrs.Gomez to do it right then in there and i handed money cause to me that is what the impression that i HAD got from you guys. But as in a earlier blog i wrote on here stated I met some very good teachers that were striking at the district and they shed some light on me and restored my hope as well as my daughters.
About the activities you mentioned we have been to parks, bike riding, chuck e cheese,of course shopping, and about pictures the art supplies at my house are in a box and when ever my girls want to color paste or make a project the can do it whenever and lissette has already drawn pictures of mrs. gomez as a monster and she made her own sign with mixed up letters and she said it read i hate mrs.gomez and the bad man who took my stuff from her. Now i did not yell at lissette because that IS her opinion but i did explain to her that mrs gomez and the man are not monsters or bad they are just fighting for what they want and they are angry and sometimes when big people are angry they take it out on the wrong people.
So please mr.cervantes if you have the time to talk to me tomorrow i would greatly appreciate it. I am trying my best to home school my twins and really it is not easy to do while taking care of a house and a five and a half old baby that needs me too. But i am really proud of my self because in this short time i alone have taught them many things. But i need help and guidance to and if this strike continues then who will help people like me!! and more when it seems that markhams teachers are on strike from everyone meaning not just the district but the parents and students as well. I have questions on what other teaching methods i can use for my kids and if no one is availble to help the parents that are helping you by keeping our kids home then really it is us and are kids that is getting hurt!! Can you help me? believe me i have a million of questions that need to be answered ! More about what else kinder kids need to learn this year and to see if i am on the right track teaching them or if i am not doing enough at home!
SO MR.CERVANTES LIKE I SAID I WILL BE LOOKING FOR YOU TOMORROW!!
I NEVER RUN OR GET SCARED FROM ANYONE THAT IS NOT MY NATURE SO AS I SAID BEFORE I WILL WALK IN OR AROUND MARKHAM LOOKING FOR YOU IF THAT MEANS I WILL GET HELP FOR MY KIDS AND THEIR EDUCATION. THE SAME GOES FOR MR. VIGIL I WILL NOT LET HIM AND HIS HIGH SO CALLED CLASS SELF LET US SO CALLED “BLUE COLLAR PEOPLE” KEEP GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STICK.
I am only one parent and look at what i have accomplished on my own!
THANK YOU MR. AND MRS. MOSES, ANGELA, HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, ANALISA PEREZ…
FOR MY FRIEND EVERYWHERE EVERYWHERE ……………..
WELL IGUESS YOU DID NOT READ CORRECTLY OR RATHER I SAY YOU DID NOT READ ALL MY BLOGS HERE CAUSE THEN YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT I HAVE TRIED MANY THINGS AND THAT ALSO I MENTIONED PUTTING MY KIDS INTO ALL SAINTS WHICH BY THE WAY IS A PRIVATE SCHOOL LOCATED ON THE CHURCH GROUNDS OF ALL SAINTS WHERE WE ATTEND. SO PLEASE TAKE MY ADVICE AND READ BEFORE YOU WRITE….THEN YOU CAN COMMENT ACCURATLY!!!!
BY THE WAY MOST LIKLY I WILL STILL BE POSTING… AND SINCE WHEREEVER WHEREEVER SUPPORTS THE TEACHERS SO MUCH THEN LIKE I SAID BEFORE WHY IS IT YESTERDAY THERE WHERE NO PARENTS IN OR AROUND THE DISTRICT OFFICE TO HELP THE CAUSE????? SO WHERE EVER WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HELP???????
April 17th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Dear Mr. Moses,
New teachers do have the option of leaving the district for better compensation and they are doing so, almost 100 have left this year alone. 500 out of 1300 have left in the last 5 years.
We have lost some really good teachers to other districts & that is sad for the Hayward students, parents & colleagues who cared about them & valued their work.
And no, there are actually NOT enough unemployed teachers who’d love our jobs. There are 3 positions at my school, still filled by substitute teachers, now in APRIL. Students in those classes have had substitutes who’ve stayed a few days up to a few weeks. And this problem is occurring all over the district. We are filling many positions with teachers without training or experience (uncredentialed). Some of these intern teachers work out well, some do not.
I don’t know anyone who’d say, “I’d like my son or daughter to have an inexperienced teacher who might or might not work out this semester.” or “I’d like my son or daughter to try to learn in a class with a different substitute teacher every day.” As a concerned parent who has taken the time to write on an education related blog, I can’t imagine you’d stand for those situations for your children.
16 years ago when I started teaching, there were more new teachers than positions & school districts could pick & choose new teachers, could look at their success or failure in student teaching training and select the best. This is not currently the case overall in CA & Hayward’s pay scale is making the problem worse.
So, even though we’d like teaching to be a completely noble and selfless calling, realistically, like in any career, salary does make a difference. And let’s not forget, many teachers are also parents & salary makes a difference in quality of living for their children as well.
This strike is stressful for everyone. I see parents’ frustration with this strike, with the difficulties it is causing with childcare, upset children who want their teacher back & their routine again. Many teachers are parents also & have both the stress of being on strike & the same difficulties with childcare you are experiencing. I understand that this is a tough economy & we are all struggling, but if we take this action now, hopefully–
1. Hayward USD will offer a pay scale that will attract the best for its community. I’d like to see new teachers COMPETING to come here.
2. Hayward USD will think carefully before granting administrators (in essence, themselves) exorbitant pay raises, such as the 16.84% raise for 3 administrators & the 16% raise the district gave the position of the superintendent when they hired Dr. Vigil. To say the district is in financial crisis & to then grant these raises 2 months later is ridiculous & offensive.
3. Hayward USD will create opportunities for accepting input from the parents, teachers & community. Currently, it appears that decisions are made first, then a community meeting is held, and no one is listened to.
This strike action is inconvenient & unpleasant for everyone, but we have tried & tried to be heard some other way. Hopefully this drastic action will shine some light on the situation & will result in long term improvement. I hope never to be on strike again!
April 17th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
I do not think going to speak to someone on the picket line is a good idea. It seems to me that you want confrontation Antonio. I am also a union member of the CWA and would never give that advise knowing that there are a few of my colleagues that would lose their head.
Are you going to shield Ms Cienega from this , especially from that one teacher that was basically very confrontational , If you wanted to meet and discuss things you should do so in another place one that you can speak in without yelling
April 17th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Hello, this is your friendly HayWord editor stepping in here to try to steer the conversation back to the strike. This thread is starting to get to be too much about a different topic. While the HayWord is a place for discussion, this post is about the teachers strike and the letters that I posted above. Comments should be related. If you have something personal or threatening to say to another blogger, please exchange e-mail addresses. If this thread continues to spiral off topic and becomes a boxing ring, I will close it to comments. Thanks. (And BTW, you are welcome to read and comment on any of our non-strike-related posts too!)
April 17th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Also as a comment on the wages Look up the salaries for a beginning teacher in north sacramento unified district of the Sacramento school district you will see this
HEYWARD TEACHERS
BEGINNING TEACHERS SALARY 45,807 STATE AVERAGE 37,061
MIDRANGE TEACHERS SALARY 63,984 STATE AVERAGE 58,294
HIGHEST PAID TEACHERS SALARY 76,306 STATE AVERAGE 72,876
SACRAMENTO TEACHERS
BEGINNING TEACHERS SALARY 33,833 STATE AVERAGE 37,061
MIDRANGE TEACHERS SALARY 55,325 STATE AVERAGE 58,294
HIGHEST PAID TEACHERS SALARY 73,913 STATE AVERAGE 72,876
JUST AN FYI
April 17th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Kim-Thank God! This diatribe has been allowed to continue much too long. Let’s please
remember to try to remain civil during this difficult time. I am shocked and appalled at
what has been allowed on this blog. I will look for my information elsewhere.
April 17th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
There are many factors for every city/county when determining teacher salary.
Have you looked up what the median home price in Sacramento is?
I have and it is $252,630 with a median income of $45,029.
In our county, Alameda, the median home price is $483,435 with a median income of
$58,567. I am sure the numbers vary slightly depending on the website you get your information from, but they give us a baseline that tells us that teachers are underpaid EVERYWHERE!!!!!!
April 17th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Ms. Santos I will apologize for my bad language. Especially for my husbands comment that he had added. If you have noticed I had only wrote one blog and all the sudden i had people attacking me right and left for speaking the truth. Like I had mentioned in a earlier entry someone was taking direct “JABS” at me. Insults to what kind of a mother i am. This whole blog you had set up is a great one. Even though we are fighting like cats and dogs still it helps get out messages.
Ms. Santos let me be the first one to thank you. It must be irratating to ba a referee. To tell you the truth things like this help prevent violence real violence. It is where people are disscussing the strike from different point of views between money ,how much and who deserves it.
This is a blog that the comunity needs. I hope you do not cancel it. Look at the help high school teacher has been to me. That is another one that has restored my faith in the teachers and another one that has helped me to see that some teachers that are on strike do deserve more.
It is all about the strike and different point of views. I did not insult people directly until the markham teacher insulted me. And as an adult I should have ignored her/him but i didn’t and i ate the bait that they were throwing at me and i reacted.
ANGELA…
I am not sure of the intentions of senor cervantes but don’t worry i am a big girl i can handle my own am i am sure he is not stupid enough to due any physical harm and more to a woman!
I will take any help at this point. Help from a teacher that can give me more advice on what to teach my girls while the strike continues and if he is willing then so am i. Thanks for the concern though..
April 17th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
IM sorry Hayward teacher, I live in Sacramento and know from experience that a good 3 bedroom house that is not falling apart is well worth $420,000 ,a 2 bedroom condo in a high poverty level is worth mid $ 200,000 so I do not know where you get your information from . I live here and know it well . I also know that many high paid individuals live and buy property here . That is why are prices are now just as high as the Bay area. I know about your area due to family that lives there also .
April 17th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Jessica Moses, I personally know the reasons for many of the “problems” you say that you adn three other families have experienced and I would also be willing to sit and share them with yu as well. Having said that, this doesn’t mean that this blog is venue through which we need to discuss them. On the subject of the strike, let me explain why asking teachers to leave if they don’t like their salary isn’t the solution. First, if many of the veteran teachers “good” or “bad” lef the district, then how would you fill those positions? Would you want unqualified subs teachering your children? You might reply affirmatively, but let me tell you about most subs. The largest percentage don’t have a TEACHING credential–that is to say that they don’t know anything about teaching–you must attend a university, take classes, pass exit exams, complete student teaching, and then find a district that will to employ a rookie teacher. Subs are really nothng more that highly paid baysitters. If these people were good teachers, then would have been offered employment by a District. Granted there may be some great sub, but they are usually snapped up and offered long-term teaching positions within the district unless they don’t want to work fulltime, in this case they become favored sub and are often called to sub. Another reason that you wouldn’t want all rookie or subs teaching is because learning to teach take several years, it’s nothing the university can teach–you learn by experience. Much of the curriculum that is taught requires several more years of on-going training that new and sub teachers have not had. All this training cost money, if you let the teachers go they will take with them all their expertise and the money it takes to train them–other districts then reap the benefits that HUSD paid for. Although I welcome the new energy and ideas that new teachers bring, I also know that they require veteran teachers to support their development. If you under compensate and disrespect your employees they will leave and your new employee will see this happening. What will their incentive to stay? If just a few short years–just when they’ve learned to teach–they’ll leave for other higher-paying districts. Finally, I don’t want to leave Hayward. I know most of the children by their first names. I know many of the families personally. I’ve spent countless hours before, during and after school with them. I spend more time with my Marjgan family than I do with my own personal family. Next year the District will close Markham. Last year my colleagues and I along with parents and their children spent many hours marching and speaking before the school board in an effort to keep the school open–not for us, but for the the families and their children. Several teachers, and I am one, have had opportunities to leave but we’ve chosen to stay. We stay because we know how important it is for there to be continuity from year to year. Ok, enough. The strike is just about money and asking teachers to leave isn’t the answer. Let’s not let the Dr. Vigil and Barry Schimmel pay us against each other. Remember neither Vigil or Schimmel are in the classrooms teaching and neither know your childrens’ names.
April 17th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Mr. Cervantes,
I don’t believe that I ever said that the teachers should leave. I think you are confusing me with James Moses. I have stated earlier that I fully support the teachers (unfortunately there is always a bad seed in every pack). You teachers are our children’s future. My problems are not with all teachers, only the way my child is getting his first year of education. I have never said for teachers to leave the district. I graduated from Hayward High School, and those teachers were some of the best teachers I ever had. So I am sorry if you got the impression that I would suggest the teachers leave our school district.
And on the subject of ‘rookie’ subs, what about our rookie teacher. My bad, she’s still getting her credentials. Why is she teaching a class by herself, I was under the impression that learning students work under a teacher.
April 17th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
To all reading my comments, after the posting I found several errors–please forgive the errors While writing I’m unable to see the entire screen and this causing editing errors. Does somebody know how to correct this problem. Again, sorry for the errors.
lef = left
Marjgan = Markham
The sentence should read “The strike isn’t just about money…
pay = play
or = nor
April 17th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
My bad Jessica–I apologize, but I wasn’t implying that you said for teachers to leave. I was only trying to move the conversation along. Thanks for replying, and if you you want to talk I available.
April 17th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Hey, can somebody tell how to turn this blog around; so I don’t have to scroll all the way to the bottom to read the latest comments?
April 17th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
just a lil bit of info too on the housing cost in sacramento my husband and i were looking at a house there and believe it or not in a middle class neighborhood it was going for 489,000 and it was a three bed one bath that still needed some work.
and then we saw another one that was a regular ranch style that went for 536,000 and that is in sacramento so really the cost is the same because we have looked at ones here that were also the same amount if not a little less then sac and the ones here in hayward were cheaper too!!
And sorry to say but for the strikers to mention that most are not home owners well honestly i do not believe that! But all that is besides the point im only interested in the kids and all of their education and what this strike is doing to them. Yes i believe you teachers will get your raise but the issue is now that i wanna see all the over time you are willing to put in to help all our kids catch up … Not just my girls but all kids !!!
April 17th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
i forgot to mention that one of my kids faced retention and i turned that all arund but what about the parents who dont have the means to buy materials like i have or the ones who work 9-5 and rather have family time instead of pushing their kids to work harderat night.
this strike is really makeing the RETENTION KIDS worse off than before … So teachers will need to work harder than before just to bring them kids up at least to where they were before.
Sorry to say but all the money that you all will recieve with your raise Will not bring back that precious time that the kids have lost! WHAT ARE YOU TEACHERS PREPARED TO DO TO HELP T ALL THE KIDS CATCH UP???
April 17th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
About the housing… median means average. Some home prices will fall below the price
given and some will be above. It is purely an average. As we all know a lot of a homes
price and value depends on location within the city (near schools, freeway acess…etc…)
California as a state is a very expensive place, particularly the Bay Area! I just did
some research on the internet and I found that home ownership in Hayward is about
53%. I know it is besides the point, but I had to throw the facts out here. I do agree
as a teacher, that this blog should be used for strike talk.
Leslie, all we do is put in overtime to advance the education of our students. How do you
expect a teacher to react when you use profanity at them? I can assure you that your
children’s teacher will and is trying her very hardest. I hope that you get all of the answers
that you are looking for tomorrow. All parents should be coming to the teachers with
questions like you are! By the way, we will do whatever it takes to catch the kids up.
They are the reason why we became teachers. We want success for all!!!!!
April 17th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
What you’re asking really gets to the heart of why teaching is the hardest job out there (besides parenting, of course!). I am racking my brain trying to figure out how I can squeeze free tutoring sessions into my already full schedule! Though I usually work 50-60 hours per week, I’m trying to determine how I can raise that to 60-70 in the weeks following the strike. The problems arise from the commitments I already made to my friends and family. Some of these were promises I made at least a month ago. Where is the line between putting the students first, yet still caring for my family and following through on promises I made them?
I don’t mind cutting out most of my personal time (we all do that when we need to, right?). I can avoid burnout for a few weeks at least. It’s my family that I don’t want to let down.
April 17th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Why are there “students” teaching our children you ask? Well that is because there are not enough credentialed teachers who want jobs to fill all of the many openings that occur in every district each year. The Intern program was created to help fast-track new teachers into the classroom that can help fill those gaps in those districts with the need. And yes, these are often high need districts in urban communities. Unfortunately that is the reality that all the districts in our general locality are operating under, be it Hayward, Oakland, Richmond, Fremont, or San Leandro school district, they ALL have Interns.
But I ask you, would you rather have one Intern teaching your children who is learning as they teach both inside the classroom as well as at the university or the minimally qualified string of substitutes? Intern teachers put in hours of time before school, after school, and most weekends and holidays in order to hone and better their teaching. They are in a cohort of supportive individuals and university professors that help them with their questions and concerns on an ongoing basis, not to mention the fantastic support often given by the veteran teachers at a school site. Substitutes, on the other hand, may be hired with as little qualification as fingerprint clearance, a bachelors degree (in ANY area), and one test that any high school student taking the CAHSEE could pass! Many substitutes have not gone through the rigorous coursework that any teacher credentialing program entails. And as Antonio Cervantes stated, those substitutes that are quality and do know how to teach children are called back over and over to sub in schools. They build their own positive reputation though their outstanding ability to work in the difficult position as a substitute.
Almost anyone can babysit 20-35 students from 8:30 to 3:00, but few can actually continue the lessons the teacher planned to teach and continue student learning. Many of those substitutes that are successful are so because they used to be full time teachers and are choosing to take time off or have officially retired and often miss the classroom or need to supplement their retirement!
Of course the ultimate goal is to have a highly qualified teacher of experience in every classroom, but all teachers have to start out as a new, first year teacher in the beginning. Interns are in a difficult position and they are not out to rob any child of an education. Anyone who decides to take on the difficult task of teaching in an urban school, while also attending University has to be a dedicated individual. For many who choose teaching as their vocation, taking a year to complete coursework while being an unpaid student teacher is a financial hardship. In what other profession is one year of unpaid experience required before you can get your certification? Even doctors get paid while they are learning to be doctors! But we expect student teachers to be in the classroom as an extra teacher that gets no compensation beyond experience for that entire year while also paying their tuition at the university. Unless you have parents you can live with or a spouse to support you, this is an incredible financial hardship for anyone who wants to be a teacher.
I support all of the brave and outstanding Interns I have had the opportunity to work with. They are amazing individuals who truly value learning and student success above all else. I am also amazed and deeply honored by the incredible veteran teachers who take Interns under their wing and help guide them along the path of their first year teaching experience. They are the unsung heroes in our schools, day in and day out. I am honored to work side by side with these teachers and to learn from their years of experience and wisdom. I am honored to stand beside them on the picket line as we fight for fair compensation for all teachers, in all districts, in all states, across the country. For this is not just about Hayward teachers. This is about professional compensation for all educators for our years of education and experience.
I am proud to be an Intern. I am proud to be on that picket line each day with teachers that I respect and cherish. I am proud to be a Markham teacher. I love you all! Viva la huelga! Si, Se puede!
April 17th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
When we don’t pay teachers a decent salary, when we don’t respect the profession, then the messages we send to students are (1) don’t become a teacher and (2) don’t respect education.
We need to encourage our students to become the next generation of teachers(not just administrators). We need the best teachers in the classroom. Most young people laugh when they are told that they would make good teachers. Why do they laugh? Because it is a difficult job with few perks and low pay. (And please don’t mention that teachers work only 10 months).
Once I calculated the number of hours I work in a year–adding in all the work I do during my so-called vacations, weekends, and after hours, including at home. I came up with more hours of work than a person who works a 50 week job for 40 hours a week with 2 weeks paid vacation. It even came out to be more hours than a person who works 45 to 50 hours a week.
If we want to attract the best teachers to Hayward USD we must offer them competitive wages. If we want to retain our best teachers we must offer them competitive wages. In the end this will benefit our students. Plus we would be sending students the message that education is something to be respected, and therefore, they, too, would respect education more.
If there wasn’t any money in the district, which I don’t believe, then our district administrators should not have received the raise they did. In fact, they should willingly take a pay cut. ALL MEANS ALL!
The 16% increase over two years, which teachers deserve, combined with the 7.7% cost of living adjustment for the past 5 years, would average out to just under 4% per year for 6 years. Right now HUSD teachers, counselors, nurses and speech therapists have gotten about 7.7% increase in five years when the state has given the district 22.49%. Something is wrong here.
Call or email the school board to ask for genuine negotiations. Teachers do want to return to the classroom. And we also want equitable and comparable pay.
April 17th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
A strike is not supposed to be “business as usual.” The teachers were told this by the California Teacher’s Association. The teachers are not supposed to be planning lessons, correcting papers, or doing work that they would normally do as a paid teacher. Accepting money from you is problematic for several reasons. Accepting money from a parent to grade their students homework could be seen as favoritism by other parents. I am almost positive the teacher’s union also would not be happy to learn about teachers getting paid by parents for their hour of work to correct the homework of only one families’ children.
As striking teachers they are there to support one another which includes any confrontation by those not in support of their picket line. Not to mention the use of profanity in front of any children is likely to get quite a response out of any group of teachers on a picket line no matter what site it is happening at.
Please stop your unfounded commentary about Markham teachers as a whole. You have only your experience with your child’s teacher and the administrators and a heated argument on a picket line while you used profanity. Do not condemn the other teachers that you have no actual experience with. It is unfounded and unnecessary. I choose to end with a quote that I believe applies to both sides of this debate:
“There are few things on which we can pass a sincere judgement, because there are few things in which we have not, in one way or another, a particular interest. – Michel de Montaigne
April 17th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
I commend you for wanting to instruct your children while the strike is going on. I know
Mr. Cervantes very well and can assure you that your questions will be answered
thoroughly and honestly. He is an amazing teacher and a wealth of information.
I am not saying that the teacher striking at the district are wrong, but I am saying that they
don’t know the teacher that you are talking about and have not seen her teach. I will
however, be the first to say that intern teachers as well as first year teachers are not supported by site administrators or district administrators. Their support comes from veteran teachers at their site who are kind enough to take the time and show them the ropes and share their ideas. I know that I would have been 100% lost my first year if it wasn’t for the amazing veteran staff that I had to support me. HUSD is real quick to fill a classroom with non-credentialed teachers, but then they leave them hanging with no support what so ever. Being a teacher is the hardest job I have ever had and I couldn’t imagine doing this job while still completing my course work. I am not close to your personal situation, but please remember that she is learning too and probably doing the best she can. This is not an easy job, particularly in a district like HUSD. I sure hope you find the answers you are looking for and we can all pull together to make all children in HUSD successful.
April 17th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Lots of thoughts…
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I think it would be a very interesting thing to survey people of varying professions & education levels in the bay area & find out who actually does own a home & where it is located. Maybe it would make an interesting feature for the Daily Review (?!!).
I’d really like to own, but as a single person on my salary, it’s not possible without moving so far from school I’d have a horrible commute.
I know one of my colleagues works 3 jobs (Fulltime teacher, part time weekend teacher in a special program, 33% extra work position at my school)in order to pay for his modest condo, a 45 minute to 1 hour commute from school. I have no idea how he does it all.
Reading these posts, I can see opinions (and interesting ones). I’d really like to know hard facts on how many of my colleagues do/don’t own homes, if they are single, if they are married is their spouse in the same income bracket or are they relying on a spouse with a significantly higher income than ours etc.
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About getting the kids caught up, I’ve talked with other teachers & we’re thinking through how to streamline the curriculum to make sure we get the material covered. I’m pretty sure that will be a hot topic of discussion & hard work when we get back. I sure don’t want my students getting behind & most other teachers will not want that either.
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Sigh. I’m really hoping for a settlement to be reached tomorrow & for all this to be over.
I like normal days a lot.
April 17th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
I am not the author of this piece, but I whole-heartedly support this teacher.
After reading even more replies on the blog I attempted a response about interns. For some reason it has disappeared. It at first said it was being moderated and now it is no where to be found. I was bummed because I spent a long time trying to express myself eloquently and without anger. Luckily I have it composed in a word processor! I tried to repost it, but it wouldn’t let me! So I thought I would paste it below for your viewing pleasure. I don’t know why it didn’t go through since it was in no way profane or obnoxious! (I also posted as A Devout Markham Teacher Supporter a reply to the smears) but after the first post, and under a different email address. Perhaps it was the Spanish I used at the end, (as I am trying to show my roots as a Latina in a past life
So I don’t know what happened! Anyway, enjoy! Heather
The Intern posted:
Why are there “students” teaching our children you ask? Well that is because there are not enough credentialed teachers who want jobs to fill all of the many openings that occur in every district each year. The Intern program was created to help fast-track new teachers into the classroom that can help fill those gaps in those districts with the need. And yes, these are often high need districts in urban communities. Unfortunately that is the reality that all the districts in our general locality are operating under, be it Hayward, Oakland, Richmond, Fremont, or San Leandro school district, they ALL have Interns.
But I ask you, would you rather have one Intern teaching your children who is learning as they teach both inside the classroom as well as at the university or the minimally qualified string of substitutes? Intern teachers put in hours of time before school, after school, and most weekends and holidays in order to hone and better their teaching. They are in a cohort of supportive individuals and university professors that help them with their questions and concerns on an ongoing basis, not to mention the fantastic support often given by the veteran teachers at a school site. Substitutes, on the other hand, may be hired with as little qualification as fingerprint clearance, a bachelors degree (in ANY area), and one test that any high school student taking the CAHSEE could pass! Many substitutes have not gone through the rigorous coursework that any teacher credentialing program entails. And as Antonio Cervantes stated, those substitutes that are quality and do know how to teach children are called back over and over to sub in schools. They build their own positive reputation though their outstanding ability to work in the difficult position as a substitute.
Almost anyone can babysit 20-35 students from 8:30 to 3:00, but few can actually continue the lessons the teacher planned to teach and continue student learning. Many of those substitutes that are successful are so because they used to be full time teachers and are choosing to take time off or have officially retired and often miss the classroom or need to supplement their retirement!
Of course the ultimate goal is to have a highly qualified teacher of experience in every classroom, but all teachers have to start out as a new, first year teacher in the beginning. Interns are in a difficult position and they are not out to rob any child of an education. Anyone who decides to take on the difficult task of teaching in an urban school, while also attending University has to be a dedicated individual. For many who choose teaching as their vocation, taking a year to complete coursework while being an unpaid student teacher is a financial hardship. In what other profession is one year of unpaid experience required before you can get your certification? Even doctors get paid while they are learning to be doctors! But we expect student teachers to be in the classroom as an extra teacher that gets no compensation beyond experience for that entire year while also paying their tuition at the university. Unless you have parents you can live with or a spouse to support you, this is an incredible financial hardship for anyone who wants to be a teacher.
I support all of the brave and outstanding Interns I have had the opportunity to work with. They are amazing individuals who truly value learning and student success above all else. I am also amazed and deeply honored by the incredible veteran teachers who take Interns under their wing and help guide them along the path of their first year teaching experience. They are the unsung heroes in our schools, day in and day out. I am honored to work side by side with these teachers and to learn from their years of experience and wisdom. I am honored to stand beside them on the picket line as we fight for fair compensation for all teachers, in all districts, in all states, across the country. For this is not just about Hayward teachers. This is about professional compensation for all educators for our years of education and experience.
I am proud to be an Intern. I am proud to be on that picket line each day with teachers that I respect and cherish. I am proud to be a Markham teacher. I love you all! Viva la huelga! Si, Se puede!
April 17th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
We went looking for a house in sacramento because the research on the inter net said it was more cheap but surprise surprise it was the same and if not more but arnold i believe is to thank for that!!!!!!!!!
I am happy to see that some teachers have already talked about getting the kids caught up . That shows me that SOME teachers have already thought about everything from A-Z. And not just putting on the side until they get back to work.
And i hope when i watch the morning news it will say ” bring your kids back the teachers are here and ready”.
And if it don’t well i will still go and talk to mr. cervantes. And even if the strike is over i still will be going to see mr.vigil.
Oh yeah i refer to mr.vigil cause now that he RENTS here in hayward and works here he is now blue collar and his title does not fit him any more. es la verdad o no senor vigil !
April 17th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
I think that Mrs. Cienega should keep talking about her experiences to the district and to other parents. Thank you for your support and thank you for supporting your children.You need to know how that helps us as teachers. Los padres son los primeros maestros (parents are the first teachers). Now, all parents should realize that the situation that you describe with your daughter’s teacher being an intern will be the norm if teachers are not paid better and treated
better. Imagine a school where all of the teachers are interns or where the majority are interns, and after a few years, they get their credentials and they all leave to get jobs in districts that pay better and offer health benefits. Then a whole new group of interns comes in, spends a few years, and then leaves to a better paying district. This is happening in L.A., S.F., Oakland, Richmond, Berkeley, San Diego. I have just given you a glimpse of your future parents, if Hayward Unified does not change drastically how they treat their teachers. This is not just about us, it is about the children as well. Mark my words. Support us now or you will regret it in the future parents. This is a promise not a threat.
April 17th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Again, I must apologize for the errors and misspellings in my responses–I can see the entire page and it’s making it difficult for me to see the entire text. I apologize for what seem to be silly, careless spelling or typing errors. It might also be that I’m not as literate as I am dumb.
April 17th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Dear Leslie/Antonio/Markham teacher:
I really would like to get back to the question at hand, which is: Are Hayward teachers entitled to a living wage? A wage that makes Hayward competitve with our surrounding disctricts? A wage that will stop our most experienced and dedicated teachers from going elsewhere?
This whole issue betwee Leslie, Markham school, Antonio and “Markham teacher” is sure taking an awfull ammount of energy in this blog that is NOT constructive!
Please, get together and have a cup of coffee, or a beer if you preffer, and resolve your issues amongst yourselves.
If things are so bad at Markham, and I believe they are, taken into account the other parents that have chimed in, please understand the following:
This is not the forum for your specific problem.
My advice to all you disgruntled Markham parents is: put it in writing, take it to the district office and let the rest of us move on forward trying to figure out how do we get our children, ALL HAYWARD CHILDREN, back into the classroom with their regular teachers.
I’m inclined to stop reading and contributing to this blog if it has become a blog about Leslie, Antonio and Markham.
Please, lets move on!!!
Fernando
April 17th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
I am a parent with two elemantary school children, a 5th grader and a Kindergardner. I want to comment about the comments “another tired teacher” wrote above. I am supporting the teacher’s union because I to understand and know according to reasearch that the most important factor in improving student achievement is the quality of a child’s teacher. The federal law NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT and the WILLIAMS ACT has created new educational rights for parents and greater power to enforce these rights. These include a student’s right to a permanent, qualified teacher and parents “right-to-know” the qualifications of their child’s teacher (parent’s any questions e-mail me mariheredia@sbcglobal.net)
According to the attorneys who fought and won the case that resulted in the Williams Act Nearly forty thousand students in California schools were unable to pass both sections of the exit exam and were denied highschool diplomas. Overwhelmingly , those who have not passed are low income students and students of color. Over 60% come from economically disadvantaged families, and 78% are Latina/o or African American. In comparison to 12% of White students and 5% of Asian students did not pass.
Parent’s must be well informed of the proper credentials a teacher needs to teach their children. Different grade levels and circumstances have different requirements for appropriate credential authorization.
School Districts often cite the teacher shortage in California to justify their practice of assigning teachers to positions theyy are not qualified to teach. Although it is true that districts face obstacles in recruiting and retaining qualified, credentialed teachers in schools this does not make it acceptable or legal for districts to misassign teachers.
We as parent’s can engage the district administrators in conversation about what policies are in place to attract and retain highly qualified teacher’s. Some districts (Ufortunately,not HUSD) provide incentives such as smaller class sizes, signing bonuses, mortgage stipends. Some districts (again not HUSD-if I am wrong please let me know) provide paid leave for teachers to take courses and obtain EL authorization.
Under the Williams settlement, districts are encouraged to give decile 1-3 schools priority in reviewing resumes of teachers. During 2005-2006, the state provided $49.5 million to recruit and retain “highly qualified teachers in decile 1-3 schools under the Teacher Recruitment and Student Support Program. Additional funding 48.3 million was provided in the 2006 Budget Act. Does any one know if our HUSD applied for these funds?? If so how are the funds being used–to pay the Subs $300.00 for doing nothing.
I will continue to support HEA because I want “highly qualified” teachers to want to come, not run from, to teach at this district where I am raising my children.
I am extremely worried with this school board, and the administrators at the district level. The school closures, the new bounderies, the overcrowded classrooms, their lack of concern over the children not being in school and the teacher’s being on strike.
They do not care about this community. This very PROUD BLUE COLLER community, if they put the children’s education first and “fiscal solvency” second, they would not close the schools they would give the teachers the salary they are asking for and that they deserve, they would not have given the highest paid administrators a 16.8% raise. They would use those Masters and Phd’s to figure out creative ways to provide the quality education that our children need and deserve.
Question’s about the Williams Settlement visit http://www.decentschools.org or email williamsinfo@publicadvocates.org or call Public Advocates at (415)431-7430. If anyone is interested in filing a Williams complaint e-mail me.
mariheredia@sbcglobal.net
Maribel Heredia
Parent Advocate
April 18th, 2007 at 6:45 am
Two events happening today, Wednesday, April 18th, 5th day of the strike….
9:00 am – 11:00 am
Famies in ACTION
“Coffee with the Teachers”
“The Bridge of Faith” Church
27343 Whitman Street, Hayward (beside Tennyson High School)
Talk about:
- The lates news regarding the negotiations between the district and the teacher’s union.
- To learn what YOU can do as a parent
- All the information you are receiving at once.
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today
“Unity Event”
At the four corners of Mission Boulevard, Jackson Street, Foothill Boulevard and E Street.
______________________________________
FAMILIAS en ACCIOIN
9 AM a las 11 AM
“The Bridge of Faith” Iglesia
27343 Calle Whitman, Hayward
al lado de Tennyson High School
Acompanenos manana para hablar de:
- Las ultimas noticias de las negociaciones entre el distrito y el sindicato de maestros
- Lo que puede hacer usted como padre o madre de familia
- Toda la informacion que esta recibiendo del distrito y el sindicato.
11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Acontecimiento de unidad “Unity Event”
cuatro rincones Mission Boulevard, Jackson Street, Foothill Boulevard and E Street
April 18th, 2007 at 8:15 am
I am a student at independent studies as well as Tennyson high school. Honestly I think this strike is ridiculous. We can all agree teachers aren’t making enough as it already is and deserve a raise for their commitment to our schools as well as our students. As a student, education is the most important thing for each generation. The more we learn the better we become not only as students but also as human beings. I guess I’ve never taken school into as much consideration as I do now because its the most important thing I can get at this age. Teachers, by far work harder than most jobs I’ve known because they work everyday of the year. Even during break they still have to grade a few 100 papers based on class size. Most high schools have a lot of teachers, but not as many who are actually committed to teaching like in Hayward. Sure a lot of teachers have left but the ones who stay actually help u a lot. They tutor you after school or before school on their time for no charge hoping that you would be able to learn. They help you understand that they are there for you. Not because they have to be but because they want to be. Please take this comment into consideration and find a common ground in able for both sides to settle this because its unfair for the students.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:50 am
This strike is not ridiculous. People have died for right to strike. This is serious. When workers feel that they are being treated unfairly and have expired all their options; going on strike is the next logical conclusion. When the district stops being in denial and accepts that they have left husd teachers no other option then we will see changes occur. I support teachers 100%. Young man I suggest you read about Cesar Chavez and maybe you will understand what’s going on.
!Viva la huelga!
April 18th, 2007 at 8:58 am
A few notes: If your comment doesn’t show up right away and is in moderation, please don’t post the comment again. What this means is that I or another blog administrator has to come in and either approve or deny the comment. Please be patient. What qualifies a comment for moderation…I’m not sure. But considering I get an e-mail each time there’s something in moderation, as well as an e-mail for each comment that is posted, my inbox fills up pretty fast.
Also, I had to clean some house. Currently, there are no comments in moderation, so if you don’t see something that you posted, it’s because it has been removed. Blogs are a relatively new realm for newspapers, so sometimes the rules as to what’s allowed are fuzzy. Of course, there is always free speech. But as a newspaper, we do reserve the right to print or deny your comment, just as we reserve the right to print or deny (or edit for clarity, etc.) letters to the editor. Now, some of the posts I removed were WAY off topic, and also resorted to name-calling, etc. Again, this will not be tolerated. The HayWord is not the place for your e-fight. If you want to have an off-topic conversation, the HEA also has a blog that would probably accommodate anything teacher-related. Or you can start your own blog devoted to whatever topic you choose. Comments on the HayWord should stick to the topic at hand. Thank you.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:12 am
Even if people have died for the right to strike. Even if the strike is not ridiculous. Honestly what will it solve to strike? If the both sides can not reach a settlement then what? Teachers would probably leave the district leaving us students behind with no one else to teach us but inexperienced teachers am i not correct? I am not saying that I do not support teachers because honestly I do. Strike or not, the world will still go on. Money is hard to earn and also hard to keep because of all the expenses EVERYONE not just teachers have to make. Rent, Food, Insurance, Gas, Bills, and other Living expenses are what we ALL have to pay not just teachers. I can understand both sides of the situation and I have read a lot about whats going on. If I didn’t u think i would reply to these post? You talk about changes that will occur, okay let me give you some examples of changes Ms. One: Teachers will leave causing students to stop wanting to learn therefore more corruption is born. Two: Teachers win the settlement leaving the district bankrupt overtime because they don’t have enough money as to what the teachers demand. Three: Teachers accept what they are offered and everyone continue with their lives normally and lives happily until the next situation occurs. Four. This situation would not be resolved in a little amount of time causing it to grow bigger and bigger and soon every city every district would probably have the same problems as we do now. So I ask you Ms. or Mrs. if you are married, how can we as a community solve this problem. Not as a person but as a community from both perspectives come together and resolve this problem.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:35 am
As a former employee of the HUSD, it is with great sadness that I read about the current conditions. As I sit at my desk writing this comment, the students of my current school (in another district) are working hard on the STAR Tests. We have had a great two weeks of preperation and I feel confident we will do well. But at the same time I worry about the HUSD students, staff and administrators. I know first hand the affect that a strike can have on a school for I was there during the last two in 93/94. I support the teachers 100% and feel they deserve everything they can get but at the same time I know the difficulties the adminstrators are facing trying to hold down the “fort” until the troops return.
I sympathize with all parties involved but I am mostly concern with the impact that this will have on the moral of the teaches and students once they return to school. How do you motivate them to do well on the STAR Testing? Did they get a fair opportunity to perform? Will new families moving in care about the strike or about school performance?
Just a thought. I say everyone need to get their act together and do what’s best for the kids, settle this thing noww!1!
April 18th, 2007 at 9:53 am
In that “myths and realities” document on the HUSD web site (quoted in full above), the district wrote:
“HUSD books are open to the public. We welcome parents, the press or
community members to come in and review our budget AND our three-year
projection, which, by law, we must provide to the County Office of Education.”
However, when a group of parents went to the district offices yesterday, they were turned away, and were
specifically told that any parents who had carried a picket sign (though not carrying one now) would be allowed to enter the district offices.
Dr. Vigil has consitently refused to meet with parents, nor to respond to written communications. He claims to want dialogue, but he does not permit any dialogue.
Two years ago, my wife attended another protest at the district offices, and someone from the office actually came outside and said that any parent who provided their name and phone number would get a return call to schedule a meeting with the superintendent. Two years later, we are still waiting for that call, or for any other response to many communications.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:53 am
I’ve had the opportunity to review a few of the “blogs” that have made their way to this location in the past few days and I have to say that I’m extremely disappointed at what I’m reading. Individuals are using this opportunity to make personal attacks. I believed that when I opened this “blog” I would find discussions about how “WE” can help our educators get back into their classrooms quicker, how WE can help our children through this transitional period, etc. I thought this would be about support (key word being WE). Instead, I’m reading about persoanl issues with teachers and particular schools. This is not the time to take personal shots at these things. That IS NOT to say that you are wrong. You are absolutely correct in voicing your concerns; however, to use this strike as a voice for those concerns is inappropriate. I full heartedly agree that not ALL educators deserve the raise; however, you either support the educators and their support systems as a whole or you don’t. You don’t get to pick and choose in these situations. You do however, get to weigh the good / bad and pros / cons. You have a right to have your child educated and you have a right to ensure your child has a qualified educator. However, where your child receives their education is a choice you make. If anyone feels they are not being heard by their school representatives or by their district administrators, explore your avenues!! Talk to other educators, talk to your city council members, talk with your congressional representatives, etc. Your voice is just as important as theirs.
I am not a parent. I am not a student. I am not a teacher, or a school nurse, or a school psychologist or even a school board member. In fact, I don’t even live in the city of Hayward. What I am is a sibling to one of your “striking” teachers. And before I even get started – Way to Go Teachers, Keep Fighting for what you believe in and truly deserve!!!!
Now, as a sibling I’ve been privy to many a direct conversation, many a heated explanation, many a second and third party to conversation, etc. as to why my sister is standing on that picket line fighting for what she believes in and not in the classroom teaching the students. This was not a decision made hastily – there were 18 months of considerations, sacrifices, meetings, thoughts, etc. involved in deciding to remain on the outside of that school with a sign in hand. My sister has been in the Hayward Unified School District for almost 10 years and during these years I’ve been witness to someone who has more passion about the students she calls her “kids”, than she could possibly extend to any one else that may cross her path or occupy her space. As someone who works in private industry, I would never nor could I ever understand the relationship that a teacher builds with a student during these years of their life. Students aren’t going to negatively remember the week their teachers were on strike or the day their teacher was absent from school. What they are going to remember is the teacher that helped them, listened to them, coached them, encouraged them, supported them, befriended them, etc., etc., etc. For an educator of any level to give up one day in the life of their “kids” is like a day away from their own family. It’s an empty feeling and a feeling of letting these kids down. Keep in mind that these educators are a primary adult figure for some students. However, in order for these educators to be everything that these students need / want / desire / etc them to be there needs to be some compensation from the levels above. Educator does not spell or equal volunteer.
I am aware that educators are not educators for the money … education doesn’t pay! However, I believe that in order to keep our educators in their classrooms, they deserve fair compensation, earned bonuses / raises, benefits including retirement, etc. I don’t believe that with the increase of health benefits (as a whole and mine included), increase to cost of living, responsibility of supplying classrooms with learning tools for the entire year, etc. that any one of you are okay with raises being ignored. I also don’t believe that those monies should be allocated to other district obligations without the consent of the educators as a whole, keeping in mind that these educators HAVE given up financial increases to support their district. There have been some very inappropriate financial decisions made by previous administrators for which these educators have sacrificed. It is not a right for someone else to decide where MY money goes.
Keeping that in mind please ask yourself … am I okay with my superintendent spending district money to keep a separate office in an alternate location with armed guards because he’s afraid of confrontation? Am I okay with the district spending money on “tour” buses to get substitutes to these school sites because their district drivers are honoring the picket lines? Am I okay with a substitute being paid $300 a day (ie $90,000 a day or $450,000 a week if 300 reported for work). What educators / parents / students / etc. had vote in any of these decisions?
I full heartedly believe that any individual who would even consider accepting an extreme financial increase is extremely selfish (who needs $200k to live comfortably). I can’t even begin the comprehension of knowing that the administrator who makes $200k plus a year can sleep well at night while his bank account is building, his retirement is taken care of, his family vacations every summer and even during the school year, etc. but his educators are sitting at their kitchen tables on the 1st of every month wondering if there is going to be enough money to pay their bills, put food on their table, gas their cars, etc. and still have enough money leftover to stock their classrooms with the supplies necessary to educate these children (last February one of your schools had one 500 sheet ream of paper left for the entire school to use through the balance of the school year before they had to pay out of pocket). Please tell me, do these administrators have children in the Hayward Unified School District? Do they fully believe that the educators responsible for educating their children are not worthy of fair compensation? My guess is no!! I have no reason to believe that their children are attending schools in other areas or possibly in privately funded schools.
As a sibling, I’ve seen the financial toll it takes on an educator with a single income. They are financially dependent upon their school district; however, many have had to turn to second jobs (these take away from their primary focus of teaching), family members, friends, etc. I don’t believe these educators are looking to get rich rather they are looking to survive so they can be at those schools the next day to cheer their “kids” on. I’ve single handedly watched my sister devote much of her spare time fighting for what is rightly hers. The team she has worked with is very strong, very knowledgeable, very dedicated and extremely determined. Hats off to all of you for these past 18 months and for the educators that have stood by them during
April 18th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Three of the teachers crossed the picket lines today. Seems everybody is getting frustrated as more time goes by.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
this strike is only effecting the kids!!!!! Why are we the parents the ones who have to suffer for YOUR good cause.
My friend had to quit her morning job because she couldnt afford child care for her daughter? She is also a single mother ! So i am positive you will get your raise but when you do then who will help her pay her bills. If she cant make ends meet and falls behind on rent and goes possible homeless then which one of you teachers will let her live with you?
Okay you want more money so do i …AND!!!!!!
As for complaining to the district and its officials well as another commenter has said it always seems to fall on deaf ears.
And why is it that all teachers can get their raise at once and not individually!!!why not handle the raise like they do at any other job…When you do outstanding work then you get your raise when you do bad work as some teachers have done then you get noting . Why are teachers like the few at the markham school alowwed to get a raise when they dont deserve it? I have read everyones blogs even i read a few last night that are no longer up here and if you all had read what i did then you would have seen what ms cienega was talking about.
LETS KEEP ON THE SUBJECT….. DO TEACHERS HAVE A RIGHT TO STRIKE, DO ALL DESERVE A RAISE, AND MOST IMPORTANT WHEN WILL SOME OF THESE TEACHERS BE REAL AND STOP SAYING THAT THEY ARE DOING THIS FOR THE KIDS BECAUSE WHAT THE STUDENT ABOVE HAS WROTE IS THE TRUTH. AND THAT IS COMING FROM THE MIND OF A CHILD!!!!!!
April 18th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
I guess only the teachers point of view is needed. A parent talks about the truth and you sew her lips shut. That is exactly what us parents are going through so your not posting my comments is a similie/metaphor to what is happenin in the real world of haward. We hear the districts complaints- then we hear teachers complaints- and the parents are ignored. Thanks- this is a reminder for me.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
I am hopping mad that Vigil — aka The Heel–didn’t see fit to do any serious bargaining during spring break so we could avoid making this a long, drawn out work stoppage. I want to be back in my classroom! I miss my kids!
Thank you, Sibling of a Teach, for your kind words. They will bolster my courage during the next several days. I hope we can all agree that they should be negotiating NONSTOP until this thing is settled!
April 18th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
My last comment: teachers are asking why this has become a heated discussion about particular schools and particular teachers???? What do you think the strike is bringing up in people? We have to think about school every day- you are delusional if you believe that it doesn’t bring up what has been stirring in many parents already. Do you think we sit at home teaching our children and go about our business without thinking about what we feel is wrong with the school????? This isn’t just about teachers and the district. It’s about the education our children have been receiving. It’s about things that I won’t voice so I won’t get muted. This strike affects all of us and not necessarily the way that the teachers or the district would like. we are free thinking people who love our children and we don’t need to be told how to react to this fiasco. I will leave it at that.
April 18th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
to Charles hill
I second that motion . You are right on the target , Thank you for teaching our students ,
April 18th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Vinh, I applaud and defend you for taking the time to write your opinion, you present an often
forgotten point of view. Although I wouldn’t characterize the strike as ridiculous, I believe you
are expressing (honestly) your frustrations with the on-going strike, you shouldn’t be
criticized for expressing your opinions. Regarding Cesar Chavez; When envoking his name let’s
do it respectfully. Cesar Chavez’ human rights legacy is more than just striking for better
wages; he was humble and respectful even under the most trying of circumstances. And he
always, always encouraged dialogue.
Que vivan los estudiantes! Que vivan los padres! Y que vivan los maestros!
April 18th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Jennifer: The comments I removed were from both sides of the fence…however, they were not on topic. They were personal comments about a few specific cases that are not related to the strike, which had devolved into a cyber argument. This is not the place for that, as I stated before. This is a forum to comment on the strike, and the strike alone. Discussion is OK. I’m not telling anyone how to react…I am merely reminding everyone that I have to be here to keep things on topic, and once it spirals out of control, it’s my responsibility to reign it back in. The point of the blog is to evoke an intelligent dialogue between readers on whatever has been posted. If the newspaper is going to run a blog, it has a duty to keep it in check. Therefore, if someone has constructive comments on the strike, then post on. If you have threats, obscenities, personal attacks, flames, or anything that will keep an e-fight going — they won’t be allowed. Simple as that.
April 18th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
That is how the new world is , teachers principals and the staff , Parents are excluded , we are forgetting about the children , There are always bad apples on the tree certain schools just happen to have more. Now I can see why they are going to close Markham Elementry , Teachers should get yearly appraisels to evaluate the level and effeciency,
they should also be judged to a certain point on the results of the star test , all in all that is the determining factor of how well you have done teaching your students in the classroom, then raises should be based on that , I send my regrets to all the good teachers out there .
April 18th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Again not all teachers are bad, so please do not be insulted
April 18th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Thank you for your explanations Kim. However I never made threats, obscenities, personal attacks except in the type of education my child was/is receiving, flames etc. However I respect your opinion and thanks for giving me a chance to have a voice. I also want to apologize as some of my words were not clear- I was commenting on a teachers opinion in regards to being told how to react. I never meant that towards you or the paper. I am sorry, I don’t think I made it clear. Anyways, thanks again for your letter and thanks for posting my opinions. I think its important to have a dialogue in terms of what the strike means for different people in different positions (parents, teachers, administrators etc.). thanks and take care
April 18th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Cesar Chavez encouraged dialogue , some teachers have encouraged dialogue also then turned away when taken up on the offer , let us know the truths the updates , or are we not entitled , are our kids not worth it ,
April 18th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
I do want to be a teacher that is my dream and if i need to strike for a better working classroom or for more stuff to help teach with then i will. But i will not strike because of my money problems. My favorite teacher has passed the picket line she was there the frist day just like me and now i have seen her being called a scab…. you talk about showing manners where are yours!
I have not been back to school cause i am scared. Scared of everything that i have saw.
I am the one being hurt. Not you. Students are number one. not the teachers and with pay I WILL EXCEPT LOW PAY CAUSE IT WAS MY CHOICE TO BE A TEACHER. Like in the movie freedom writer the teacher did what she could for her students no matter what and my teacher feels the same and has crossed the lines but yet gets called a scab and she even cried about it . how is that teaching us to be modle citazins? if you cant act like one?
April 18th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
The only thing a worker can do to stand up for herself or himself is withhold her or his labor. That is all we have. The rest of the power resides with the bosses, and in private industry with the owners. Dolores Huerta understands this, Cesar Chavez understood this, and all the great union organizers have understood this.
Instead of people attacking union laborers for what we get, they should be demanding that all workers receive the same benefits, wages, etc.. We all deserve the best.
Instead of lowering the standards for work, we should be waging a battle for the majority of the people in this country, namely, working people.
April 18th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
Poor Analisa’s step daughter,
You are such a sweetheart do not let this ruin your dreams . This strike has victims and unfortunately you are one of them . I hope in the end it was worth it to the teachers, Your teacher is very brave for what she is doing , as the old saying goes “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me “
April 18th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
thank you ms. angela but tell me how am i to be reassured i will be safe when i go back when i have seen and heard what teachers have said or what they have done to parents kids and teachers like mine. I went to the store today and on mission i saw everyone with their signs . i was scared cause we hit a red light. analisa said not to even look but i did and i saw all the scab signs am i a scab because i want to go to school tomorrow if i say hi or ask somethin to my teacher will i get ignored. What about meeeee
April 18th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
I hope all teachers listen to this ,
there is really no way to reassure you , you are not a scab, that is an ugly word , adults use those types of words when they are angry , frustrated and just plain mean , I would hope that your teacher would pay attention to you ,
if not know that you are the better one and she is the one who is losing out . This strilke is ridiculous , we are now all losing out , keep positive and keep your head up ,
April 18th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
lol Mr.Cervantes I’ve never mentioned Mr.Chavez in any of my post so I hope that comment wasn’t for me. I know he was great and humble and had good causes. He was a great person and still is to this point. Thats is why there is a holiday for him to remember what he did for the union workers and farmers all around. I also want to thank you for understanding and taking the time to read my post and I hope everyone takes into consideration that as students we also have the right for our beliefs and opinion. As I said before as teachers, parents, the district and as well as students we are a community in which is falling apart in this situations. A few parents are upset about teachers. Teachers upset about their wages. Students are upset about not much education going on. The district wants everyone back into classrooms hiring subs while they could use that money towards the wages for teachers. From what i heard in cafeterias even if they have work its all the simple stuff “California Standards” isn’t the correct term for “describe this picture” type of work at a high school level if I’ m correct. I’m not saying we should have harder work because that would be a pain as well, but I’m saying did everyone think it over before striking? Thought about every problem they’d have? Now us students are behind on learning. I travel on bart every week just for school. My family has little to no money and honestly can’t freaking be able to provide me with nice clothes nor all the rest of the expenses I need. I skate or bike everywhere I go because we don’t have a car. I’m not about to talk about my personal life because its boring yet I just want everyone even teachers to understand that the world isn’t just revolving on them. I don’t complain about my life because it can change if i get the right education. Anyones life can change and since us students are the future I suggest EVERYONE OF YOU ADULTS take that into consideration. I’m pretty sure every parent would want their kid to be somebody and to achieve that goal they would first have to get an education which is not happening right now.
April 18th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Dear Analisa’s Stepdaughter:
I commend you for your idealistic statement that you would strike for a better working classroom and more stuff to help you teach, but not for money.
I suspect that if you do go into teaching, and have kids and a morgage, your idealism will evaporate rather quickly.
Once upon a time (not long ago), a teacher could afford to have a family, a house, and health insurance. If you do go into teaching, I hope that BECAUSE of the efforts of your teachers that DID go on strike, you will be able to afford to support your family.
I would hope that you will be able to pay for the thousands of dollars in students loans (unless you are lucky enough to have your college and further studies paid for)you will have to accrue to become educated and get your credentials,
Trust me, as much as this is hurting everyone, in a strange kind of way, if you go into teaching you will probably benefit from the better wages that our brave teachers on strike will demand from our overpaid administrators. And your kids will benefit from having better teachers in the classoom if HUSD has competitive salaries, so that our best and most dedicated teachers don’t use Haywrad as a training ground before moving on to surrounding districts where they can earn a decent wage.
April 18th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
mr. fernandez I WAS READING AND WHY ON THIS BLOG IT STATED THAT TEACHERS CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY HOMES …SO WHY NOW ARE THEY HOME OWNERS…
I am not rich like the other student mentioned and i do not sport name brand clothes . my father and step mother struggle at times to support us. but we manage. Why is it at my school most teachers have new cars nice clothes and name brand shoes like nike and addias one man in a benz but yet my family has to buckets one for my dad and for analisa and when our cars dont work my dad has to fix it himself cause we cant pay to take it to the shop?
I want to teach not for money but because the teachers like the SCAB has showed me is done out of love!! where is your love for us…..
ANALISA:
My step daught felt it was important to let it be known how the other side feels keep in mind that she is a student and that she is your future?Show her respect!!!
April 18th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
For years now we have stated that strikes are for better wages , healthcare etc, once we get it them we want more i think a part has to do with being greedy , how about the teachers with the 500.00 coach purses , who shop at norstom and mervyns when others shop at walmart and thrift stores , now it is about greed, if you are that poor with no healthcare and only make 46,000 a year with kids no spouse you qualify for healthy families so there is no excuse , kaiser also has low income family plans , as for owning home , anything can be done with good credit ,
these are the children , who already shared how more than likely they will not be able to pay for school themselves and yet they are getting further discouraged by teachers, I would hope that you are able to pay for the loans , If the teachers were good there would be scholarships instead of loans . thats no way to boost a childs morale , again this strike is hurting the most important thing our children , Mr hernandez would you discourage your child like that or would you tell him/her they can do anything they want as long as they embrace education
April 18th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
I’m not sure how I disrespected you with my comments, but if I did it was certainly not my intention.
Indeed, many teachers own their homes, but only because many of us have had our homes for a fairly long time, before the price of real state and health insurance in the bay area went nuts.
The reason my wife and I own a home is because indeed, when our cars (old ones mind you!) brake , I fix them, we do all our home repairs, gardening, cleaning, etc. We cartainly don’t have a luxorious life slyle.
Also, let me assure you, many teachers are not home owners, particularly younger ones that came to the teching profession recently.
This much I know: If my wife was entering the teaching profession now, we would not be able to buy a house.
April 18th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
what if all of the parents flock together and demand that the district pay the teachers more on one condition: the school ratings must go up!! They need to raise the bar. I am all for teachers getting paid- but I am also all for students getting a fair education- why don’t we strive to be a community in which people want to move to instead of flee from? If the standards of teaching went up- the ratings would go up- and more money for student head count would rise- which = more money for teachers. I also want to say that the district has unfairly been bashed by many. The issue of money isn’t that simple. A lot of people need to get paid- books need to be bought etc. I am not saying there isn’t the possibility of corruption- but I don’t think its either you respect teachers or you don’t. I love great teachers!! I am all for great teachers getting great pay!! I am also all for school standards improving!
I say to you Fernando Hernandez: Maybe this is the time it will go on record that children like Analisas step daughter will also get a better education because parents like her step-mother and I have fought to raise the bar for our children.
Thanks
April 18th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
sorry about that mumbo jumbo comment I do not know what happened ??
anyways jennifer its just like i said the raises should be based on star test results , high school exit exam results , results period, in anyother job you would not get a raise if your preformance is not acceptable ,
that way we are insured that teachers are doing their job and deserve it ,
many young people coming out of school fresh in their careers are having a hard time buying a home not just in the bay area but everywhere in CA, not just teachers , everyone , it is just a hard economy to live in , many people are not homeowners , just the lucky few , that should not be the reason for a strike . ,
April 18th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
THANK YOU JENNIFER
I hope that the teachers have read jennifers statment it was right to the point. do not blame us the parents for speaking the truth. Like my grandmother always said the truth hurts..So deal with it.
as for my step daughter she will always strive for the best .. that is what we have taught her..and for the teachers “ask not what the people can do for you but what you can do for the people”. The parents and students are the people.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
I certainly agree that most teachers in the bay area have been living at their homes for a long time and probably wouldn’t be about to afford one of they just started now. Times have changed and everything is hard now. Each year gets harder whether its economics for some or emotional for others. Everyday is another day something unexpected can happen in your life or mines. As I’ve said so many times money is hard to earn as time goes by and pretty soon every year would probably be like the rest as to where somewhere in the country of ours will strike for the same cause. I also agree with Angela as to greed being a factor in this. We as human beings some unfortunate then others who work just enough to get by. New cars, branded clothing, and electronics on the other hand are optional. I’m not saying they are a luxury because everyone has their wants and needs which are different from others. We as humans beings shouldn’t discourage / ignore anyone in general whether its because of the strike or not. When I went to see my teacher for my daily work turn in I didn’t realize that the strike affected my school. 2.80$ wasted on a bart ticket for which i still turned work in but did not get any more work so i can earn my credits. I am behind and i was hoping spring break and my free time would be used on credits so i can graduate. Your probably right most of us would probably never afford college on our own and possibly need student loans yet we are still willing and eager do it for a better life afterwards. You need to put effort in order to get results back. In the end the results may or may not be what you expect yet you can tell yourself you tried your best and that is what matters.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
A point that many of you angry parents are missing is that the union strategically chose to go on strike two days before Spring Break so that the Bragaining Team had a whole week to negotiate while families’ of students would not be affected. The district failed to come to the table with the teachers union, or even call. Vigil left town on vacation! You should be mad at them for that!
Also, the parents at the school where I teach are on the picket lin with us everyday, and bring us hot food everyday. I am so glad I work at the school I work at and not where your children go. And my school os one of the poorest in Hayward so do not even try to cry poor.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
While I think teachers in general deserve more money, that is not really the point of this strike. What we are asking for in Hayward is that our teachers here make salaries similar enough to other local districts, so that they stay.
As a single teacher in Hayward (with 16 years experience even), I can assure you that I do not make enough money for the luxuries mentioned in the above blog entries. I drove my last car for 11 years, til it practically died. I do not have fancy designer clothes, shoes or purses. I buy my clothes on sale, my shoes at Payless, my purses at Target. I am not unusual. The few colleagues I have seen who have many expensive things tend to be individual teachers who have inheritances from family money or have spouses whose salaries enable them to be able to spend more freely. I have excellent credit, have always been very financially responsible, but cannot afford a home here.
I am proud of my profession. I love being a teacher. I never thought I’d be concerned about money, but in the last few years as the cost of living has risen & my salary has not, it has become more financially stressful. HUSD has received money from the state (22% over the last 5 years) specifically to address this cost of living issue & has simply chosen not to use it for the most important expense in the budget, the staff that makes the district work.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
whos crying poor casue the only ones i see crying are you the teachers !!!!
your cryin cause you cant afford healh care or morgage we are middle class too just like all of you.
Simply my daughter and lil man truong are students expressing the type of families that they have and our financial situations. But as i seem to have forgottin us the families that YOU work for do not matter!
April 18th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
do not cry poor , that child was spilling the truth , and the only thing stated was do not cry poor , I sure hope that the reason the parents bring you hot food is because you have given results, and perhaps you do deserve a raise , but again i will repeat there should be a guideline to follow it should not be blanketed , I guess none of us adults remember what it was to struggle and be young or maybe some do come from families with money , that is why its hard for some to realize,
another tired teacher – try to put yourself in the really poor peoples shoes , and then you may understand better , our gripes are nothing , they dream to have what we already have. Education is their only key out of the cycle
April 18th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Vinh, I realize you didn’t comment on Cesar Chavez, I was only trying to move the conversation along and
respond to two blog responses on at the same time–my bad. Keep writing.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
In defense of all HUSD teachers…
Why shouldn’t they get a raise? They are highly educated people!!! How many parents on here
posting want their children to go to college so that they can get good jobs and make a decent
amount of money? I would hope that all of you do!! Statistics show us that in almost every profession, excluding teaching, those that have a college education earn higher salaries. Teachers have to go through an extensive
amount of higher education, so why don’t they deserve higher salaries or at least a raise like every other professional with a lot of education under their belt? Perhaps a Cost of Living Adjustment, which has not been passed on to Hayward teachers in years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 18th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
i am not crying about having a little bit of money i am just saying what i have seen and if you think that i am a cry baby then so be it!
Probably i will have to get a loan for college but i will do what i have to do and if i choose to change my dream profession it will be for something i love and not for money. As my father has told me before if a person is not happy or satisfied at their job then quit! He has said that i would need to choose something that would give me inner satisfaction not just about making my purse fat.
So if nobody agrees on anything then what will happen to us kids? fernando and the other teachers answer that…..
April 18th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Angela thank you! I agree with you 100%. As for you teachers calling us angry parents- are you not angry teachers? I resent what you are saying because you are basically saying that you deserve respect and more pay- but us parents are not deserving of respect or great education for our kids? We should get on the bandwagon and stand in the picket line…..but you aren’t supporting our cause of better education. I am not going to play the you are right I am wrong game. We should understand that possibly we have the same goals. I would like you to have more pay AND I would like my child to have a better education. People say we should get over complaining about the school our child goes to and take it to the district? Why….this is our reality…where our kids go. This is our lens and our experience. It’s hard to fight for you to have more pay when the education my child is getting is a joke. Maybe its just at his school….but how should I know? That is where my kid goes.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
I do agree we need to raise the bar and make sure we get rid of bad or mediocre teachers, on that we agree!
But underpaying everyone in the district is not the way to weed out the few bad apples in the district. That is a problem that can (should in any case!) be addressed by the school principals and the administrators (fat chance! we have seen they won’t even talk to us!) after the parents whose kids are not receiving an adecuate education bring up the issue.
As a parent, my experience with my daughter’s teachers has been that they are competent, dedicated professionals that should be compensated accordingly.
As somebody who worked his way all the way through a masters degree, I do encourage my daughters to persue an education as the only means to be anything they want to be. However, I do also want to make sure they undrestand the reality of the world we live in, it might not be fair, but is all we have.
I agree with you that we should strive to be the kind of place where good teachers (or any body, for that matter!) want to move to. I can asure you that being one of the lowest paying districts in the immediate area is not the way to encourage excellent teachers to want to teach in Hayward.
We tried that strategy and over the last 3 years about 500 teachers (out of about 1300) have gone on to other districts. Like I said, we have become the traing grounds for other districts. Underpaying our teachers will not reverse that trend, it will only exacervate it.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
To all who brought us fruit, muffins, water, and complete lunches, THANK YOU & GRACIAS.
To all who honked your horns, gave the thumbs up or waved in support of teachers,
THANK YOU & GRACIAS.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Hello Fernando and thank you for your words. I appreciate the dialogue. I too have a masters and I have worked very hard. I would like to be a great role model for my child and this strike has been a perfect time to teach him about politics/ education/ the world in general. I am sorry if I didn’t state this correctly: I would like all teachers to get paid what they are asking. Period. I would like the district to give what is asked for. I am also asking that the district demands that the education improve. In others strikes this has occurred- and it worked out lovely. I am not advocating less pay- I am advocating enhanced pay and enhanced education. I respect teachers, students, parents and community.
Thank you so much for listening.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Jennifer:
You don’t have to keep your child where he is at.
I believe there is a way to tranffer you child to another school within the district if you don’t like the one he currently attends, so long as there is space available.
I don’t know where you live, but my daughter attends Ruus Elementary in south Hayward even though it is not the school she would be going to had we not asked for her to be tranffered, since we live in north Hayward. I would strongly recommend this school if you are shopping around. Like I said in my previous post, I have been very happy with my daughter’s teachers. I encourage you to try transfering to another school.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Everbody has said in the long run this strike will help us the kids but it is not helping me now because it was your unions choice to strike does that mean you have to? fill me in i know nothing about a strike. All i know is about the demand of money and nothing for us kids.
If we are behind does that mean summer school becaused you teachers chose to strike.
explain please what is in store for us.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
I also would like the possibility for teachers to get raises based on their work. I have to ask for a raise based on my performance- so does my husband. Maybe I don’t know why this wouldn’t work (I am not against someone telling me) but I (being naive) believe this could work as it does for ‘other’ jobs. I know it would be difficult to measure what constitutes a raise and great teaching, but I think it would be worth looking into.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
I tried to switch my child to another school and there wasn’t any space. We can’t afford private school so this was what we were ‘stuck’ with!
April 18th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
I have a question. We have been keeping my child home because we don’t trust the conditions of the school right now. We have been teaching him a lot of wonderful things (instead of him watching television at school). Are we going to get penalized for not bringing him to a violent non educational place? I don’t know if we should believe the district or not. I am worried that if I keep him out of school we will get in ‘legal’ trouble and/or he will fail second grade. Does anyone know if it’s okay for me to keep him out of school?…I really don’t know who to believe. Also…I called the district and asked…they said that there is learning going on. HA! I told them to check it out…and they said sorry its not up to your standards but its education! What are they talking about? I don’t feel like its a choice to not bring him there…I feel like its the only option to protect my son from an angry sub. What does anyone think? Advice is welcomed!
April 18th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Seconding Antonio’s “Gracias”!
And adding a “thank you” for Jennifer’s last post:)
I also want to commend Vinh for working so hard to move forward in his education & life. I do remember many hours on public transit & the financial stress of college – 2 buses & a Bart ride each way, no computer (relying on a typewriter, the generosity of friends & the computer center’s limited hours at school). It’s hard to get an education, but so very worth it. And I have no doubt that Vinh, with your tenacity, you will make it & will go on to a career of your choosing!
While this strike is stressful, I am so grateful for the support from the community.
It means so much to me to see people so positive.
My students are terrific people and often say thank you in the classroom, so I do feel appreciated by them, it’s just great to see such community support too.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Do not cry poor.. is that not what your doing saying your one of the poorest schools in Hayward? who’s crying honestly though. We the parents and children clearly stated in our post that we do not complain about being poor neither will we ever because that is how life is while you teachers not all but among the few strike about your wages saying that you don’t have enough for health care and stuff and I believe that is a cry saying you are poor which is possibly is true or is not. We as human beings live everyday not knowing how the next day would be. We as a community are making ourselves all look so foolish with this on going incident. Honestly I do agree that teachers do deserve a raise for but a strike to occur was out of the question. What you do now reflects on the future generation. Kids are staying home or going out now instead of being in schools. I may be a minor but yet I understand all of this unlike a few others out there. Each person has their own ideas and stand by them but with everyones ideas coming together, something great can happen. I suggest we form a group of children and parents along with teachers and the district So we can find a common ground. Share ideas along with opinion as well. We all speak in different tones and opinions but if we can all come together then maybe.. Just maybe we can resolve this matter quickly.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Because we teachers are physically (visibly) out on the picket lines we are being
scapegoats of this strike. It’s easy to say we’re selfish and don’t care about the kids–but it’s not true.
Where is the superintendent and the board members? They hide in their offices and put the blame on
the teachers. What are they being paid their enormous salaries for? Your school district leadership has
known since August this might become a train wreck and they allowed it to happen.
They’ve let down the students, their parents, teachers and the community.
Many teachers, parents, students,community members haven’t written saying that teachers are
unpaid and unders-appreciated, and with this I would agree. Regarding why the teachers are
having to bear brunt of the criticism, like the old school song say, “Don’t it always seem to
go that you don’t know whatch got ’til it’s gone.” If you’re able to read this…thank a teacher.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Hi Jennifer,
Since I heard on the news yesterday that 78% of Hayward students are not attending school, I don’t even know how they COULD penalize an individual child for non-attendance. And with those statistics, if anyone was ridiculous enough to bother you about it (I doubt they would), you’d definitely have grounds for appeal, along with probably 80% of your son’s class.
Every teacher I know has “frozen” the gradebook until we get back, so no one should be penalized academically either.
And by the way, I think it’s great that you’re spending time on learning at home. That will only benefit your son & lead to more good things–
Signing off for tonight &
Anxiously awaiting a call or email about tomorrow (really hoping there’s settlement!)
HighSchoolTeacher
April 18th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
to jennifer my sister has 3 children who go to hayward schools and was told that it is considered a truancy and will count against the students
April 18th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Jennifer I highly do agree that you teach him at home for now since the strike is still ongoing the work they probably give at school as i said earlier are things he can learn from home. Its really sad that they give such easy work and possibly at some schools no work in most cases they would be at the cafeteria doing nothing. If he was doing good in school before the strike then I would highly doubt hes going to fail. Just keep him in an educational place and its alright. School isn’t the only place that is educational. If you have spare time you can take him to the library and check out books for him to read while not attending school.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Thank you HighSchoolTeacher
I will take your advice. It’s funny because I have enjoyed being his teacher for several days, but it has also made me appreciate all of the good teachers out there because its hard (and I only have one child). Thanks so much!..and good luck! I hope this makes our community stronger.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Thank you to all that answered my question (especially Vinh). I will continue to have him out of the hostile environment (the sub was a little on the scary side) and I will cherish that I have this time to teach him. I am sad for the parents who have to work and can’t take time off or afford a sitter. I appreciate all sides of the spectrum. Thanks everyone and good night!
April 18th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Well mr. cervants nice to hear from you. …
my son has never been taught by you but i do know who you are. and i
would like to say thank you for making my mornings hard for me to enter the school.
I am a working single parent also . I do not have family here so i have no one to watch my son (he is in first grade)
I have no choice but to bring him. it is either pay for daycare or starve! So everyday i have had to cross the picket line and deal with having you all block the entrances and also go to work nervous and feeling uneasy because i do not know what is going on with my son.
I am guessing that is not what you wanted but it is what has happened .
A bout markham well i have had good and bad experiences there too what is sad is that it has been more bad.
So do some teachers at markham deserve a raise yes and others do not.
Jennifer it is a great idea about the wage thing and i would love to get that going so then teachers can get a glimps of our reality about pay increase!
April 18th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
Implying that teachers deserve to be underpaid because we chose this profession is akin to
telling a police officer or fire fighter that they deserve to be shot, burned or killed
because it’s their choosen profession. Nobody deserves that kind of treatment.
We like the aforementioned professionals provide a very important service to the community,
and even though we may not risk our lives to the degree that police officers or fire
fighter do, we are on the line with children everyday. Did you know that in the event of some
major catastrophy (earthquake, flood or other unforeseen event) that teachers are required
to stay with the students for the duration–we aren’t allowed to go home and see our loved ones
who may be in danger as well. I’m not asking for sympathy, I’m only attempting to let people
know one of the many services we teachers provide for the community.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Teacher ARE becoming the scapegoats here. It’s easy to place the blame on us because we are not in the classroom. We are the ones you know. The board members and highly paid district employees might be passing you on the street and you might never know. Their stubbornness and invisibility during this time keeps them safely in the shadows.
In the meantime, many teachers (including myself) are becoming physically ill over the fact that students are STILL out of the classroom. Rumor has it that the district wants us to feel the burn by keeping us out on strike for a while longer. How selfish and vidictive is that??
The board approved administrative raises of 16.84% over the summer BEFORE looking at teacher salaries. The irony is that the administration is supposed to SUPPORT the teachers. Not the other way around. We teach the children. The teachers have an enormous responsibility that should be justly compensated.
The union has been trying to bargain with the district since August, while we were IN the classroom. It went nowhere.
We want to be TEACHING! And yes, we are professionals that want to be paid as professionals. We must stand up for better wages and conditions because it has to start somewhere.
We would never have a Cesar Chavez Day off or know the name Dolores Huerta if they had agreed to accept their conditions because that’s the way it had always been. Change must begin somewhere. Teaching deserves to be a socially and financially respected profession.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
I do not think that is a proper way to compare, you are comparing a life , something that can be taken away and nevr given back , with money that comes and goes , that shows me how shallow this is , I imply that if you are not doing a decent job and your students are below basic and basic in the star tests you do not deserve a raise
April 18th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Jennifer, regarding your question about truancy. Ultimately it’s the teachers who decide whether
students move onto the next grade level or what grade students receive–we’re not vindictive. Do
you really believe that the district would prosecute thousands of children for being truant? Where would
they find the time and money? The district’s threatening phone calls are merely an attempt into
pressuring parents to bring their children to schools–schools where they are being
babysat by unknown individuals who model unethical behavior (crossing the picket line) for your
children.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
You’ve became physically ill burned by the sun or ill by the weather being freezing because of the wind on your own. No one asked you to stand out there am i correct? No one asked you to strike you all did that on your own. Teachers are out there students are out of class why? Because there are no teachers there with them and they rather not come to school without a teacher then to come being babysat by subs. You are professionals that want to paid like professionals then i suggest you start acting like professionals in a matter. Standing out side of schools wasting time while you can probably do something more productive. I’m sure you can make petitions as well as other things that would help the cause rather then standing outside with a sign everyday..
April 18th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Spoken like a true smartty pants truong. I love you for it kid!
April 18th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Just a thought (and now I really am calling it a night!)
It’s really hard to rate teachers based on test scores because we do not all have equal classes. The teachers who teach English as a Second Language students, the Special Education teachers generally do not have high scores, but many work very very hard to help those students catch up with others. Teachers who teach gifted students or who work in affluent areas may have higher test scores because they are better teachers, but also because those students come in already advantaged.
That said, you can definitely look at an individual child’s test scores & evaluations & see if they are improving. To base salary on that would be hard though, it takes a lot of time & labor to collect data that specific.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Does an electrician deserve to be electrocuted because he is an electrician? Do the soldiers in Iraq deserve to lose their lives because they have chosen to be in the military? Think about that one. Teaching as a profession is not a vow of poverty. Just because teachers chose this line of work does not mean they should EXPECT crappy pay and just deal with it. Get real.
Also, teacher pay should not be based on student performance. There are several factors that reflect student performance. You can have the top teacher in the US try to teach the most struggling student who is below grade level and there is still no guarantee that that student will become above grade level. Each child is extremely different and comes with many different cirucumstances – geography, socio-economics, non-supportive family….
Should that top teacher not be paid adaquately because that child didn’t improve, even though the teacher tried their very hardest. Seriously – give this some thought!
April 18th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Actually we have been asked to stand outside our schools. We have been assigned times we have to be there. Up until today, we were asked/told to picket at our school sites from 6:30am-3:45pm. Starting today, we are assigned either morning or afternoon shifts & attendance is taken. And no one cares whether you personally voted for the strike or not, now that we’re on strike, everyone is on strike.
And regarding choice… Once the strike is on, as a union member, you really don’t have a choice. Crossing the picket line or calling in “sick” is a betrayal of one’s colleagues. It’s saying you’ll still collect your salary AND you’ll take the raise too that your colleagues are sacrificing for. It is unfair. Strike breaking is terrible for a staff & I’ve seen it cause anger and hurt feelings for years after the strike is over. (It’s not just teachers, I have friends in other professions involved in strikes & they’ve all said the same thing.)
About getting sick, some of my colleagues have told me that they are struggling with stress headaches. Some are having stomach trouble. Some are very anxious. It has been cold & windy outside, so some of us are aching & tired. We are not happy about this at all.
A strike is a last resort. We have tried to professionally negotiate for a year now. We have been working without a contract since last July. This is the only tool we had left.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
you make it personal get back on the subject of the strike that is what this blog is for
April 18th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
I agree with you Highschool teacher that striking is the last resort u would have as teachers who have already put up with the district long enough. I also agree that every teacher who supports this cause be there whether they are sick or not so they don’t take credit for which a few did. Yet I am just saying that if they are going to then don’t complain about it. 9/11 Columbine and also Virginia tech had teachers involved if not in the actual situation but the help of recreating what has been lost. The floods of New Orleans, The Tsunami of Asia and so on.. EVERY situation the world has been in involves the people around it. Not just a few heros but many. We probably don’t see this much but I know of a few teachers who took the time off during these situations. Took money from their own pocket and donated that to the help of recreating whats lost as well as donating their time to help build it. Teachers are a big factor in the world that we can all agree on. Teachers deserve some sort of raise that we can agree on as well. So why don’t we try and get everyone on the same page as all of the posters here are on.. We can all agree that we want the best education for the students and with that being said the only way for it to happen is if teachers begin teaching.. I hope that everyone can resolve this soon…
April 18th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
But for the comments I made defending Markham School, I have tried to keep my comments
limited to the strike. Again, my comments regarding the service teachers provide
a community were made so everyone might see how valuable this service is for the
community. I find it ironic that before the strike there was little mention of how greedy and
unproductive we are, but now that a strike has been called…
And as I mentioned before, since August we’ve bargained in good faith and Vigail and Schimmel
let it come to this.
Like I said before, “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know whatcha got ’til it’s gone.”
April 18th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Unless you have been a public school teacher Angela, then I am not sure that you really have much
credibility to comment. In your poster ealier this evening you commented that teachers should be paid off of test
results because in every other profession pay increases based on performance. Think about it Angela.
Most people who receive pay increases based on their performance are not relying on others to make that happen. Teachers would have to rely on their students to receive a pay increases. What about kids who know the information and have aced every practice test, but when it came time to take the STAR test they suffered test anxiety and choked? Is that the teachers fault? Having that pressure on teachers as well as students will create a very
competitive environment amoung teachers, schools, students….
And what about teachers who teach at low income, title one schools that hardly have the supplies to teach? Is it fair for them to have teacher who teaches in a wealthy area in affluent neighborhoods with science labs, computer labs, computers in classrooms for all students, outdoor ampitheaters to make more money?
April 18th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
true that mr. cervantes but also to defend markham parents should have thought like man “whatch see is whatcha get”.
and that its a “thin line between love and hate”.and wow “where is the love” .(for the kids).
I can get old school too!
April 18th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
I teach a Special Day Class in Hayward. My students have disabilities that prevent them from progressing adequately in the general curriculum. They are required to take the STAR test. They score extremely low and are reduced to tears when taking the test because they are unable to answer (and in most cases, read) the questions. I address individual goals that, while standards based, are not on their grade levels (I have students at 5 different grade levels and multiple ability levels). How do you propose my pay be structured? My students show little, if any, progress on the STAR test because the test is HIGHLY inappropriate for their academic ability levels. Should the GATE teachers be paid more than non-GATE teachers? What about Resource Specialists and Speech Therapists? What about the Bilingual teachers? Schools are not structured the way they were 30 years ago. We don’t just have K-12 anymore. There are other considerations to be made. Paying based on test scores can not possibly work.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
parent’s school is not a baby sitting /childcare center so you can go to work or get a break from your children….it is so much more than that, school is the foundation for our children’s future, our future as a society.
I grew up in Mexico when I was 10 I did not speak a word of English, my teacher’s nor the district, helped me at the time there was no bilingual programs. I was immersed in English only classrooms, kids called me a TJ; a wet back; one day I was walking home from 7th grade and a white boy drove by in his bicycle and spit in my face as he said “you filthy TJ, go back to where you came from.” Another memorable incident was the group of chearleaders called me a stupid TJ because I bumped into one of them and she spilled some of her juice, some how I got the ccourage to look at her in the eyes and say “I am going to kick your #** after school! She ran and told our teacher. He called me into a storage room and said “what’s this I hear you threatning Susie?” I could not look up at him I was afraid, he pressed on he asked me why and I answered because she called me a “stupid TJ” and he said “Well are you?” I said still with my head down well I was born in TJ…… but I am not stupid. he replied “ok, how about if she apologizes for calling you stupid, can we drop this whole matter?” This was my sixth grade teacher.
I had two types of teacher’s growing up, bad and indifferent.
I had many bad experiences with teachers, and students, I ended up dropping out of 10th grade. I hated school. years later I decided to get my GED, I was embarrassed to be a high school drop out. Then my younger brother graduated high school and went to college, no one in my family had ever been to college, my parents are from a farm town, my dad went to 1st grade and my mother went 1 DAY to school and the teacher told her dad that she was not paying attention. Her dad said well then she does not need to come, she could stay home and help her mother with the chores. My mom can barely write.
My brother motivated me, 10 years after I dropped out of highschool I enrolled in community college. Surprisingly I did well and transfered to USC and graduated, with a 3.8 GPA later I got a paralegal certificate. Currently I am thinking about graduate school.
Despite the horrible teacher’s and the lack of support from my family, not because of their lack of education…other reasons I will not comment on…I always wanted to have an education and I got one. One day I asked my brother Fran.. who is currently working on his Phd in science, what made you think about going to college when you were still in highschool? His answer was one of my teacher’s told me I was to smart not to go to college….so I did.
A good qualified teacher makes all the difference in a child’s life.
I have two children, I want only the best and the brightest teacher’s to come to this district and teach our children, paying the teacher’s adequately is money well spent for our future and our childrens future. I will support the teacher’s and keep my children home as long as the teachers are willing to stand up for their rights me and my children will stand with them.
April 18th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
I am teaching my children how our government system works. How UNIONS protect the workers rights, how to affect change, I am teaching them about the civil rights movement, and how common folk working for a common goal and a just cause come together and make change for the better of our community. I encourage all to take this unfortunate event(s), and teach the future leaders of this community, how to be good leaders…We could use some more Dolores Huertas, Martin Luther Kings, Cesar Chavezes, Ghandi’s, Nelson Mandelas, Angela Davis, these are courages people that fought for just causes…stay strong teacher’s our children deserve better you deserve better our community deserves better. The district and Vigil has under estimated us–we will not be talked out of quality education for our children, we will not be negotiated out of having quality teachers to teach our children, we will continue fighting until the Board and administrators listen, if Vigil thinks things can’t get any worse he has no imagination!!!!!
April 19th, 2007 at 12:51 am
Whew… so many new comments!! The talks have failed again… it is soo sad. Well parents are stepping to the plate in an organized manner… parents please join us!!
FAMILIES in ACTION
Hayward parents working together to build quality relationships
among parents, teachers, district administrators, and the school board.
Press Release
April 18, 2007
Frustrated parents are taking action in response to a perceived lack of respect, honesty, and communication in the current crisis in Hayward schools. Parents and students have felt excluded from nearly all the communications and actions that led to the current teacher strike.
On the fifth day of the teacher strike, a group of parents met to discuss their concerns; the group included several leaders of parent-teacher groups in individual schools. During the meeting, parents voiced concern about many different issues, but all involved the lack of respect, honesty, and communication within the Hayward Unified School District.
Parents agreed that isolated efforts by parents at individual schools had failed to obtain results, and the school district simply does not respond to questions or concerns voiced by individual parents or even a group of parents from a single school. They decided it was time to create a district-wide organization, which will be called FAMILIES in ACTION.
The primary goal of the group is to build quality relationships among parents, teachers, district administrators, and board members. Their first action is to join their voices together in unison, making sure they are heard loud and clear saying, “Resolve this dispute now, get the teachers back into the classrooms so our children can get the quality education they deserve!”
An organizational meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 19, from noon to 2:00 pm at the Weekes Branch Library, 27300 Patrick Ave., Hayward. During this meeting, parents will share questions and concerns, and will prepare for a Friday rally. Student activities will include letter-writing, story time, and fun activities. All Hayward parents and students are invited to attend.
On Friday, parents will gather for a rally at 10:00 a.m. at Weekes Park (on Patrick Avenue, north of Tennyson). Together they will then march more than two miles to the HUSD offices on Amador Street, where they will request a meeting with Dr. Vigil. They will present letters from both parents and students to the superintendent and the school board. All parents, students and teachers are welcome. Please wear a white shirt and comfortable shoes!
More events are scheduled throughout next week. Please call our FAMILIES in ACTION hotline at 510/592-9835 for more information.
April 19th, 2007 at 4:35 am
Thanks, Kim Santos!. The “sweater ” was really beginng to unravel here. Now the talk is back on track. Thanks for your patience and deligence
April 19th, 2007 at 7:47 am
Hello Hayward Special Ed. Teacher. First of all I don’t really believe in testing (I don’t agree with Bush’s tactics) because it doesn’t allow schools to focus on teaching and learning- it just prepares for a silly test. I think there are other methods of testing for improvement. You can test how much the student has progressed against themselves and not a comparable group. Anyways- I can’t figure that out in a tiny day.
First of all I hear what you are saying. I hear a lot of angry people and I really hope that teachers can see that parents are frustrated too. It seems to not be okay for us to be frustrated. If you read into a lot of parents posts we are not against teachers. We support them. I will repeat we are not against teachers. We support them. I also agree that many schools have not been providing adequate education for all (please don’t blame this all on the district- teachers are people too and that title doesn’t make them immune to bad teaching). Most everyone agrees that the raise should happen. That is not disputed. We don’t believe that a few bad apples equates many teachers not getting paid. Many of us are saying that we want you to get the raise and we want education to improve. You can look at the schools ratings – it doesn’t take a genius to notice that the education is not what kids deserve. A strike you argue may be about one thing to you- but its many things to many people (don’t forget children and parents please).
I think as long as you keep reading any negative feedback and focusing on that, you will not be able to come to a common ground. You can ask for support- but you can’t (and shouldn’t) ask for people to think only one way and to have only one opinion. People can’t help that the strike means many things for them. Some people can’t send their children to school- they see their teacher striking and its inevitable that if they were a bad teacher then it will be recognized and it will affect the parents thinking. however- if your child had a great teacher then peoples thoughts would be in alignment with what you would like them to think.
We are human just like you- many of us serve our communities as well- and I personally have come here to gain an understanding- I only wish you would do the same. You know your side but try to understand others as well. That is all I am asking and I will do the same. Lets try to understand each other, not judge our opinions and that is one way we can learn to help each others cause. If I know teachers will stand on my ‘invisible’ picket line for better education than I will be out there with you fighting for your worthy cause. Thanks for listening.
April 19th, 2007 at 8:02 am
Please pass this information on to all spanish speaking parents you can contact.
FAMILIAS en ACCION
Los padres en Hayward están trabajando juntos para establecer relaciones de calidad entre padres, maestros, administradores y la mesa directiva de educación.
Abril 18, 2007
Aviso a la Prensa
Padres frustrados están tomando acción en respuesta a lo percibido como una falta de respeto, honestidad, y comunicación en la crisis actual en las escuelas de Hayward. Padres y estudiantes se sienten excluidos de todas las comunicaciones y acciones que condujeron a la huelga de maestros que se está llevando a cabo.
En el quinto día de la huelga de maestros, un grupo de padres se reunió para hablar acerca de sus preocupaciones; este grupo incluyo muchos líderes de grupos de padres y maestros de las diferentes escuelas de Hayward. Durante esta reunión los padres hablaron acerca de los muchos asuntos que les preocupan, pero todos envolvían la falta de respeto, honestidad y comunicación dentro del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Hayward.
Los padres acordaron que esfuerzos individuales de padres de una sola escuela han fallado en tener resultados, y el distrito escolar simplemente no responde a las preguntas o preocupaciones expresada por los padres de una sola escuela. Ellos han decido que ya era hora de formar una organización a nivel distrito, la que será llamada FAMILIAS en ACCION.
La meta primordial es la de establecer una relación de calidad entre padres, maestros, administradores, y miembros de la mesa directiva. La primera acción es la de unir sus voces, asegurándose de ser escuchados fuerte y claramente diciendo: “Resuelvan esta disputa ahora, dejen que los maestros regresen a sus salones, para que nuestros niños reciban la educación adecuada que se merecen”.
Tendrán una reunión de organización este jueves 19 de abril en la sucursal Weekes de la Biblioteca de Hayward, ubicada en el 27300 Patrick Ave en Hayward. Durante esta reunión los padres intercambiarán ideas y se prepararán para la marcha del viernes. Los estudiantes que vengan podrán escribir cartas, escuchar cuentos y participar en actividades divertidas. Todos los padres y maestros de Hayward están invitados a asistir.
El Viernes 20 de Abril los padres se reunirán para una marcha a las 10:00 a.m. en el Parque Weekes (en la Avenida Patrick, norte de Tennyson). Juntos marcharan por más de dos millas hacia las oficinas del HUSD en la calle Amador, donde requerirán la presencia del superintendente, el Dr.Vigil. Cartas dirigidas a el y a la mesa directiva escolar serán presentas. Padres y maestros están invitados a marchar. Por favor vistan playeras blancas y zapatos confortables. Para mas información llame al número de FAMILIAS en ACCION
al 510/592-9835 para información de este y futuros eventos.
April 19th, 2007 at 8:03 am
I have another question and please don’t get upset at me for asking. Remember- we only get information through the district’s website and through what people are yelling as they strike. I would like to know if its true that the raise will put the district in bankruptcy. What does this mean to parents and teachers? I am not saying this with judgment I just want the facts about what is happening in our community. Would it be fair to ask for a specific number raise if it would put the district in bankruptcy? I am honestly just wanting to learn so teachers don’t take this as an insult please just help me and others understand. Thanks
April 19th, 2007 at 8:15 am
Each person has there own opinion and ideas like one another yet its how we use them that reflects the type of person we are. As we all mention that we as a community should find a common ground and with that being said I agree that negative feedback is something we shouldn’t have. Parents, children and teachers should all be on the same side instead of arguing. We all want the same thing. In many ways would that thing affect us if we aren’t able to achieve it. Everyone should be able to learn at their own pace so they can achieve if not a lot then some sort of result. We can’t really rush learning because we all have our own speed whether some students are more advanced than others or if some students are a tad slower. We the community should have representative for each party. Teachers, District, Parents / Children if allowed have coffee sit down and share opinions and ideas because honestly that is something I think is more productive at this moment.
April 19th, 2007 at 8:20 am
Well said Vinh! I second that
April 19th, 2007 at 8:46 am
One more thing about this bankrupcy issue,
The district’s site doesn’t include it’s budget (at least I couldn’t fint it!)
I, as well as many other parents, was not allowed into the district office to ask for a copy of the budget.
It is indeed hard to make an educated decision when the information is witheld from you and you can’t even go into the building where the people who have the information work.
The fact that the district doesn’t publish what money is available (all of the money!), and then stonewalls people out of their office so they can’t even request this information makes me suspicious. I wonder: Have the impartial mediators been given the real figures of the district’s budget?
I’m inclined to think not, but we can’t know for sure, can we?
April 19th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Jennifer: I second your last comment,
Vinh: Very interesting suggestion, this coffee thing…
I’m game to meet!
I would suggest the following place:
There is a parent organized march starting at 10 am from Weekes Park going to the district office. Weekes park is at 27300 patrick (for more info call(510)59298356)
Maybe we can meet outside the district office at 10:30, meet each other, talk some and wait for the march to arrive, then we can demand that someone from the district (not the secreatry, mind you!) come out and talk to us,
Lets hold them accontable. They need to talk to us. Lets not take no for an answer!
Any other takers? 10:30 outside the distric office, let me know and I will be there
April 19th, 2007 at 9:07 am
I would love to the problem is I work! I can do this Monday if anyone is game?
April 19th, 2007 at 9:14 am
Okay everyone- can someone explain why the new proposal through the district is considered unfair? If you go to the hayward unified school district and see what they proposed- I don’t know why this was considered unfair by the union?!!!! Someone please help me understand. Again I want to give the teachers my full support- I don’t want to see you as greedy- teachers keep commenting that they are all for the children and the district is not. Then why can’t you compromise? As far as I can see the offer looked fair. It seems the teachers will only take there offer- but isn’t life about compromise? I don’t want to offend anyone but this seems unfair to me. Maybe I am missing something and I would love to give the benefit of the doubt. Thanks everyone.
April 19th, 2007 at 10:17 am
I will do my best and be there but ill probably end up being late because id skate there but sooner or later I will show up and I am game to meet all of you (parents and teachers) as well as support the teachers so that someone in the district besides a secretary as said will speak in front of the public about this matter. Honestly, I have no doubt there is something suspicious about the budget but we all cannot put our finger on it whether it would make the district bankrupt or they are hiding money. Well tomorrow we will find out I hope because as a community we will not take no as an answer.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:02 am
jennifer Says: I am with you. Seems Kathleen Crummey who is heaing the teachers will not budge one bit. I think she is misleading the teachers. There has to be some compromise or this will never end! I also looked at their latest offer and IMHO it looks like they should take it!
April 19th, 2007 at 11:05 am
Why are all these parent meetings, being set in the morning? It will be very hard to attend these “Family in action” meetings because some of us work during the day. All meetings are set for mornings. How about us working folk?
April 19th, 2007 at 11:44 am
April 18th proposal…
The teachers are not happy with the new proposal because it calculates out at exactly the same amount offered last time (7% total), but with a “trick”. It offers senior teachers (at 22, 24, 30 years of service) a raise next year that 90% of the districts’ teachers are ineligible for.
Then it bases part of next year’s raise on “staffing costs, basically if teachers retire or leave. Now, who is going to retire if they are about to get a raise? And we are trying to PREVENT teachers from leaving…
(The district does say there will be a “retirement incentive” but does not say how much.)
This proposal also wants to use money collected from MediCal outreach efforts to pay for nurses. This money was originally to be spent at the school sites, as we at the school sites do the work. Each year, teachers are asked to spend time discussing the MediCal low income insurance options and to refer families who qualify to get the insurance.
Nurses’ salaries should be built into the district budget. They are a necessity – not something to add on when $ is available. Our district has 5 nurses for 22,000 students!
We are also uncomfortable with this proposal because it pits one group of teachers against another. Senior teachers get much bigger raises than new teachers with the 22,24,30 year bonuses. New teacher raises are dependent on senior teachers leaving. Nurses are promised something based on the work classroom teachers actually do for the district each year.
*********************************************************************************
Jim,
I brought the Family In Action daytime meeting issue up to leadership today. Hopefully that will be addressed soon & there will be opportunities to participate at night ASAP. Thanks!
**********************************************************************************
Just a note to all. I am not union leadership. I am just an ordinary teacher who really wants this negotiation/strike to end fairly. (And soon!)
April 19th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Thank You High School Teacher, and have a great day!
April 19th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
Thanks for explaining highschool teacher. I hope everyone gets what they deserve very soon.
I should be working but I think this is more important right now!
April 19th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Hello you all:
I too had gone to the district’s site to see what they had on the table, and it did seem like something teachers maybe should consider.
However, I just came back from the solidarity rally at Kennedy park, where I got a flyer explaining the reality of the district’s offer and I can totally understand why the teachers refused it. They should not have to wait 20 years to see some benefit from this strike! Additionally, the districts use of Bonuses instead of Raises greatly diminishes their offer, as bonuses are taxed at 40%!
Unfortunately this flyer is not yet on the HEA site, I wish you all could read it, it did clarify quite a bit for me.
In my experience, the information the district has been putting in their site is rather missleading, like that whole snafu with the computer message that many parents, both English and Spanish speaking, understood to mean that the teachers were back in their classroom, and latter found out it was not the case.
But don’t take my word for it, hear it from the horse’s mouth,
HEA will hold an informational meeting down town, at the Fireman’s Hall, 7 pm tonight.
At this meeting they will present their case for the need of this strike, and they will answer questions as well, which is way more than the HUSD and the Board has done.
Jim, if agree with you that working folks have had no opportunities to participate, and asides from tonight’s informational meeting, there will be picketing in front of Mr. Vigil’s condo at City Walk, right next to City Hall tonight, 7 pm as well.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Jennifer: I would be game for meeting you and anyone else on this blog on Monday, evenings are best for me, The Bistro 7pm?
Vinh: I will see you at the rally tomorow, I’m the skinny Mexican with a beard and very long hair, and will ahve my two daughters with me. I look forward to meeting you!
April 19th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Fernando Hernandez – Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! It means so much to me as a teacher that you
took time out of your day to come to Kennedy Park to learn more about why we teachers are doing what we are.
I hope you were able to enjoy a burger or hotdog!!
Additionally, thank you for spreading the word on this blog and educating others regarding parent / community meetings. I will pass along a word to my sites union rep that we need to do a better job at getting the word out to our parents and community about these meetings.
Thanks a million – you have no idea how much your efforts mean!
April 19th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
this meeting tonight is it for the whole community?
April 19th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
And should i spread the word i know a few more parents that might want to attend.
April 19th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
FIrst of all how do you know i am not a teacher , you do not , so I think you need to stop assuming , as for a special ed class that of course should be evaluated in a different way, there are always exceptions to the rule , how do you know that I do not teach in a low income school , one who has brought up test scores over 40% within the last 3 years , when we need supplies we make calls to our neighborhood stores, walmart, costco etc, and get donations , I just hear excuses , yes I am Sacramento Teacher in one of the poorest, crime ridden neighborhhods, so I feel i have more that enough credibility to comment , My neices go to your district and to know that the teacher did not even realize they could read and here we are in may , that is a shame , not all professions give raises based on individual performance . While you have all this time off do your homework ,
April 19th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
That is why I am upset with this again is is greedy I started off making a little over 32,000 a year , have 2 children and have to pay for healthcare , cost of living raise , hmmm a few cents that is nothing . But we do not complain we
just keep on working it gives me satisfaction when a student is proud of themselves or when the parents come in and s at conferences and are surprised at how much their child has advanced , arts and crafts are something not even thought about , where would we get the money , I always make sure out of my pocket that there are supplies in order to give the kids a friday fun day , and again look at my income , yet i do not complain , why because i love my job and all my students are treated as if they were my child, god only knows i would want my sons teachers to do the same , think about it , what if your child was behind in class facing retention and then something like this has happened, imagine you wre not a teacher with the materials to help, you were a low income parent with little to no education , imagine the frustration , I can look on this from both sides, unfortunately the side that is a parent and auntie is the one that wins over the money
April 19th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Yes, this a meeting for any parent who wants to go hear the Union state their case and become educated about the details of what is going on and have questions answered
Please, do spread the word.
And pretty, pretty please, lets leave our anger and frustrations at the door, lets make this a civil exchange of ideas, you don’t have to agree on everything. At least the Union is willing to talk to us.
April 19th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
I will be there and a mother of twins i talked to will be there and a few more will be there also!
I do not know alot of those parents some are friends of mines friends.
we markham parents have all met due to this strike. We have gotten together and talked about all our different issues!
April 19th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Fernando trust me when i sayall we markham parents want is some answers so i am speaking for us all when isay WE WILL BE LEAVING OUR BOXING GLOVES AT HOME. sO DO NOTFRET THIS IS WAY PAST MARKHAM AND ITS TEACHER ITS ALL NOW ABOUT OUR KIDS ,EDUCATION AND WHEN THIS DAMN STRIKE CAN BE OVER!
I will be bringing my son As well as the others will bring their kids (no daycare) so to all teachers to PLEASE LEAVE YOURBOXING GLOVES AT HOME AS WELL.
April 19th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Dear Markham Parents:
Thank you,
I have spent a fair amount of time researching the proposals and I think I have a pretty good handle on that end of things for the time being…
My kids and I will be over at Vigil’s place, letting him know we need out teachers back!(though I’m pretty sure he will shine for his abscence, as that seems to be his modus operandi)
April 19th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Correction:
For anyone thinking about joining the picket line at the Vigil residence
Dr. Vigil owns a condo in the coplex by the bart station, not the one next to city hall.
April 19th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
another angry parent Says:
Response to your post on the 12th, sorry; I just read your post. I am shocked. I received a message too; however, I’ve phoned in for my daughter. I cannot believe she would make those comments; however, I wasn’t there to “hear,” what was said. I’m shocked. I know that Truancy is an issue in many situations; however, the pattern has to be long developed and not just over a strike. Perhaps there are underlying issues at hand in this situation. I’m not sure.
April 19th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
I have heard (though I’m not sure it’s true) that the district (or maybe a site administrator?) has informed parents that they will be considered truant if they do not come to school. Some have gotten around this by simply calling in for their child, yet stating some reason other than the strike for their absence. At my site, parents with children in childcare have been told that their child will lose their spot if they do not show up. Some parents bring their child, sign them in, and then take them out as a sign of support. I sympathize with and understand those that feel they MUST send their kids to school, but it seems the district is using every opportunity to play dirty in order to prevent community members from showing their support through their child’s attendance or lack thereof. Those that can keep your kids home and have been doing so voluntarily, thank you for this noble and powerful gesture. Those that are still sending your kids, we hope to be back in school with them as soon as we can. Support can take many forms, and all kinds are appreciated. The issue of respect has often come up in the negotiation process. While the district has made us feel underappreciated, the community has shown its respect in abundance. It makes me feel so good when members of the community come to us and give us anything, even words of support or a friendly honk. Thank you Hayward for all that you have done to contribute to your educational community.
April 19th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Just a clarifiaction: someone else is Hayward Teacher, with capital letters, and I am lowercase. Sorry Hayward Teacher that I was so unorignal, but I didn’t know this would happen! Just wanted to clarify in case anyone has respones to post.
April 19th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Just a little math on the truancy issue. The news tonight said only 21% of Hayward’s students attended school today. That means 79% are absent. That number has stayed pretty steady for each of the 6 days of this strike. 79% of 22,000 is 17,380 students.
The SARB (School Attendance Review Board) can’t even keep up with its usual caseload, which is a tiny tiny fraction of this.
What on earth could they possibly do to 17,380 students???
And if they did do anything, how could they possibly defend it if challenged?
April 19th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
About property values in Sacramento:
Realtor.com lists 3 properties in the Hayward area between 300,000 and 400,000. The first is 696 square feet. The second is a foreclosure. The third does not show a picture and is priced at very nearly 400,000.
This same website has over a thousand listings in the same price range for Sacramento.
Is the cost of living in Sacramento really comparable to the Bay Area? It seems far more useful to compare Hayward to surrounding districts.
April 19th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
just got home from meetind and well of course it was only talk about money!
A few parents left earliy because of a question that was not even answered ???
And of course it was just a bunch of welll ummm wellll!
I seen alot of people there from kids to parents to other teachers…even a woman with an infant . In this cold.
But really all i got out of it is money and what is owed(past tense).
So teachers are do a raise i agree with that…..
but like the woman with the infant said really was how will they catch our kids up?
More when the kids are already behind!
I was in the hall cause there was no space inside but what i did kind of hear was NOTHING!!!
To me it felt like an big fat i dont know! Shortly i seen her leave !!
Now really that was a concern of mine too but really i stayed longer to hear more…and it was more b.s.
about money money and more money!!!!
I am so cunfused teachers want us to support the strike but are really leaving us hanging to fend for our own.
A quet from the teacher leading the meeting(ms.crummy was a no show) ” you can find alot of great stuff on the internet”.
what about the spanish speaking parent who do not know english how can they help their kids with work on the internet if they dont speak the language. Are they the forgotten ones like the kids??? Who can help the parents that have no internet???
WHY ask questions if their not going to get answered! HE had said it is us parents that need to fight for them well tell me cause i am so very lost right now who is willing to firght for our kids cause in reality teachers are fighting for them selfs be cause why would the first question tonight be “WHO HERE IS A HOME OWNER”!!!!!!!
April 19th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
FYI, I have called Markham every day to leave a message that my child would not be in school, and when I spoke to a woman there this morning she said I didn’t need to call every day, that they assume people who don’t call are keeping their kids out because of the strike.
April 19th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
I take issue with the idea that teaching should be a vow of poverty because we “do it for the children”. Yes, of course, I am highly motivated by my students or I would have left the profession long ago. But that does not mean I should be denied a fair wage.
If we extend that argument out, we’d have doctors practicing medicine for a low cost because they “do it for their patients”. Or Barry Bonds hitting his baseball for $45,000 a year because he “does it for the love of the game”. Or my car mechanic fixing my car for next to nothing for “the love of fixing a car”.
It’s tiring to get the same old argument about teachers teaching for the kids and how that should be enough for us. Maybe if we all had some kind of sugar daddy or sugar momma with a six figure salary, that would be the case. But the “do it for the kids” argument just does not pan out. I didn’t go to college for 5 years so I could live paycheck to paycheck and not be able to qualify for a home loan to buy a house in Hayward. It’s sad that, as a college educated professional, I have to live with roommates to make ends meet. That worked just fine for me when I was in college. But I’m supposed to be beyond that now…
April 19th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Dear Markham parent,
I’m sorry that the meeting was confusing. These are confusing times.
The big thing is this:
1. If you own a home in Hayward, you are paying the taxes that support the school district. You are paying for Vigil, etc. If you do not like the way he or the district is handling things, then you need to contact him and the board and pester them to settle the contract so we teachers can get back to teaching.
2. I, and my fellow teachers, will work very hard to catch students up on what they’re missing once the strike is over. We want it to end. Parent support (by contacting the district and pestering them to death) is essential. The district will listen loud and clear if enough parents are contacting and pestering them. Call the board members, tell them to offer us a fair raise (we haven’t had one in 5 years).
3. Please remember we haven’t had a raise in 5 years. Last year’s 0.83% added up to only $450 for the entire year, which did not cover my health care premiums raise. It’s an insult. I make less money now than I did last year because I pay $600 per person in my family for health care. This is outrageous.
4. Get involved with parent groups at your school, maybe the PTSA?
5. You’re a Hayward citizen–you vote, so vote the board out of you don’t like how they’ve handled the contract negotiations.
6. And, finally, to address your concerns about your child’s lack of education during the strike, reading is the number one thing your student can be doing right now. Take her or him to the library and check out a ton of books–read, read, read.
We APPRECIATE your support.
April 19th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
I was at the same meeting and you should have stayed. Families in Action is a grassroots call to action. I would invite you to join other parents, (I have four, single mother) marching towards the District to ask for answers and an end. WE need to find the answers and WE can make a difference if our voice is “calm,” and “unified.”
10:00 a.m. Weeks Park and to the District. Wear White T-shirts, and comfortable shoes to walk. Bring water too….
April 19th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
“Who were is a home owner” was the first question? I guess you are right when you say the teachers are fighting for themselves. In that case we should fight for our selves as well. We honestly shouldn’t support the teachers if every meeting they have be not about education but about their wages. Hell why even bother coming if questions aren’t answered right? As a community whether being paid or not we should still have the next generations in schools. If I may then I ask every teacher why did they start teaching in the first place honestly. If it was for the money i highly doubt you would be teaching up until today because teachers do not make a lot. If it was for the children and enjoying helping others i clearly don’t see it happening nor do i hear it happening with all the parents saying meetings were all for about money. Can you as teachers PROMISE that if you do get a raise.. And have a a good salary that our students will become a lot better? I think not because even if one teacher can promise that not all teachers will. Most teachers would probably not be able to do that but its not always the teacher fault. Nor is it the students but in society today we tend to blame each other a lot for things that just happens am i not correct? What I’m trying to say is that we as human beings have a cycle. First we are born then we go to school and learn graduate and either work or go on to higher education, most of us are willing to give back to the community whether its the one we grew up in or just one that we happen to be transfered to. As teachers, or other types of jobs which benefits one generation after the next. Why do we dispute over money when we can work together. Why not answer questions about education but only answer about money? Sure our community is corrupted a little. Many people are on the same boat who are poor as well so why do you as teacher ignore what are only words. As the Markham parent said the parents would leave their boxing gloves at home and only resort to words so why turn them down once again when they are only resorting to words?
April 19th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Sometimes people have to fight for themselves. This is our time to fight. We never wanted this fight. We have been negotiating for our salary for a very long time. This strike is the last step. As you know, money pays the bills. We have bills. What else are we supposed to do? We have tried to talk to this district. They won’t hear us. Much like they locked the parents out of their offices, we have been locked out for years. They won’t talk to us. Do you really think we want this? We are on the picket lines at 6:30 am until 3:30 pm. Yes, we take “rally” breaks. It is cold. It is tedious. It is depleting. I know you don’t want to hear about money, but we are giving up our paychecks to be on strike. We have lost 6 days of pay…and we’re still counting. We are out there because the district refuses to speak to us…just like he won’t speak to parents and community. It breaks our hearts to see our kids and not be able to teach them. A strike is a sacrifice. We are not only sacrificing money. We are giving up our jobs….jobs that we LOVE. We are risking a lot being out here. We miss our kids. We want to be with them. We have been pushed and pushed for so many years…we didn’t have a choice. Nobody goes into teacher to become rich….I keep hearing that. Yes, that’s true. We also didn’t go into teaching to be disrespected by our employer and underpaid. We are not priests and nuns. We didn’t take a vow of poverty. We know we’re not going to be rich. We just want to be able to pay the bills and maybe….just maybe own property….? I have been teaching in Hayward for almost 10 years and I am still paying rent because I have to. Yes, I know there are a lot of people that make less money than I do. They should fight for fair wages as well. I support anybody fighting for their right to earn a living wage. There are many people making minimum wage. I have always advocated for raising the minimum wage to a LIVING WAGE. We all deserve to be able to pay bills and own property. I’m fighting for mine.
April 19th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
thank you for that vinh..
Let me also state that it was also to be in spanish too but was in english the guy leading the conversation was a spanish teacher … so what happened ??? what bout all the minorities who dont speak english they are left out too.
Is that march for the teachers or students cause what i saw tonight was really only about teachers …what about the work conditions they are complaing for what about the supplies that are needed to teach our kids who is there to help my son and vinh???? why did they not address that??? If you got roachers please let a parent know i for one dont want them boogers crawlin in my sons back pack and bringin them back home to spread in my house so what happened to those concerns is the only thing left to do is for us parent s to strike against the schools by not bringing our kids . If we do that you will not get paid would you then have our backs to and loose your salarys for a week also??? for us and our kids. dont be afraid to answer that…we have to support what is best for our kids and rodents and roachers are not ….so i have an idea kids dont go to school until your school conditions are a better inviorment buttt lets wait til tthe teachers go back in so we can see if they will picket with us as long as it may take without pay …loosing pay is the same as these kids loosing an education…its only for your cause so lets see you do it for them….
April 19th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
let me also say something on regaurds to the late Cesar chavez he never preached to strike in violent ways… i read the news paper.
another thing at the meeting a teacher was name calling the subs and teachers that crossed the picket lines calling them scabs but lets face the facts now you teachers right now seem like scabs to us and our kids.
money hungry ….where was your leader tonight??? possibly at the vigil for vigil well her place should have been at that meeting with the parents to answer our questions like what was said tonight ” you parents are the only ones that can fix this”..huh looks like vigil is already handling it…and then whats next you take it out on the kids cause your lil strike didnt work as you thought.. Agan where is the love for the kid cause these past six striking days i have not seen it!
April 19th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
I don’t want to be rude but I guess it’s clear Hayward special ed teacher that you are fighting YOUR fight. Well…us parents are attempting to fight OUR fight. Clearly you must understand?? I wish it was OUR (you, me) fight- but your words speak a thousand….you aren’t doing this for the kids….you are doing this for better education…its simply about YOUR income. So my child is at home learning with me (I actually enjoy this) because you want money and thats it only? I did agree that teachers should get paid more….AND that education improves for all kids…..I still do. However if you want EVERYONE’s support- and respect- start giving it please.
I was studying to be a teacher but I found another educational interest that changed the course of my studies. I know that they were teaching about parents and how agrivating they can be….this annoyed me because you as a teacher know whats good for children but I feel as a mother I know what’s BEST for my son. Since the media is listening- we can fight our fight too. Let them hear us that we don’t want to promote a class society- we want equal education for all.
April 19th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Unfortunately the reason this strike seems to be all about money, is that salary is the ONLY part of our contract up for renewal. We literally cannot negotiate on other issues until summer 2008, when our overall contract is up for renewal.
Regarding the mice, roaches, filthy schools, grievances can be filed under the Williams Act. This is a legal process started by a court case in Los Angeles. April 5th, 30 parents filed 40 grievances against HUSD for filthy, dilapidated schools. Filing under the Williams Act is a parent’s right & a parent’s process. The parent or group of parents files the grievance, the district legally has to address the issue within 60 days.
There have been several comments about teachers wanting too much. We are not asking to become rich, we are asking for our salaries to be average, compared to other districts. Earning the lowest teacher salaries in the area does not help us or the city for reasons already mentioned here: teacher recruitment of the best, retaining teachers we’ve already put time & money into training.
Other districts are routinely paying cost of living adjustments when they receive them from the State of California. They are also taking care of their school buildings & classrooms. I do not understand why our district says they cannot do this without risking bankruptcy. Perhaps their accountant needs some tutoring or should be doing some research, asking other districts how they do it?!!
April 19th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
honestly answer this WILL YOU TEACHERS LOOSE PAY TO STRIKE FOR US PARENTS AND THE KIDS OR WILL YOU BE SCABS AND CROSS OUR PICKET LINES????
April 19th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
I hear what you are saying high school teacher. I agree the cost of living is stiff…but I think you should write Bush…and try to end the war because our economy isn’t good. If I went to my job and said you know you don’t respect me and I want recognition and I want a higher salary or I am not working…I would get fired. Is this right? I don’t know but I was shifting to agree with the teachers and help fight your fight…..but it’s not about mice in schools that I have a problem with….it’s many of the faculty and staff…but I digress..I don’t want to get into that because according to many teachers this is not what you think we should be talking about.
It’s sad because am I the only one who notices that we live in a poor town? Are children supposed to feel that teachers won’t teach them unless it’s financially enticing? In Darfur…currently there are people giving up two meals a day so they can teach children. In California after the abolition of slavery there were beautiful African American men and women getting paid guess: Nothing so they could shape the children of the future and hope that they have a brighter future carrying the torch.
I am sorry- I don’t’ want to be confrontational but in all honesty you have read my past posts- I am trying (so are others) to come to a mutual understanding and mutual respect but it seems some teachers want respect but they don’t want to meet us half way. Why? Thank you pissed Markham parent: I think we both know the answer to that. In fact- if we tried to complain about a school/teacher they would stand together and defend some below par teaching.
I wish teachers would stop making it black or white…either you are with us or not. That is a faulty argument with faulty premise and faulty choice.
April 19th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
you forgot faulty teachers..at least some of them are
April 19th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
The difference Markham parent…..is that we are forced to lose pay over this strike (I can’t go to work everyday and I can’t afford a sitter) but if we striked…the teachers won’t lose a dime.
In addition- if you look at the hea website they are paying teachers for being in the strike. The argument has been that they are giving up pay too (again as if we had a choice) but they have forms to fill out and they are offering them money for their time. Thanks – I am glad to know I am not the only parent out here feeling isolated and alone in my cause. I want teachers to get paid more (I wish I could too) but why can’t you continue negotiating while you work?…it also seems that you aren’t negotiating rather you are willing to only take your offer. There is no compromise and this is not a lesson my children should learn.
April 19th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
thats what i thought too the teachers would not have our backs!!!
and i didnt know that they are getting paid but tonight i did hear someone say something about a fundraiser for them and really another thought my son has not had a field trip this year why should we help with teachers fundraisers but where is the one for our kids and their supplies and their assemblys and field trips? why now have talks about fund raisers oh its because its for you!! the teachers!!
Again what about the kids??
you see jennifer have you noticed why have the teachers not answered my strike question !!
Because they would not loose pay for us and our kids!
April 19th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
You hit the nail on the head
Bravo my fellow Markham mom!
April 19th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
if vigil did not want to give in before then what on earth made you decide “HEY LETS STRIKE TWO DAYS BEFORE VACATION AND HOPEFULLY DURING THE WEEK OFF WE WILL GET OUR RAISE”.
Like i have said too before i was supporting you and your raise but after tonight i am unsure. All i am ever hearing is teachers teachers and teachers .
IF one of the parents goes homeless cause they cant work and pay for childcare are you willing to give them a roof over their heads? Or just a ride to the homeless shelter! just because of your strike that is all about you!
I bet ms.crummy didnt think of that!
April 19th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Hello Everyone:
Reporting from the strike line:
Vigil, as usual, was nowhere to be seen. We picketed inside the gated compound in where he takes residence, making sure we kept out of the way of incoming and outgoing traffic and in a relativelly quiet manner(for a picket line). After we circled the compund some three or four times we were told by the police to go back outside, and the picket line then moved to the sidewalk outside said compound, in good spirits. When I left to go back home and put my girls to bed, they were still out there.
So, I was wondering how the meeting went, and I guess one pissed parent that went to the meeting is still pissed, (Mind you, I’m not calling you names, you chose that handle for your comunications!) and the other attendant, Dawnette, thought it was worth the wait and the trouble to attend. (is that called an impass?)
Vinh:
I could not quite figure out from your last post if you were at the meeting or not, but I have this comments about what you wrote:
It is not that the teachers started teaching because of the money, bacause the money, as you assert, has never been “great”, but at least it was good enough to support a family.
Money became the issue when the cost of living fast outpaced the non-raising salaries.
Money became the issue when the teachers gave up pay raises to help the district back into the black, at the expense of falling behind the times.
Money became the issue when the district reallocated money they received meant to adjust for this (COLA) and chose to spend it elsewhere.
Money became the issue when administrators got outrageuos “merit” payraises for performances whose merit is rather questionable (we would not have our teachers on strike otherwise)
Strikes are always about money, proper compensation, and adequate working conditions. This is nothing new.
On your question of whether teachers can “promise” the “kids will become a lot better” if they get a pay raise…
You yourself stated, and some teachers have expressed already: some teachers can’t make that promise on account that they have students that are alrady at a serious disadvantage, and unfortunatelly some of these students might not be able to “become better” (what ever that means?). This would be the case, for instance, of some special ed. teachers or some teachers with english learners, many of whom have never gone to school in their countries of origin. It would be unfair to make these teachers “promise” this, and this is whole problem with the “no child left behind” cooked up by our president: It fails to account for these particular situations, it fails to account for those students who fall outside the standard.
Should there be improvement?, yes, and any teacher who can’t show progress in their students should be held accountable for it, but this is not really related to the strike, is it?
This is an issue that should be taken up separatelly. To a certain extent…
To great extent actually, this is an issue of management (funny how we keep coming back to management, isn’t it?) I suspect you Markham parents would agree with this:
If your teacher is incompetent, and you have complained to your principal and the distrcit administrators both, should not they have done something to correct this by now. Should they have not been more responsive, or responsive at all?
After all, it is the principal who hires and fires the teachers.
Tomorow I’ll join the march at Jackson (my girls are pretty young, I’m not sure they could handle the whole march!) and I look foward to meeting you fellow bloggers
The skinny Mexican with very long hair,
April 19th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Become better as in improving more after the teachers get their wages. Sorry I couldn’t clarify because i couldn’t think of the right words to put it. I wasn’t at the strike but my opinions by far are based on what i read from the parents writing on here I know many teacher wouldn’t be able to make that promise but from some post on here (sorry i forgot which one) someone clearly said that teachers would teach a lot better if they had their wages raised, but i was writing based on that as well as everyone else. Teacher who cannot show improvement in every student should not be held accountable as well because its sometimes not the teachers fault as I clearly stated. I look forward to meeting you all at the district for I will be try to be there around 10:30. Look for the Asian boy with spiked hair probably with a backpack.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
WELL SKINNY MEXICAN LOL It was really sad at the meeting and really i am leaning more on not supporting them now?
Yes they deserve their raise okay fine but if your gonna fight for it then fight and fight your own battle dont drag our kids in it> the kids did not hold your cola money vigil did! i was there long enough to hear and fully understand the money point but when parents started asking questions that basically did not get answered about the kids then yeah i did get pissed! and more when i have another latina asking me what had happened when i was under the impression that it would be bilingual and more when the man was a spanish teacher! what about the latino community are they forgotten too.
let me ask you and be honest cause i will be honest for you. Do you think hayward teachers would stop work to picket with you and your daughters for the kids cause?
Or would they smile for you and wear one of your pins and still walk in the class room ? would they picket and loose pay for you and your girls? Think about that cause who knows what might happen in the future and all you are doing for them right now will make you angry cause they might not picket for you and then they will be known as scabs!
April 20th, 2007 at 5:16 am
I’ve explained the best I can why 97% of us (a state record) are on the picket line.
Again, this is not greed. This is asking our district to treat us like other districts treat their teachers and somehow manage the budget issues AT THE SAME TIME. Parents should be asking why our district is incapable of doing what others do & demand clean classrooms, qualified well paid teachers, and a balanced budget. Period. We, the teachers, cannot negotiate other issues, as valid as they are, because we are not allowed to til 2008, it’s not the part of the contract that is up for renewal.
As the last poster just said “who knows what might happen in the future cause they might not picket for you”. What????
You have NO idea how much I already do and how much I see my coworkers do, because we don’t complain about it to parents & we do it as a gift. I work many many hours of UNPAID overtime, I work early before I’m required to be at school. I work through my lunch 1/2 hour 3x a week. I work extra after school & on weekends. I buy things the classroom & class need & I have bought things some students need when I know about it & can help. I have advocated for my students even when it has been unpopular to do so or has caused tension with my bosses or colleagues. i could have “sold” the kids out many times, but don’t. I make every effort to be honorable and fair. I am not alone, this describes the vast majority of my colleagues.
99% of the parents are wonderful & I focus on that, but I’ve had a very few parents who are so angry at the school system that they take it out on me. And frankly, this situation with the Markham parents feels the same.
I am so sorry you have had trouble with that school (and I do believe you) & for many of you that has been your only experience with HUSD teachers, so for you it is 100% bad experience. However, I have worked at 3 schools over 15 years & I’ve seen wonderful teachers I’ve been proud to call colleagues. Put your energy & righteous anger with perseverance into creating a better school there if you do not want to transfer your children. I have seen amazing things happen when parents work together.
Thank you to all of you who asked questions & wanted dialogue.
April 20th, 2007 at 6:18 am
ahh i know this is an awkward question since I’ve lived in hayward all my life but.. where is the district. Lol, this is my first and probably would be my only involvement towards the community. I’ve never really been interested in these types of things honestly yet I do it because this particular incident not only affects people economically, physically but also emotionally. There is no reason not to get involved. If I looked in the right area then I guess the Amador address is correct right?
April 20th, 2007 at 6:22 am
Oh and i was wondering whos still showing up at 1030 to meet and talk
April 20th, 2007 at 6:54 am
Vinh:
I’m not sure if Amador is the name of the steet, I think so. The district office is near Winton and Santa Clara, on the other side of the block from the Main Post Office. I will be there to meet with you, and hopefully others,
I commend you for being willing to get involved, for keeping a calm tone to your comments, and specially for signign your name to your opinions.
I certainly hope that after this ugly mess is resolved, you will make a point of continuing to be invoved in making your voice heard for other causes you believe on. We need more young people like you. It has been nice to see quite a few young students show up at the rallies to support their teachers. I find it sad that apparently so many others have simply taken this a some kind of a vacation.
If your suggestion that we have student representatives as part of the school district’s governing team , run for it, I’ll vote for you.
See about 10:30,
Fernando
April 20th, 2007 at 7:08 am
Let me rectify a missunderstanding here:
Teachers are NOT getting paid to be on strike.
The reality is the following: Teachers can apply for a one time $300 grant, funded by donations from other unions, parents and teachers, ineterested individuals, etc. who support the teachers. As I’m sure most of you understand, this grant doesn’t go very far compared to loosing a week’s salalry.
Teachers can also apply for special strike loans from the Credit Union. This money again, is a loan and will need to be repayed.
April 20th, 2007 at 7:13 am
School district office is on the corner of Amador and Elmhurst between Winton and Jackson streets. Also check out http://www.heaonline.org for more accurate up to date news.
April 20th, 2007 at 7:25 am
Pissed Markham Parent:
My appologies for assumoing LOL was an insult, never heard this before, and like I said, English is my second lenguage and I don’t normally do text messaging, so all of these abreviations are foreign to me.
Did you mean Lots of Love, or Laugh Out Loud?
April 20th, 2007 at 7:34 am
I think he means laugh out loud at you describing yourself as a skinny mexican lol. how do i run for student representatives. I think it would be quite an interesting turn of events in the future if we have those and would love to run for it while I still attend high school.
April 20th, 2007 at 7:47 am
Thanks for the clarification,Vinh:
With regard to running, what grade are you in?
First we would need to get a new Board who would actually listen to the people.
I suspect that one of the fall outs of this strike will be that the current board will be voted out, and when the candidates run for the open positions, we can demand, as a condition of voting for them, that they institute such a system to include parent and student representatives,
Fernando
April 20th, 2007 at 7:48 am
Monica:
Thanks for the confirmation on the address, I was beginning to think there were only 3 of us reading this.
April 20th, 2007 at 8:03 am
I am in the 11th grade about to be in 12th this summer
April 20th, 2007 at 8:18 am
Well since i am skating i will possibly leaving around 930 ^_^ hope to see you all.
April 20th, 2007 at 8:56 am
Okay this is silly. You are saying its not the teachers fault that students don’t improve? When I was studying education at one of the top notch schools- there was research about a school in Alaska (famous for being lower income and bad grades etc.) and the teacher showed that if you teach well every kid can improve. That school not only improved- the grades went through the roof and became competitive with other great schools! It is about the teaching and you are fools to think otherwise. If a student is having trouble- there are soooo many things a teacher can do to improve the academic life of that student. If you would like help on how to do this I can show you tons of research. I would love to do this (even though I am very busy) – it’s a fallacy that teachers can’t be bad teachers and that good teachers can’t affect every child. I am scared to read all of the teachers writing who aren’t aware of this. What did they study at school?
April 20th, 2007 at 9:04 am
I apologize for this being so long but I’ve got limited time today to spend voicing my opinion in favor of the striking teachers …
To those individuals who insist that the kids are being forgotten in all of this … please keep in mind, these teachers we’re forced to the picket lines by your district administrators. As has been emphasized it’s not about getting rich, it’s about getting what’s rightfully theirs but has been forcefully taken away. In this case, these teachers have continuously asked for what is rightfully theirs; however, it’s not being given because it’s been allocated to other people and areas including your district administrators who took it upon themselves to give themselves raises. Themselves being key word – where was their thought of the kids? When you’re in private industry, you ask for a rightfully due raise or you’re honored with one by the company. In most cases, we’re given what we ask for or have earned. Why is it okay for us to ask for a raise or better benefits or better working conditions? Why do we think we even have the right to do that? Because we all have rights that’s why. If we don’t get what we have fought for, we move on. Your teachers have chosen to fight and ride it out rather than leave (or maybe you’d rather 1,300 teachers walk away completely). If that doesn’t show respect for the kids then please tell me what does?
Did, I ever hear that Dr. Vigil would give $X to each school so that they could replenish their supplies (so as to avoid financially burdening a parent), purchase fitness equipment for their Physical Education classes (thank goodness for the kind hearted corporations that are willing to donate), ensure better safety on the school yard, etc.? Not that I recall and yes, I am privy to 18 plus months of conversations about what the Board has been dealing with. I am only hearing about the troubles at Markham on here – what about the others? Small by comparison but where was your administration when Cherryland and other schools argued for new phones to ensure that the “safety” team was able to reach one another in the event of an emergency? I believe that when their principal and any others agreed to spend their own money on two way radios he never offered to compensate? Again, we’re talking about $220k for your superintendent. And just to clarify, a yearly salary of $220k equals an approximate weekly gross of $4,200!!! I’m gathering that for most individuals, myself included, this is a monthly salary if not more than a monthly salary for the average person (didn’t he just spend his spring break on holiday with family while many of you found it unaffordable to take a vacation). Many of your teachers don’t make this much in a month and yet you’re still okay with this. Did your administrators stop once and reflect back to what the teachers have sacrificed over the past years and agree to a compromise? I don’t recall the union being informed of a deal in such that Dr. Vigil forgoes a full 16.84 percent and “settles” for if not what the teachers were given then maybe a fraction of what he took (in private industry many presidents and managers will sacrifice payroll for themselves so as to ensure payroll for their employees is covered). I don’t recall any administrator forgoing his or her 16.84 percent to give back to the schools for raises / supplies / maintenance / quality / etc. It’s your district administrators past and present that have caused this school district to go the direction it has. Has anyone asked about why your past administration thought it was okay to spend $100k plus on cell phone use for one school year? Has anyone asked why your district administrators were able to vote themselves onto the board for one more year in the belief that money would be saved? Everything is pointing back to what these administrators are doing for themselves not what’s in the best interest of your kids.
To selfishly believe that these teachers are enjoying their time on the picket line is absurd as is the idea that they are getting paid to be there. To clarify the comment (I apologize if I misunderstood) that teachers are getting paid during this time, these teachers are sacrificing their daily pay and their union members have banded together to help one another out in the event of financial stress (that’s what a union does). Along with the lower pay comes the financial burden that the district has imposed on them. Their monetary allocation may not be enough to pay the rent you think they don’t pay, fuel the cars you think they don’t drive (have you seen the gas prices lately), repair their cars or for some make a car payment, keep the lights on and water running and above all feed their families. There is not one teacher on that line that would rather be there than in the classroom.
Again, they entered this profession to make a difference. As for making a difference in all students … unrealistic. My sister has always said that if she could make the difference in just one child during her teaching career it would be the greatest gratification she’d ever have. However, that gratification should not come at the expense of her pocketbook. Why should the district say it’s okay to spend your Cost of Living increase on something other than you? Why should the district say it’s okay to spend your raise on something other than your Medical Coverage? Your average teacher without a family pays out of pocket in the range of $800 a month in Medical, Union, Retirement, etc. with these monies increasing almost annually. Why is it okay for the district to say you’re not worthy enough of staying healthy to be in our classroom teaching the children of our future? When did it become a right for the district to decide these things? They made the choice to be in those positions, there are no rights for them. There are only choices and the ones they’re making are not the right ones.
As for educational time lost due to the strike – we’ve all experienced it in one way or another, directly or indirectly and are we any worse off than the other person? I don’t think so. In my school experience, two or three weeks of being away from the classroom doesn’t equal failure because if it did, we’d have much longer school days and a much longer school year (does failure come with taking your children out of school for a family vacation). What equals failure is non support for the educators you are entrusting your children to.
April 20th, 2007 at 9:09 am
I second that, if you read my post carefully I stated:
“Should there be improvement?, yes, and any teacher who can’t show progress in their students should be held accountable for it,”
April 20th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Today brought a lot of progress and I mean a lot. Everyone was working together as a community and thats something that should happen more often. Meeting new people like that retired teacher and also meeting up with Mr. Hernandez was a great experience as well. Exchanging opinions as well as ideas just like what my earlier post was also had a great turn out. I’ve seen so many old faces (not aged but people i don’t get to see often) like my elementary teachers. I don’t know exactly who that was speaking because like i said this is my first involvement but we actually got someone other than a secretary out there speaking. I would have gone into the room but then again I’m very lazy and bored when it comes to talking. I hope a lot of the bloggers where there even though I only got a chance to meet one. lol it was a great experience for me and the skate there and back was worth it.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
WHY DON’T TEACHERS NEGOTIATE OR STIKE OVER CONDITIONS OTHER THAN MONEY?
I’ve seen that question posted in this discussion thread (and others), and it echoes my own questions when this process began. What I learned is that when the district negotiated the current contract (for 2005-2008), they insisted that the ONLY issue left to be re-negotiated at mid-contract would be salaries. The teachers union is not allowed to put any other issues on the table, only salaries.
In the past, “school conditions” have been a big part of contract negotiations — including class size provisions and saving music and art programs in recent years. Unfortunately, the district has consistently failed to “follow up” on its promises (for example, even this year, the district tried to force teachers to accept class sizes larger than allowed under the contract, and teachers who object are forced to go through a long and cumbersome grievance process). Likewise, teachers fought to save art and music programs, but when an art or music teacher quits, the district delays hiring a replacement for many months, effectively undermining that contract provision.
In my opinion, based on my limited exposure to the contracts and issues that arise, the teachers are pretty lousy negotiators, which is understandable since their primary focus is on teaching, not the practice of law. It is clear that the district responds only to ONE factor — money — and thus the district puts a low priority on any promises it makes if there is no clear and immediate financial penalty for breaching their promises. (Even when there are huge financial consequences, such as the settlement paid to the family of a girl who was killed at a train crossing which the district had contractually agreed to either supervise or lock, the district doesn’t follow through because the financial consequences are not immediate.)
So the answer to this oft-repeated question of “why are teachings only negotiating about salary?” is that their contract specifically prohibits them from negotiating anything else during the current mid-contract negotiations.
As a parent, it seems very clear to me that if the teachers were allowed to make other demands, they would certainly put a proposal on the table that calls for Dr. Vigil, Mr. Schimmel, and the school board to issue a clear and specific apology regarding their dishonesty and disrespect — and they’d accept at least a MILLION DOLLARS LESS in salary if the district took genuine steps to improve relationships with teachers (such steps would probably require that Dr. Vigil be terminated from his position as superintendent, which might cost the district about $300,000 extra over the next year — expensive, but far less expensive than the financial impact that disrespect has already caused). Since the district won’t do that, and since the teachers aren’t permitted to make such a proposal, the only thing they can do is submit salary proposals.
April 20th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
The money doesn’t only belong to the teachers- it belongs to the schools. I am not going to voice many more of my opinions because not only do I disagree with many of the arguments being made- I don’t feel respected for having another opinion. I also don’t think the super is the best- but I think as much as there is misinformation against the teachers- I think its been a witch-hunt against Vigil. I don’t agree with this. as for people saying he is hiding- I think I would do the same thing. Nobody believes a word he says and nobody wants to hear anything but pure agreement with you. I have tried to be honest with my feelings and it has been returned with we are right and what we say is the way it is and your discussion is irrelevant. I am tired – I have made a choice today to take my son out of the haywards schools and I am going to home-school him. After the teachers get their raises- the schools will still stink and my child will still be getting a horrible education.
I am not angry- I am just tired. I feel like I have been attacked (and other parents) and accused of being angry. I am not angry- I am passionate and the only angry people are the teachers who can’t handle people disagreeing with them. good luck- hope all works out
April 20th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
I am not using my real name due to all the violence that has spun out from the teachers!
If my son was to get hurt then i would go crazy!!
But my concerns are still the same….
Still money money money… what will happen if the judge says you have to go back in the classes???
You teachers will go inside angry and then what take it out on the kids?
I have read all these blogs on here what about the parents who stated what they thought about what their kids education will they get evil looks?? will those kids get treated bad???
i read a blog from jessica moses and i am not sure if the james is related or not but still her points is exactly what others feel and this strike hass PISSED us off because the same teachers that do NOT value our kids education are the same ones on the picket line!!!
My son was punched in front of the teacher by another student the teacher did nothing!!!
My son s work is kindergarten work….HE ALREADY KNOWS HIS ABC’S ITS A FEW MONTHS LEFT WHY DOES HE NOT KNOW ALMOST ANYTHING ABOUT SUBTRACTING???
My point is why are the bad ones striking when they should be at chabot or whatever school taking some more classes themselfs!!
Why are you striking for a raise when you dont deserve one…
High school teacher i wish you were my sons teacher but to my sadness you are not!!
Funny how the teachers have not answered my strike question huh jennifer?
like in the other blog how many white or black teachers walked off campus last year to participate in the dia sin mexicanos strike how many of you lost pay for the migrant kids on that day???? but latinos supported you fully today!
Fernando i said laugh out loud it was cute how you described yourself. Dont get huffy puffy about it. It is good that we can at least get a few smiles out of each other?
Vinh ,
I am a lady honey…but thanks for coming to my defense i would have loved to come today but i cannot miss work or else i WILL be fired..
April 20th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
as for the money- again, welcome to the real world. this is our economy and this is life. it would bankrupt our school system (I don’t care about the argument of the prior bankruptcy that is besides the point- in the present the salaries that are being asked for will bankrupt the school system) – that money is the children’s as well- it does not belong only to the teachers. yes- the administration made a stupid decision and gave themselves a raise- but the amount of administrators to teachers is small and to give you all the same raise is financially incomparable.
by the way having a doctorate and being a super takes a lot of work. you try running a school district which hates you and spreads vicious lies about you. I am not going to be popular from this- but who cares. It’s a lot of work and the education one needs to get a doctorate costs money – the salaries are much higher for this.
get off of the but mom he has more than me
now now children- i treat you all differently because you are unique and our family just can’t afford to give you chocolate cake right now. now run along and shake hands and make up. your friends are waiting for you (the children). remember your friends that you invited to the birthday party? it’s not nice to ignore them while you are fighting with your brother is it (again this is the children waiting to be taught)?
April 20th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Parents and Students of Hayward: THANK YOU for your support today. I was so moved to see each of you passing by me today during your walk–I tried to thank each of you. You are all AMAZING!!!
Jennifer and Pissed Off Markham Parent:
If you were in a job that was unionized and your union chose to strike, I would honor your picket line. For example, when the Safeway workers were out on strike a couple of years ago, I quit shopping there. In terms of striking for the kids, I’m not sure how parents could strike. If you were to organize some kind of protest or action to request that the district work to improve conditions for your children’s educaiton here in HUSD, I would definitly be out there with you. I was at the board meetings regarding the boundary changes, I wrote letters to the Board Members, and attended meetings at my school.
To Jennifer: Where did you study education? While it is true that teachers can make a huge difference for their students, it is also true that those teachers have to be supported fully to be able to do so. It’s very frustruating in this district–HUSD will implement curriculum or interventions and then not send teachers to the appropriate training or not purchase all of the support materials the teacher needs to make the curriculum work well. Further, the study of Alaska schools showed that the schools had a strong community of support–from their districts, parents, and from their colleagues. They were given time to work collaboratively on curriculum. In HUSD, “collaboration” day is really glorified staff meetings or it is divided between so many differenct groups of people (departments, WASC groups, ELL groups, etc) that the groups meet to infrequently to truly collaborate together, making it impossible to build the continuity needed to implement strong, collaborative curriculum. Teachers who teach the same classes are also not given common prep periods to collaborate on curriculum, which makes it hard to replicate the kinds of things that happened in the Alaska study you refered to. Finally, many of my students do not complete their homework regularly, so it’s hard to move things along because students have not always done the extended practice of skills they need to do at home.
Mark Welch: Thank you for clarifying the “salary only” part of the negotiation process.
April 20th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Pissed markham parent I feel really comforted to know that I am not alone. I now should call myself Pissed Markham parent #2
I do support teachers. Good teachers.
Why is it people say if we don’t want teachers to make more money we don’t support teachers? It’s so ridiculous. I support my sons teachers by bringing in a million zillion donations to the classroom. I am never invited or welcome to help out- my son is still learning kinder stuff as well- I am practically home-schooling him already to make up for the deficiency.
what comes out of teachers pockets? certainly not school supplies. yes- health care coverage which by the way is not nearly as high as teachers claim it to be. My husband has almost the best coverage and the amount is 50% less than what people are screaming about.
People – teachers give no facts on their website- it’s circular and emotional reasoning. no facts-
it is the law that the school district post facts. people keep stating that they are lying and hiding money- they would be caught (the finances are being looked at by outside parties) and this I believe is slander.
April 20th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
ha ha ha ha ha ha jennifer you said it all..( i will not say lol i dont want to offend anyone)
April 20th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Thanks pissed markham parent number one
April 20th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
you are very welcom jennifer …
but after all the blogs were are really number 3 and 4 i belive cienega and moses have been 1 and 2.
All the info is out there …..do your research …..
teachers last night said they pay between eight and 16 thousand a year ……that was said at the meeting…
Well i have seen the districts budget so now let us see your health care reciepts….your monthly dues….
sister to a teacher …please ..when you are a parent and have seen what we have seen then you can really be able to comment correctly.
April 20th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
I fight for kids every working day of my life. You don’t know me or what I do in my classroom. As a special ed. teacher, I constantly am fighting for the rights of my students. I fight to get them services within the school district as well as in outside agencies. I have to fight with my administration to properly place these students in appropriate programs. I fight the county agencies to provide services to kids who need them. It is a daily fight in the classroom for the rights of our students. District administration places kids in programs that are completely inappropriate for them and we are the ones that have to advocate for them. Don’t tell me what I do and do not do for my students. In 5 years we are finally speaking up for a fair salary and you find this unsavory. I have been teaching in Hayward for almost 10 years and have fought for the rights of my students every single day. You are judging me unfairly. Just because we are fighting for ourselves for once, doesn’t me we aren’t and haven’t been fighting for the students.
April 20th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Many Hayward teachers have doctorates. It’s really not that big of a deal.
April 20th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
I do agree with you. Fighting for yourself for once is reasonable. As all the bloggers here as I wrote, money and life has always been harder. At times more harder than others and yes just because you do fight for yourself doesn’t mean that you haven’t been fighting for the students. I’ve seen a lot of teachers fight for their students as well. Regards to the money issue as like what Mr.Hernandez said we’ve became a training ground for teachers. They teach for 4-5 years then leave for better pay. To prevent that from happening we would have to have a competitive pay structure which is close to what other district pays if not on the same level. We need all the experienced teachers we can get. We are a very poor town and can’t jepordize education for each generation whether its in elementary, middle school or high school. We as a community can make a difference like today when we all gathering at the district. He finally came out and spoke to us even though most of us couldn’t hear him. He even let a hundred and something people into the building. That is the difference in what a couple people could not accomplish individually but a few thousand people coming together can do. We encourage the young to pursuit higher education. Maintain and achieve goals as well as help out the community. This by far is my first involvement and already I am pleased to see how many small children there. Holding signs, or chanting they are still involve and it gives them a better perspective out how life can be.
April 20th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
I have read almost all the blogs and ohh i feel so bad.
For the students analisa’s step daughter and vinh you two are among the bravest kids I know ?
Children are the ones who have spoken the most truth here!
Markham parents : I am so sorry for what has happened to all of you and your children.
The first year of school (kindergarten) is what helps shape the childs mine of what school will be like in the future . kind of like “the first impression is what counts”. Its a ahame you can teach your children better at home than an inter can in school, but they are students and i was once one. What surprises me is there should be another teacher working closly with her. I had a vet checking with me twice a day. And also he made sure i stayed onto schedual and even made sure the kids were at the level they need to be at.
Fernando, I love how you are pulling people together but it is not wise to set up personal meetings over this blog or as a matter of fact any blog. It is dangerous. And as for facts I have a question for you : are you a teacher?
I thought in one of the other blogs you were also under the name elm teacher. If you are then how could you not know all the facts? Or seen the budget?
My fellow teachers I would be striking but I will not do it while during the school year? So before I get yelled at on her I want you to know I do not want the money coming from this strike.
To me it seems like blood money except the blood is the childrens education!
I have already made that quite clear to everyone.
A truly humble person would be humble doing anything or everything to help another!
Fighting everyday for your students in class is great but do not throw it back in their faces on here!
If you bought lunch for a friend would you expect them to pay for yours the next day? No you would not!
So please do not brag about all you do in or out of the classrooms for right now it does not matter!
And another thing the star test helps our governer decide where most the money can also go. As in what district needs it the most ! So if our kids miss it or fail then what will we go broke as adistrict because of less funds ? I honstly do not know but if some one has an answer then let me know:)
April 21st, 2007 at 7:15 am
Thanks Vinh. It gets very discouraging hearing that we’re greedy, if only by a few people. The outpouring of support was truly overwhelming at the march on Friday. Every teacher that I spoke with was in tears at some point. We were reminded of the thousands of reasons why we love to teach in Hayward.
April 21st, 2007 at 7:47 am
Regarding the bankruptcy of the district:
In the history of HUSD, this argument has been used during every single labor dispute surrounding salaries. Never one did the district go backrupt after settling a contract. It is common practice for budgets to be written to show a deficit after 3-4 years. Administrators learn how to do this in their administration credential programs. HEA knows the budget. That’s exactly why we gave back our 2% raises in 2002, accepted 0% two years in a row, accepted .83% last year and less than 3% the year before that. We knew the money wasn’t there. We weren’t going to ask for something that wasn’t there. Now it’s there. We know it’s there. We were promised 5 years ago that our raises would be made up to us when the district was financiall solvent. We are solvent. We are asking only for what we were promised.
April 21st, 2007 at 9:23 am
I never said you were greedy (others have) I am just saying that many of you aren’t as good of teachers as you claim. If you lose this strike that will be even worse for the kids because now others have stereotypes of our community and they will never consider teaching here.
AS for Hayward Special Ed. Teacher- you don’t know what we go through every day. How hard we fight for our kids and try to help out the school and how unreceptive our teachers ‘teaching’ our kids are. So of course I don’t know you- but you don’t know me either.
It’s also ridiculous to say we can’t fight for ourselves? of course you can…too bad you weren’t smart enough to figure out a way without harming the kids. Many parents do support you and you repay them by helping there kids fail school? I sure hope those highschoolers in ap classes don’t fail this year! If they have to take summer classes that would really suck….remember your last summer before college? Wasn’t it supposed to be a time to be a kid and to be carefree before you move on to the next step in life?
absolutely ridiculous.
boo hoo to you.
by the way I notice some teachers were writing here during the day during the week. Aren’t you supposed to be out there on the picket line supporting your fellow teachers?
April 21st, 2007 at 9:30 am
also- it would be easier to handle this absurd strike if you weren’t set on a specific number raise. you aren’t compromising…that isn’t negotiating. if you will only take a certain amount then both you and the district stink. you both are bulls…butting heads….I tried to call other school districts to have my child go to school…nope. we are forced to have no education….
if it wasn’t for the law that kids deserve an education……you wouldn’t have a job in the first place. so if all of the kids left….you don’t know what you got till its gone (by the way that is joni mitchell…another teacher said its a school song- nope).
no compromise= no sympathy
no negotiation= no support
i speak for a number of parents
we are pissed
and WE want respect
April 21st, 2007 at 9:38 am
Lol your right about the specific number as I clearly started something close if not on the same level. Yea teachers do deserve a raise but the amount as you said shouldn’t be specific it should be something both sides can agree on.
April 21st, 2007 at 2:25 pm
this letter is to parents (not teachers as I know there arguments)
we should consider this:
1. if the teachers get a raise- the school district will be deficient and they will need to raise revenue in order to make up for this. How will they do this? Raising taxes
2. do you really believe that Dr. Vigil is withholding from offering raises to be mean or greedy? Think about it- he has his income and this won’t change. The money will come from the students reserve- for books, educational tools etc.
3. If you think the schools are lacking in areas- imagine what will happen with even less money. If you complain to the district- they will be even less inclined to fix grievances due to lack of funding
4. I think the issue is odd- I am not in love with Dr. Vigil- but everyone always needs a scapegoat. Running a district is not easy- and our district is not rich. The money is there for a reason- it’s not just for paying school staff- but for the programs and products for the students.
5. this will effect all of our pockets
April 21st, 2007 at 3:12 pm
I think Kathleen Crummey has to take some blame for this. She has stated they will not compromise. You have to compromise on both sides to get somewhere. I don’t see this strike ending anytime soon, because of the above. The blind leading the blind IMHO.
April 21st, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Jennifer: I think the key issue (for me at least) is that the district prepared a “sham budget” that included extremely unusual allocations for unprecedented “reserve” reasons (such as prepaying debts that aren’t due for many years), in order to support its initial “lowball” 3% offer. In other words, the district LIED to the community. If we assume that Dr. Vigil and Mr. Schimmel want to keep their jobs, then the only reason for this would be to allow that money to be used for other school district purposes (for example, to start on some of the deferred maintenance that the district once hoped might be funded with a bond); nobody thinks that the administrators want to pocket that money for themselves.
FYI, your assumption that an administrator “has his income and this won’t change” is incorrect — like Dr. Vigil, Mr. Schimmel and Ms. Peterson have 3-year employment contracts with fixed salaries. Despite this, the district VOLUNTEERED to give them 16.84% raises even though there was no requirement to re-negotiate salaries at mid-contract (a provision that is in the teachers’ contract). [I obtained copies of these employment contracts from the district this week, because like you, I hadn't believed that the district would have done this.] I certainly don’t expect Dr. Vigil to get a raise, but I think it’s important to recognize just how offensive it was to teachers that the School Board granted those administrators a 16.84% raise (when they weren’t even required to DISCUSS administrators’ salaries), knowing that a month later they would be starting mandatory negotiations with teachers, and then offered the teachers only a 3% raise.
I’m also not sure what you mean by suggesting that “raising taxes” would school funding issues. For several decades, school funding has come from the state, not from local taxes. Funding for schools is relatively “fixed” (though there are some very strange disparities in the state funding formulas), so that if the school district pays more money to teachers, it will simply have less money for something else. If the district falls into debt, or even if it is taken over by the state (as happened in Richmond and Oakland), the district continues to operate on the same amount of funding, but with additional administrative layers and expenses. Local taxes could be an issue if the district issues bonds for “capital improvements” (repairing or building new schools), but the district has already ruled out that option.
As far as Dr. Vigil being a “scapegoat,” of course he is. But he has done some pretty strange things, most recently by calling parents multiple times (with an “all-call” phone message) and telling them that the schools are adequately staffed and safe, and then 48 hours later submitting a request to the Public Employee Relations Board, saying that schools are not adequately staffed and are unsafe. He’s also claimed that students who come to school are receiving appropriate instruction, when most students are being herded into groups and engaged with “time-killing” activities such as coloring, watching movies, or working on packets that aren’t even matched to the students’ grade level. He’s repeatedly appeared on TV pleading with teachers to return to the classroom because “negotiations can continue without a work stoppage,” even though the district failed to negotiate at all until teachers went on strike. And since then, he’s persistently claimed day after day that the district was prepared and willing to negotiate, but then repeatedly delayed and deferred negotiating sessions.
Did he do any of these things because he’s evil? Of course not — he felt he was doing his job. Unfortunately, he was destroying any remaining trust in his relationship with teachers and parents.
What I really can’t explain, however, is Dr. Vigil’s bizarre “all-call” message this week, in which the English message told parents accurately that “there are teachers in the classroom” (referring to substitute teachers) and that parents were encouraged to send their children to school, while the Spanish-language version told parents that “the teachers are back in the classroom” (implying that the strike was over) and that parents were REQUIRED to send their children to school. The only innocent explanation for this would be that Dr. Vigil doesn’t understand how to speak Spanish very well, which certainly wasn’t my impression before this week.
TO SUM UP: I think we ALL agree on the basics: (1) The district must remain financially solvent, and must appropriately allocate its limited funding among many competing areas, including teacher salaries; (2) HUSD administrators hold very difficult jobs, and the vast majority of people qualified to hold these jobs would never consider working for HUSD because of its problems; (3) declining enrollment has created some serious “additional problems” for HUSD.
What we don’t agree on is how to balance these issues. One key issue for me is that the HUSD administration and board have recently undetaken some very unusual actions and strategies (I’ve listed many of these in other posts here, and in my own ‘perspectives’ page at my personal web site) which many teachers perceived as “provoking” a strike, and parents perceive as being intended to persuade them to move their children to other districts — if you don’t view those actions and strategies the same way, then you may view the teachers’ and parents’ responses as perplexing.
April 21st, 2007 at 5:07 pm
The few parents who keep flaming Markham teachers and high-fiving each other on this blog seem not to be aware of how hard Markham teachers have worked to get the school out of state oversight. Markham’s student scores are higher than 6 other Hayward elementaries and are moving up every year despite low socio-economic conditions, lack of special programs, and district mismanagement. This upward growth in scores is due in no small part to the dedicated staff of educators who work for these children every day. While I don’t believe that test scores are the end all and be all of student achievement, school districts value the APIs and put a lot of value on them. HUSD could learn a lot from Markham educators about how to serve students.
So, please, let’s set a higher, more constructive tone for this blog.
Here’s the information from the Oakland Tribune:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20070112/ai_n17132732
Markham now free from state oversight
Oakland Tribune, Jan 12, 2007 by Kristofer Noceda
HAYWARD — Continued improvement in test scores has freed Markham Elementary from being monitored by the state.
After previously stumbling to meet state targets, the school was put into the School Assistance and Intervention Team program in 2004. But a steady upward swing in test scores the past two years has prompted the state to take its watchful eye off the school.
The news is a breath of fresh air to a district that failed to meet federal standards earlier this school year.
“This wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for all the hard work of the school’s staff and teachers to make sure kids were learning and prepared for these tests,” trustee Dr. Sarah Gonzales said. “I think what it really means is that our curriculum and instruction is heading in the right direction as a district.”
Markham follows such schools as Burbank and Harder elementaries, who in recent years released themselves from state intervention.
April 21st, 2007 at 6:00 pm
I agree with gracie,,
Kathleen Crummey is still getting paid while now teachers are going to go bankrupt , no wonder why some of the teachers are getting violent , the stress level is horrible , is the union compensating you , not even close right , think about it before you call a teacher who crosses the picket line a scab maybe they are a single parent with rent , bills children and responsibilities, maybe they so not have a savings account that they can fall back on think about it
April 21st, 2007 at 6:48 pm
To Angela.
For a teacher to cross the line because they are a single parent with rent, bills, etc. that is no excuse. HEA is offering grants for those teachers in need and the CTA is offering no interest loans also. Is that fair for some teachers to be on the line while others “scabs” cross the line and then will receive the same raise that we sacrificed for fair? Think about it! Hopefully whatever money we lose, we’ll make up with our raise or grant or interest free loan.
April 21st, 2007 at 6:52 pm
This is in response (in the form of a very brief history lesson) to A Scab and to all of the other people who are having a hard time understanding why it’s so bad to cross a picket line to do the job of the striking workers:
Unions were formed in order to gain power in numbers. The idea is “united we bargain, divided we beg”. The first unions fought for decent working hours (think 40 hour work week), better working conditions (think lunch break or bathroom break), and no child labor among other things. We can thank unions for things like weekends and the minimum wage.
Obviously, employers do not like unions. With the rise of corporations in the late 20th century, unions began to fizzle out because corporations fought against them. Employers want to have “at will” employees so that they can fire them or cut their pay or change their working conditions “at will” (which means whenever they want and with no justification). It’s really a shame that employers have won out over unions because it leaves a lot of people with very little recourse if they feel they are working in horrible conditions.
During a strike, the union members refuse to work because they feel that their contract is not fair. If only one or two people refused to work, a strike wouldn’t work. A strike only works if the vast majority of workers honor the picket line and refuse to work. Scab derives from the slang use of scab, meaning a scoundrel or someone who is contempible; this use is not related to the kind of scab that covers a wound. A Scab is someone who does not honor the picket line either by choosing to continue to work at that job or choosing to get another job during the hours s/he should be on the picket line.
Scab workers were, traditionally, members of minority or exploited groups of people. For example, African Americans, Asians, or Hispancis were often brought in to break coal mine or railroad strikes. Often, these workers were not informed about why they were being offered the job, they were simply offered huge sums of money.
Union members on the picket line don’t like scabs for a few reasons:
1. If the scab is a union member, s/he is going to get the benefits of the strike without having the face the hardships. If you’re a union member, you cannot simply “opt out” of a pay raise or improved working conditions that result from a strike because you disagreed with the strike.
2. Scabs are often paid more than the union members themselves. HUSD is paying its scabs $40 more per day than it pays beginning teachers.
3. Scabs are often less qualified than the striking workers or they do not do as good of a job (a double insult–they get paid more yet cannot perform the job well).
4. Scabs are taking advantage of other people’s pain and suffering, essentially making money off of the striking wokers’ backs. There are other jobs that scabs can get that would probably pay more in the long run because they’d have the job for longer than the strike anyway.
5. Union member scabs are especially problematic in this regard. Union members can take a job after working hours (after picket line hours, basically) and they can also take advantage of the financial support their union will offer to them during the strike, they don’t have to scab to get money.
6. Scabs allow the employer to stall negotiations, effectively extending the strike. Union members don’t like this, understandably. They are striking in order to force the employer to negotiate quickly and fairly. Scabs make it easy for an employer to avoid bargaining.
So, the basic message is this: Don’t scab, don’t cross a picket line to take the jobs of the striking workers. If you choose to be a strikebreaker, don’t expect that those workers will be too understanding of your choice. And, understand that, in being a scab, you are allowing yourself to be exploited and used by an employer who has no respect for the striking workers or for you.
The scabs that HUSD is using will very likely be pulled from the sub pool once the strike is over (many of them are not really qualified anyway)–the substitutes who have honored the line will do their best to see to this. The scab union members will very likely be driven out of their schools by the coldness of the returning teachers who have made huge sacrifices to settle their contract and who feel betrayed by the scab union members who refused to join them. Choosing to scab will follow these strikebreakers for the rest of their lives–particularly those who want to stay in teaching. Believe me, I’ve seen it happen!
So, I beg of you “A Scab”–join your union members and honor the picket come Monday. Once the strike is over, it will be too late.
April 21st, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Note to A SCAB:
No, I’m not a teacher, but I share a computer with elm teacher and neglected to change the info on the comment box a couple of times, hence the confusion.
I’m not sure what facts you don’t think I know, but I have spent a fair amount of time reading the info. on both the HEA and HUSD sites, I have attended at least two school board meetings, I spent almost an hour on the phone with Jeff Cook from the school board and another 15 minutes or so in person asking very specific questions. I have done enough research that I think I have a fairly informed opinion.
About the budget: It’s no on the HUSD site, it’s not on the Alameda County Office of Education’s site. I called ACOE and they told me to go to the HUSD site and were increduluos when I informed they had not posted it!
Ricky Graham, their information officer, is supposed to get back to me with the answer of where I can get the budget. Mind you I did not ask for a summary of the budget, which is what is usually provided by the district. I requested the whole budget, including the moneys that have been set aside, etc. He is working on figuring out where I can get this info.
With regards to the safety of arranging a meeting with folks over a blog…
Thanks for your concern about my safety. I supposed that I tend to to believe on the general goodness of most people. I didn’t think anyone would show up in front of the district office at 10:30 in the morning and whack the skinny mexican over the head with a stroller.
I will take this in consideration in the future.
I’m sure glad to have met Vinh though. We both had a good conversation along with a retired teacher from Castro Valley. I sure felt uplifted by meeting such a fine young man.
Hi Vinh!
April 21st, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Hey I’m glad I met you and your two wonderful daughters as well. It was cute watching them and the other kids march near the two teachers who were drumming. To a scab.. Don’t call yourself that because you are not a scab. As we all said we have our own ideas, beliefs as well as opinions. If you do not need the money then I guess your one of the few. If you cross the picket line then there is no reason to be called a scab. Everyone has a choice. Whether to cross or not. Your probably a good teacher yet don’t need the money or a bad teacher who doesn’t deserve it. Base on what I read on here I can’t make an assumption because one: that would be unfair to you and two: that would also be unfair to all the other teachers who crossed the picket line. Not all teachers are bad and have their own reasons for crossing. Whether its because they still need their paycheck or its because they love their students so much that they have to go on teaching. You call teachers who crossed a scab but your the ones who are out there and not teaching. With holding education for everyone in Hayward. If teachers call other teachers scabs then what are we, Children and Parents going to call teachers? probably the same thing once we ALL are fed up. Not just a few but everyone.
April 21st, 2007 at 11:06 pm
once again i amoffering my apology to my twins teacher. If we stand together after this is over then together we can help the kids!
I understand your pressure which i really did not get before and i am truly with all my heart sorry!
All i want is the best for my girls and i believe you have tried your best but with parent help you would achieve more.
I did alot of research and saw all the things you interns go through for school and on top of it you have to teach kinder and then first grade. I was in the wrong and you are like i have said before a good person and with more time you will become a better teacher as with doctors or even with babies they have to crawl before they can walk . same goes with teachers!
As for the strike i am still supporting teachers but i am and will always be more concernd with the kids. I hope you all understand that.
And for the markham parents : please think about this the teachers are going to loose their jobs next year so on top of a strike they have to worry about where they will work in 2008-09 school year! So a raise would be more money for them to save if they cannot find an replacement!
Now i am not sure as to what i will do in regaurds to keeping my girls in markham or not! One still wants to go but the other dont. I am as well as she is scared of the repurcution. Of this strike and the incidents with the teachers.
April 22nd, 2007 at 12:39 am
About star testing. With out without the strike should students still go? My peers and friends are wondering about this.
April 22nd, 2007 at 12:42 am
with or without sry about the type
April 22nd, 2007 at 6:03 am
Jennifer: You say we weren’t smart enough to figure out how to do this without hurting the kids. We went through all of the leagal means available. This is the last resort. What would your suggestion be? We have been negotiating for a very long time. This is how it works. Also, please don’t comment on my intelligence. It degrades your credibility. Since my cognitive abilities are so impaired, I ask you to offer a suggestion as to an effective means to resolution.
April 22nd, 2007 at 6:16 am
Scab: I was not throwing anything in anybody’s face. Every day I read this blog and every day I read how we are ot concerned for the children. I read how uncaring and greedy we are. I read the name calling. I read that we are selfish. I read that we don’t understand what the parents are going through. I read that we are disrespectful. I feel the need to defend myself and my colleagues that do fight for kids. After days and days of reading what trash we are, I felt the need to defend myself. This is all I will say to you, as you are prolonging this agony by crossing the picket line.
April 22nd, 2007 at 8:11 am
I just wanted to clarify that when I said “don’t cry poor” I was NOT TALKING to Ving or Angela’s stepdaughter! I was anticipating the Markham parents making excuses for not supporting teachers by bringing them food and drinks etc. to the picket lines by saying that many parents cannot afford to. My point was that the parents bringing us food are very very poor. They do not have cars, or any money at all, yet they do what they can. They bring us whatever they can; beans, hot water with cinamon and spices, bread, tortillas. We appreciate them so much. We are all banding together. That is what we do at my school. We all want to make sure good, experienced teachers do not keep leaving Hayward.
No, Angela and Jennifer, we teachers do not qualify for Health Families insurance. My understanding is that to qualify your income cannot exceed $1200 per month for a family of 4, I have read the forms, I pass them out to my students as part of my job duties. Do you want us to lie to qualify? I do not lie to government agencies. Besides, I am sure that they ask for check stubs.
Angela, I do not believe that you are a current teacher in Sacramento. (What are you doing here and how could yourr kid go to Markham then?!) Your credibility is in serious question and please stop making this so personal. There is no way that you would have all this free time to spend in here writing posts if you were a teacher right now. I barely have time to eat and sleep when I am teaching, as all the teachers at my school do. I, and most of my colleagues do all of the things that you claim to do and more. I and many of my colleagues spend 1,000′s of dollars of my/our own money on supplies and books every year that could go towards my/our own families. Please do not pretend that you know us.
We spend time everyday during this strike speaking to the parents of our students about what they can do during this time to work with their children at home. We are also thinking of where and how to hold classes off HUSD property like in a church or community center if the strike goes on much longer, as some teachers did during the Oakland strike in 1996. Stop judging and please try to get into the solution as I see that Leslie Cienega has. try to channel all that negative energy towards something positive please.
April 22nd, 2007 at 8:24 am
Ving, teachers aren’t allowed to advise students or parents of their rights and or the rules of star and cst testing.
I advise you to do some research and report back here. Do what you feel and what you know is best for you.
Just as I have not told parents not to send their kids to school, I will not tell anyone not to take the tests. Everyone must make their own decision. Just know that the district will try to intimidate parents and students on this issue
and the “truancy issue”. Parents and students have more rights than they are aware of however. And the fact is that the district will nopt lose any money this year for student abscences. The average daily attendance has already been calculated. They stopped counting on March 28th and took an average of the whole school year up until that day despite what the channel 5 news said last night. That is why the district has not made a big deal about losing money for every day the students are out. Otherwise they would have. That is another thing the union took into account in order to not hurt the district financially!
April 22nd, 2007 at 8:35 am
another tired teacher:
Thanks for the clarification on the daily attendance count, I was wondering when the cut off dates were and now I know. I was curiuos about the fact that the district had not made this an issue, and I guess because this is the truth.
We should all be somewhat skeptical of the verasity of “facts” put out there by the news media, print and broadcast both.
Just like channel 7 said the event Friday was a march of teachers and students, while the reality is the march was organized by parents, and the vast majority of folks there were parent and students.
April 22nd, 2007 at 8:37 am
When did Angela say her kids go there? She said her nieces do and my name is Vinh not Ving. Ving, teachers aren’t allowed to advise students or parents of their rights and or the rules of star and cst testing. is what you said. If you aren’t support to advise their rights or rules then why tell them not go to school? Its their right to go or not to go not just because your telling them not to. Some cannot afford daycare or bring them to work everyday so why insist on them not going? As for the special ed teacher, You should read some of the things everyone has typed, You would be able to see how many suggestions a few of us as all offered already.
April 22nd, 2007 at 8:38 am
meh. Suppose* sorry for another type
April 22nd, 2007 at 8:46 am
I am a teacher and I stated that my neices go to your district not my children , my children go to sacramento schools , it is my sister that lives in hayward, not I , Sacramento is a far better place right now , you do not know me to judge me and i do not have to pretend , you need to read the comments completely not just skim through them . Go to the healthy family website and you will see the income requirements just as I did before I posted my statement , so you are speaking out of
assumption. as for having time , you can make time , everyone deserves 5 min for a break and lately I choose to spend mine on this blog , you are making it personal , I think you feel guilty , maybe one of my statements hit close to home ,
April 22nd, 2007 at 8:49 am
Excuse me, Vinh, what I meant to say is that I am not advising anyone to go to school or or not to go. It is a parent’s choice.
Jennifer, I will address anything you want me to. What is it that I am not addressing?
April 22nd, 2007 at 8:55 am
For a family of 4 income should be between 1,722 -4,303 that comes straight from the website
April 22nd, 2007 at 8:56 am
No Angela,
HUSD is VERY demanding there is NO time for blogging during the day certainly, not to mention we just got computers and Internet THIS YEAR for the first time! And when I get home I am WAY too tired and need to take care of my family. in fact right now i am going to take care of my sick baby and stop trying to dispel ll of the negative misperceptions and falsehoods about the strike and hayward teachers out there i see it is a huge waste of time and energy.
And, the Healthy Families fliers we pass out to our students state that the requirement is $1200/month for 4 person family.
April 22nd, 2007 at 9:00 am
Didn’t you yourself state that you are telling them not to? As parents who want whats best for their kids would probably listen to you. Why? Because your a teacher. My point being exactly that if you tell them something then they would be influenced by you.
April 22nd, 2007 at 9:02 am
oops I’m sorry another tired teacher i read the thing wrong. Lol my apologies its early in the morning and i just woke up.
April 22nd, 2007 at 9:05 am
ok well hubby and my combined monthly income is 6,000. we spend 1550 health insurance 1200 child care 3000 mortgage a month typical for this area, not to mention prescriptions food gas etc. you do the math. we barely make it and we do not qualify for any assistance sister.
i take home 4000 with a masters degree, bachelors from one of the best universities in the country, fluent in many languages, and 9 years experience. husband 3,000 both teachers. other districts pay better. i am an excellent teacher its your loss!
sorry for the type i have baby on my lap.
April 22nd, 2007 at 9:07 am
sorry, combined income 7,000
April 22nd, 2007 at 9:52 am
Angela/et all:
Lets remember that the reason we are in this pickle, it is not that teachers did not make an educated decision when they went into teaching a decade ago,
The reason the teachers are striking is that the lack of COLA has caused them to fall behind the times.
April 22nd, 2007 at 10:04 am
Is the cola for the teachers only or for the supplies and other things as well?
April 22nd, 2007 at 10:30 am
Leslie,
As I understand it the cola is on the state funds given to schools. Every district recieves money from many sources mostly, however, it is state and federal. The cola is for cost of living, it is not just for personal (teachers, principals, janitors, nurses, etc.) it is also for the district’s PGandE, classroom supplies, gas, everything like that, that also goes up in price every year.
elm. teacher
April 22nd, 2007 at 10:40 am
I’m not familiar with all these things because as i said many times i lack the interest for it but yeah i do agree about the cola part as Fernando said. I read that teachers did give up raise and are only asking for what they were promised. Somethings are getting a little bit personal in here but hey, we are all in this together you know? We’re a community. As well as friends and family. We can work together in this besides disputing and wasting energy arguing with each other.
April 22nd, 2007 at 10:51 am
Some people have used this blog to bash Markham and unfairly attack the hard-working educators who work there. I hope Ms. Santos allows this response to these “reports.” I know this blog is intended to be about the strike and not individual teachers and schools, but it seems unfair to let only one side write about Markham and not allow a response.
Markham does have its problems because it is being closed next year. Many of its veteran teachers chose to find other jobs rather than wait for the axe to fall. However, there are several veterans who are sticking it out to the end. Are they doing this for their own personal gain? Obviously not. They love the school and its students. They could easily follow the lead of those who have already left and find new positions now so they do not have to face the uncertainty of where they will be after Vigil and Schimmel shut Markham down.
I hope all who read this blog do their investigative work and realize that Markham is a good school with dedicated professionals working to help all students succeed. The staff has managed to exit state control because of students’ increased test scores. If you don’t believe me, check out the Oakland Tribune article from earlier this year. In fact, The Heel himself finally came to a party at the school to honor the veteran teachers who made this happen. Kudos to those dedicated educators!
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20070112/ai_n17132732
Markham now free from state oversight
Oakland Tribune, Jan 12, 2007 by Kristofer Noceda
HAYWARD — Continued improvement in test scores has freed Markham Elementary from being monitored by the state.
After previously stumbling to meet state targets, the school was put into the School Assistance and Intervention Team program in 2004. But a steady upward swing in test scores the past two years has prompted the state to take its watchful eye off the school.
The news is a breath of fresh air to a district that failed to meet federal standards earlier this school year.
“This wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for all the hard work of the school’s staff and teachers to make sure kids were learning and prepared for these tests,” trustee Dr. Sarah Gonzales said. “I think what it really means is that our curriculum and instruction is heading in the right direction as a district.”
Markham follows such schools as Burbank and Harder elementaries, who in recent years released themselves from state intervention.
“This is obviously great news, but it also shows that the program works,” said Dr. Debbie Bradshaw, district director of assessment.
But just as one of its schools is being let go by the state program, the district entered another school into SAIT earlier this year. Mt. Eden High School failed to meet the required state benchmarks in test scores.
The district is no stranger to being scrutinized for its test scores.
Despite slight test score gains, Hayward Unified in August became a “Program Improvement” district after failing to meet federal moving targets set forth by the No Child Left Behind Act.
There are 17 schools in the district under Program Improvement. The district may face federal sanctions if the scores of its socioeconomic and racial subgroups of students don’t show enough improvement each year.
Markham, freed from SAIT but still a Program Improvement school, faced similar challenges.
If the school as a whole didn’t meet the required growth in test scores, it would have faced more severe penalties, including school closure.
Oddly enough, Markham is one of six schools scheduled to close or be consolidated by the district in the next year due to declining enrollment.
Emerging from Program Improvement status isn’t easy: Schools and districts must meet all federal targets for two years in a row, something Ruus and Bowman elementaries are on the verge of doing.
If both schools continue to meet benchmarks again next school year, they will be in the clear.
Kristofer Noceda covers education in Hayward, Castro Valley, San Leandro and San Lorenzo. He can be reached at (510) 293-2479 or knoceda@dailyreviewonline.com.
c2007 ANG Newspapers. Cannot be used or repurposed without prior written permission.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
April 22nd, 2007 at 10:57 am
Vinh/Leslie:
Vinh: For someone who is not interested in such things you are ceratainly active here, so I think you are wrong on making that statement. You have become recently interested and are doing a good job of reading the posts and trying to educate yourself so you can make an eductaed decision.
Leslie: I suspect I will be taking the words out of your keyboard, but after reading the post from elm. teacher the next question is:
Why is the budget given to teachers for classroom supplies not reflecting COLA as well?
Where is the COLA money going?
April 22nd, 2007 at 11:05 am
No No buddy that statement was correct because I am active on blog but i don’t know anything about cola or what it meant until i looked it up at dictionary.com. I’m only interesting in resolving the problem and debating most of the time i agree but sometimes i disagree.
To me this is kind of like something to do in my free time. Its something i do take serious because it is a serious problem but at the same time i enjoy it because I end up meeting people like you ^_^
April 22nd, 2007 at 11:36 am
elm.teacher is right about the COLA. It is supposed to finance teachers’ salaries, supply budgets, electricity bills, etc.
Most districts give teachers a set portion of the COLA each year for their salaries and for their supply budgets. HUSD has not raised the supply budget since 1991, according to veteran teachers who teach at HHS. I get about $400 each year to fund copies and supplies for 180 students. That’s $2.22 per student, which is ridiculous!
Unfortunately, the district refuses to allow the union to bargain on this point. This year, of course, only the salary is open to negotiation, but last year’s negotiations were tense as well. We did take a strike vote last year that was in the 90% approval range, but the union chose not to exercise the right to strike because the district chose to come bak to the bargaining table after the vote and actually bargain. At that time, we took a 0.83% raise (about $500) to help the district out. The district promised us that we would get the bulk of the COLA this year for our salaries, since we haven’t had much of a raise since 2001. (We got something like 2.5% about 2-3 years ago).
It is my understanding that the district refuses to allow some things, like the supply budget, to even be on the bargaining table. Each time the contract is up for negotiation, the union comes to the district with a list of items to be addressed. The district has the right to remove some items from the list. It is my understanding that the supply budget has always been one of the items the district refuses to address.
I think that the district needs to show the community how it spends the COLA each year. From my perspective, they certainly aren’t spending it on things that affect the classroom. I spend upwards of $1500-$2000 each year out of my own pocket to SUBSIDIZE my supply budget. It’s like being taxed or charged to do my job, which is ridiculous! It would be like asking police officers to maintain their police cars or something like that, which no one would put up with.
I believe that COLA should be automatic for teacher salaries and supply budgets. In terms of the supply budgets, I know that parents also help to subsidize the lack of money. I’ve had parents donate paper and other supplies to me (thank goodness)–and I appreciate it–but I think it’s the district’s job to provide enough money so I can purchase basic supplies to teach. I can’t imagine that they have to buy their own paper or computer printer toner at the district office, so it’s a crime that HUSD expects that of us teachers (and, by extension, of you parents!).
April 22nd, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Thank you Proud but Poor. Thank you for enlightening the community on some of the good things Markham
teachers have done in the past and continue to do so today. Did you know that we’re also the district’s
top performing Reading First school? And that in the entire state of California we’re also in the top 10%
of Reading First schools? The district may not admit it, but we’re also being used as a model for how to
get out of state control. I’m one of those veteran teachers who thinks Markham has a great upside and I am
committed to staying until the bitter end. And even though the district has decided to close Markham and
several other school sites, we are banding together with other schools to continue the fight.
I truly believe that the Markham neighborhood deserves a community school. A neighborhood school is a
wonderful resource for its community. Besides being a place for students to learn, schools provide a place for
families and students to form bonds and friendships, they’re a place to go with your family on weekends, if
you’re a parent you can see your child perform in concerts, plays and even talent shows, some schools host
sporting events, and many house daycare, pre-school and extended day services. When this strike is over I
urge everyone to get involved; get others involved. I can’t tell you how many PTO, ELAC and other such
committe meetings I been to at which there were maybe 5-7 community members. One last thing, as Markham
moves closer to its 2008 closure date things will only get more difficult. We’re gonna’ lose 2 wonderful teachers to retirement, and because the district has decided that we won’t have kindergarten next year we’ll lose more
teachers. Besides the loss of teachers what effect will not having a kindergarten have on children? It’s likely
that there will be more combination classes. Research shows, and even the publisher of Houghton/Mifflin
(the current Lang arts prgm.), agree that that combination classes should be a last resort. Since Markham will be a “lame duck” next year very few, if any, experienced teachers are gonna’ come knocking at our door, and if
they do I would be suspicious as why they are being assigned to our school. The last two years we have been
very fortunate, and I mean very fortunate, to have some outstanding intern teachers come to our school.
I only hope that this strike doesn’t scare them away so that we have to replace them too. As one of the
remaining veteran teachers, I along with those veterans (if any remain) and interns who choose to stay will
continue to look out for our students’ best interest–even to the bitter end.
April 22nd, 2007 at 12:31 pm
So what fernando said basically is what the majority of us parents want to know!
Where can we see the budget i have looked and not found it nowhere.
I went with ny kids last week to a meeting and with the graphs that were shown it helped me to see what was going on.
Still something i asked was not answered and basically another parent said go to the district so to me it felt like the people who came for real answers were supporting the district and not the teachers and in a little room with all teacher supporters i felt like why bother…..And it was mainly about high school kids.
PISSED MARKHAM:
ha so i guess i am pretty popular, I was the only one that WAS crazy enough to bring a baby out in the cold!
But if you are really out for answers than you will do what you have to do to get them!
What questions did you ask? It is easy to sit back and let one person fight but really if you were there why did you not ask anything!
Really im not trying to call you out but why go to a meeting such as that just to take up space for a person who is really interested ?
The real question is “where did the money go”?
April 22nd, 2007 at 12:46 pm
One more question …
How can us parents be reassured that our kids will be safe in school after a strike and confrontation?
April 22nd, 2007 at 1:48 pm
I think that I can speak not only Markham teachers, but for all HUSD teachers, in saying that childrens’ safety
has always been a priority, even before the strike, and that it will continue to be so once the strike is settled.
April 22nd, 2007 at 2:30 pm
I have said it befor and i will say it again i am sorry for hurting you markham people.
I stayed away from this blog for a while due to it just being arguements and whom is right and whom is wrong and after my own research in to markham i see why things have been the way it has been.
My opinions have been my own if others feel the same then that is them.
As for going back to school with no worries , well my reality is that one of my girls want to but the other is scared of that one teacher(you know who you are). How am i supposed to help her if she sees him in the hall way? I have said i was wrong ! Will he! Now i have apolodized from the bottom of my heart plenty of times on here and i will in person as an adult it is my responsibilty to step up and do that! To admit it is partialy my fault.
If i knew how the picket lines and the unions work then i would never have went there in ther first place. I would have stayed away but nobody tells anybody anything! So there for we as people tend to put ourselfs and others in awakward positions. I do feel bad for my actions.
But i am not the only one to blame here…we as parents need answers and it seems whats going on is the telephone game:
If i start telling someone a story then it passes on and on then by the end of the line it is all wrong!
Lets stop fighting and come to a resolution to this mess. Find out the facts.
April 22nd, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Leslie,
In response to your question (and others) regarding students safety once teachers are back in the classroom, however that happens- be it a settlement or a court order:
We teachers have been very angry with district officials and the school board’s handling of this strike, as well as the subs who have prolonged the strike by crossing our picket line. Many have commented on this after seeing our anger and have called it our “ugly side”. But please know that our anger and frustration is with district officials, the board, and scabs- not with our students. We are angry because we see our students being shortchanged- we see highly qualified teachers are go elsewhere year after year, our COLA mysteriously vanishes this year after voluntarily giving it to the district in the past so they could get out of the red, and a ton of other reasons others have already commented on.
We love our students and are willing to fight (often loudly) for what is right. I’ve seen several of my own students cross the line every day of the strike to go to school and I always smile and wave and understand that they are caught in the middle of a bad situation. My heart goes out to them, especially when they leave school at the end of the day and tell me about their “educational experiences”.
So when we are back in our classrooms, and I feel very confident to speak for all of us, your kids will be safe. Personally, I cannot wait to see my students bight happy faces again. They are the reason I’ve stayed here in Hayward as long as I have. Teachers really do love our students and know better than to take our frustration with the district out on them. We know that they really are the victims here. It’s very sad that they’ve had to witness any of this ugly behind the scenes infighting that’s been simmering in this district for so many years.
My question is, after this is all over, how can we begin to heal the broken relationship between the powers that be in HUSD and those of us in the classroom. It has been tangible for a very long time and with the intense eruption of this strike, I’m at a loss as to where to begin.
April 22nd, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Thank you, Ms. Cienega, for your apology. It does mean a lot to me personally. I am sorry your daughter is fearful. I hope the staff can see you again under better circumstances and assure her (and you) that we’re caring, kind adults who would never hurt her. I hope, for all our sakes, that this thing is over very, very soon.
April 23rd, 2007 at 8:50 am
To all bloggers talking about loving the students and for their safety being protected…
If it becomes an event to damage my vehicle $1900 dollars damage to be more precise…and they didn’t know who I was, a complete stranger to them, NO ONE CAN SAY THAT NO CHILD WILL GET HURT.
From what I can see, anyone that is on that picket line is capable of anything if it suits their cause. The line was crossed when the teachers who chose to strike, and while many are not participating in the violence, many are. So who protects our children after they(the teachers on strike) enter back into the classrooms, and after our children have witnessed these actions. You, the teachers who have committed this violence, then become the danger to the children. No apology will correct the fear they have instilled in the children. Children are the innocents and those who have been traumatized, including mine, will have lost faith because as a child, you associate one person’s behavior with all and put your guard up. Why should my daughter fear teachers who are suppose to educate her future, when teachers pounded on my vehicle with their picketing signs, terrifying her, while she is in my backseat? Why should she trust you all? Why should any child who has fear trust you after this is all over??? Actions right now- they will speak louder than all words you can tell them.
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:35 am
Wow Angela- I am so sorry that happened to you and your daughter! That really scares me that teachers have done this.
I was talking with my husband and we are confused as to how the bloggers can claim they are helping the kids….these teachers who can’t see anything but one point of view (that is the scariest to me- people who teach our children can’t see other points of view- not necessarily agreeing with them but acknowledging and understanding them without anger), the anger that has been directed to parents and other members of the community, teachers who name call people just because they don’t believe in their cause (scabs), teachers who have pushed people and smashed in their car windows….this is scary. How do they have the best interest of the child in mind?
As I was walking my son to school (in the beginning of the strike) a teacher was attempting to persuade me to not go into the school- he said I would be abandoning their cause- he said it wouldn’t be safe for my son and so on. I felt offended that my son had to hear such nonsense…but I smiled and said well….I know its not the best education but its all that is available to my child at the moment.
The next day my son wouldn’t go to school because he was scared the teachers would be mad at him. He also said he was scared that the school would be dangerous like the teacher claimed.
Teachers (not all of you)- you are causing harm to the children. Remember in kindergarden when you were taught to take responsibility. I know the district has done its fair share of bs- but so have you. I am tired of your arguments that its all the districts fault. Are the above things I stated the districts fault? Did they ‘make’ you smash car windows, scare my child, and so on and so on?
Other teachers keep telling parents like me to stop writing my opinions on this blog- telling me that they are irrelevant. I am a little tired of hearing what is relevant or not. You are not to decide what this means to people and what it doesn’t. What about freedom of speech? You are exercising that in the picket line. We keep asking you to keep your finances out of the blog (b/c we get the point) but that doesn’t stop you. By the way- when you all claim you can’t buy a house (who can in the bay area anyways) how is the raise that you are asking for going to change this? Kind of silly.
You are teaching children hate- hate of scabs. Hate of the district. Can’t you fight your cause without so much hate directed antics?
I am not an angry parent- I am a concerned parent. A scared parent. A trying to be hopeful for my child parent.
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:42 am
By the way Angela- I hope you are going to sue because you shouldn’t have to pay for the damage. I hope you are okay- especially your little one. I would be so scared if that happened with my son in the car. How would I explain to him that these are teachers who care about him and who he should feel safe to go to school with? I don’t want teachers like that to teach my child…their bias’s that would affect my sons wonderful outlook on the world. No thanks…please take care of yourself and don’t think for 2 seconds that you should pay for that window.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:20 am
I was at the local Starbucks ( near Jackson) on Sunday and I over heard a teacher telling another teacher how she honked her car horn several times and scared a Student who crossed the picket line on Friday. She also said and i quote” i got him good” I was stunned how this teach was laughing when telling this story. How dare this teach laugh at scaring a poor innocent child? Is this what it has come down too? I wanted to say something to the teach but my husband held me back. Needless to say I was very angry! These teachers whom are doing this need to be accounted for their actions!
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:44 am
OMG I can’t believe the stuff I am reading here. Angela, I can’t believe the teachers treated you that way!!! I dedcided to keep my son home today, even though he went to school Wed & Thurs as there was no school on Friday. These stories I am reading have scared me. I am not going to put my son through any of this anymore. I am even thinking of transfering him out of the district, so he can get his edcation!!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:58 am
I am so sorry that you had that experience, Gail, and really hope that you misheard or misinterpreted what the teacher said. Most teachers really are there for the kids. I wish you had been at the street corner of one of the schools I work at watching teachers collect and pass out homework packets for students. We smiled and waved at all the kids. Most teachers spend long hours outside their contracted work week and money out of their pockets to provide students with the education they need. You can be assured that any teacher who behaves unprofessionally towards students will get a lot more than an earfull if other teachers find out about it. Tension and feelings run high, and everyone is prone to mistakes under those circumstances. Nonetheless, everything I have seen so far is teachers helping each other to behave responsibly. Please help us settle this quickly and fairly so we can get back to teaching kids.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:09 am
I didn’t mishear or misinterpet anything. I was sitting right in back of them. I’m still shocked.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:11 am
Hello Eleanor- you sound like a politician. You are very similar to Dr. Vigil when he says schools are safe now (but has not step foot in them). We see what is going on- we know how our children are being treated- none of the teachers tried to stop it. You can defend the teachers but you are just like Dr. Vigil- you are not present when it happens and you cannot disqualify our experiences. Now sosorry can’t hear correctly, and Angela is mistaking her car being smashed from anger, and I am not seeing that the loud teacher scaring my child would have been talked out of doing this if other teachers heard?
Also- to the teachers that say we are complaining about Markham unfairly- are you discrediting our experiences about that as well? As if we are not able to be aware of our child’s situation and interactions with the school system?
If my best friend assaulted someone- I would not blindly stick up for them.
I understand standing by each other- but this has gone beyond ridiculous.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:16 am
sorry I meant Gail was the one who heard the conversation among teachers.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:54 am
After calming down for a few days, I have come to a realization that when I started posting blogs on this site I was very angry. I just want to make a public apology to Markham School, I shouldn’t have taken my anger out on you. To the Intern: You are right, I would not want a string of unqualified substitutes teaching my son. I do understand that your job is just as hard, if not harder than a veteran teacher. And I do apologize if I insulted you in any way. We all need to come together now so that you teachers and interns get your raise so our kids can go back to school.
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:09 pm
As a Markham parent, I’m sad the school is closing because it’s nearby and my child has made some good friends there, especially her teacher Ms. Aires (who I hope has had her baby by now!). My child will go there again next year and then on to East Ave, where I know she’ll find new friends (and some old ones too). No matter what I do during the strike, I believe in Hayward teachers, including those at Markham.
April 23rd, 2007 at 2:10 pm
It has come to my understanding that what we, parents and students has said before are coming true.. As most of us said a few teachers have been using force for their cause. Also that some teachers are all about the money. As Jennifer said how are they suppose to afford a home. Well i don’t think it is for the home. Majority of the teachers live in apartments or are paying off their homes. Not really buying them though. I believe the majority are the teachers are actually committed to their cause without resorting to violence / force. I can also believe that a few of them are because we are all different. Eleanor Henderson are you a teacher? I know your trying to defend the teachers but honestly you can’t speak for all just as none of us can’t. Believe what u hear / see with your own eyes and if Gail saw what she saw then she did. I don’t think she’ll write something like that for no reason.
April 23rd, 2007 at 2:14 pm
ahh none of us can* sorry for these typos and I would like to add that freedom of speech is a big one. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t write because I for one will keep writing even if you don’t like what i got to say. I also hope everyone else will. Feel free to put in opinions I kind of want to hear what everyone has to say instead of only a few people everyday no offense
April 23rd, 2007 at 2:31 pm
I want to thank the teachers at Markham who crossed the picket line. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can see that even though you deserve more money, you care about the kids safety and education first.
Today as I took my child to school- a man in the picket line tried to persuade me again of all of the reasons I shouldn’t take my child to school. I smiled and said he has been out long enough so it is time that he gets back into the swing of things. It seems he would rather point out that the education stinks (which it doesn’t because my child’s teacher taught a lot today) but he doesn’t mind that our kids stay at home without an education.
As for all of you being upset at Dr. vigil- what about Crummey? If she wins this strike- she gets a big fat bonus, a great reputation and higher paychecks. She wants this strike to continue because she wants to get her big fat bonus paycheck. Don’t bother arguing against that with me- because I will show you evidence of what union leaders get as incentives and you don’t want to start me down that boring financial path.
If you read her messages on the HEA site they are crude. After the district backed down from the injunction- instead of being kind and accepting this as progress- she still bad mouthed the super and did not return his willingness to negotiate with kindness. He is willing to negotiate but this takes compromise.
She writes her statements with emotional jargon- so it will frustrate people and get them to support her. She doesn’t use facts- she uses circular reasoning with emotionally charged emptiness. Complete garbage. It’s hard to read the points in her articles because you have to get passed all of the charged writing. Doesn’t work for me
Anyways- thank you Markham teacher- I have the highest respect for you. If the other teachers call you a scab- hold your head up high and be proud that you care about the children’s needs- including safety, education and well-being. I salute you.
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Jennifer…
Don’t be completely fooled by those who say they crossed the picket line because they care about the
kids. For most they are using the kids as an excuse and I think that’s wrong. Seems to me like you
should do a little more research… Perhaps research unions and why they were originally formed.
Additionally, Kathy Crummey was one of the 138 people in the district that last weeks district offer benefited.
She, along with 137 others would have immensely benefited from the districts one-sided, bogus offer. She
rejected it because it didn’t benefit everyone. Do your homework Jennifer. She and the other officials of our union know the true meaning of a union and power in numbers. I hope that you are never faced with this in your job and if you are I bet you would wish that you had a large number of people behind you and supporting you.
Instead of commenting on the blog constantly, why don’t you come to the rallies, take part in the largest teacher strike in California history and make a difference. History is in the making and in case you haven’t seen on the news, there are several other neighboring districts far and wide in California and in the nation following suit. Are you against them too? This is exactly what Mr. Cesar Chavez and Delores Huerta believed. The power is in numbers!!!!!!!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Jessica Moses:
Thank you for your apology to Markham. It is not always easy, but very appreciated. Your continued support
for teachers will be needed once this is settled.
Continue demanding answers from the district and board officals. As proven from last Friday, the community and
parents make the difference. Vigil can try to ignore the teachers but he cannot ignore the parents of this community. Keep up the good work and thanks for your support and taking the time to educate yourself on this issue.
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:00 pm
My visit at the district went very well!
Everything i asked was answered and then some .
It is great what happened with the march but also to that I walked into the district my self last week then came back today feeling happy and asured that this school district will come out good. Also the teachers will.
I am not agains vigil or the teachers i just at this point want peace and for things to go back how they were but better off money wise.
I too was reasured at the district that my daughter will be safe after what happened with us but the problem is i cant be there the whole time!
Last week she saw the protesters on mission and foothil and we too as mrs.perez had stated got caught at the light and my daughter was in the back seat on the right side by the window near the strikers and seeing the signs and the yelling had freaked her out. it had happened so fast but when the truck went into motion again i looked back and she was shaking and hysterical crying cause she thought she was gonna get hurt or i was? When we got home she got out and her pants were wet on the bottom(that needs no explanation) . She also has had nightmares.
Now if i have things to do either i have to do it alone or wait til 5 or 6 when i know they will not be on the corners!
Now i hyave talked to her and i am trying my best to help her even by getting involved with whatever rallies .
It is that she is scared of male teachers now???
What is more sad is now i have to take her to a mental health care physician to help her deal. She is only six years old.
The damage is done! She wants to see her teacher but is scared to go because of that man!
Thats why i have said to everyone stop being angry…take a good look at what all the anger has done to the kids.
My poor baby has started sleeping with me and my husband out of fear!
Please stop taking it out on the little ones.
And honestly it is not funny to scare a small child how would you like it if someone scared yours.
Everyone look at the parent meetings on here lets try to get involved and as a whole we can and will get what needs to be done done.
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Crummy tells you what she wants you to hear, how do you know for sure that she rejected the extra money can we see her checkstubs as proof. it sounds bogus to me . Only believe what you can see with you own eyes where there is no proof how do you know it is not a lie ,
*stop the violence*
*increase the peace*
*compromise takes two *
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:57 pm
hayward teacher- Jennifer has EVERY right to be on this blog, just like you do. It’s insulting that you are trying to tell posters that don’t agree with you to go do research and go to rallies. Who are you to tell others what to do. Everybody is expressing their OWN opinion, as it should be. Please stop trying to bully posters. And maybe you ought to do some reading of your own, because this Hayward strike is NOT the biggest Teachers strike in California history, as you stated above. That is a false statement!
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:01 pm
One thing needs to be said about the injunction.
When I asked questions today, I was told that the district did not “lack” backup evidence for their case, but in all actuality still had complaints rolling in from HAYWARD POLICE regarding the violent acts partaken in this city related to the strike. Oh and what is this my little cousin is telling me that a teacher or person on the line made a bomb threat and that apparently records show more than one made by people. They have more than enough to go…especially if I can provide them copies of my complaint. One will make an example for the rest. So good for them to add to the pile and being prepared if and when they do go for the injunction. And do you think that if the allegations of bomb threats can be substantiated that they won’t win. GET REAL!!! or how about road rage union people trying to chase down a bus of subs…my other little cousin told me this happened the first week of striking. ROAD RAGE! real cute. I’m glad that our district no longer offers driver’s ed. I would hate to see what they would teach our youngsters.
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:11 pm
also hayward teacher:
first of all are you saying that the teacher teaching my child today doesn’t care about him? Are you trying to bias peoples opinion of what you call ‘scabs?’ so they only care about money….what do you care about? please don’t answer that
also you are so naive if you think that b/c crummy didn’t accept that offer that she has your best interest in mind. Of course she denied it….do your homework silly! If a union leader ‘wins’ a strike….do you know how good that looks on her record? not to mention her future paycheck? I feel sorry for you…I mean it. I think a lot of teachers are being led by greedy leaders (but I still stand firm that I am scared that many teachers in hayward are teachers- look how they behave in the community, violence, anger, hatred, name calling, and so on)
do your homework
please don’t insult me for being a person who doesn’t do her homework just because I don’t agree with you.
I wonder if you are this crummy person?
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Thank you Jackie and Angela. I know there may not be people who agree with me (or there are a few) but I am expressing my feelings and I feel I should have a voice like everyone else. this is what I am talking about…it’s not allowed for me to voice my opinion.
Right now- I want a resolution. I want there to be peace. I feel this can be a lesson for children- that when people have different opinions the environment can still be peaceful. Lets leave the purpose of the strike alone for one second- my current concern is the behavior of the participants in the strike and the effect this is having on our community/ parents and most of all children. I have said this and I will say it before: I am scared to have kids teach my child who can’t handle different points of view, who are violent, who name call, who gang up on subs and teachers, who stalk subs and supers, who don’t know how to compromise, who don’t have concerns for parents points of view, who smash cars where children are, who scream vulgar statements- this is my concern.
Thank you for listening,
teachers I have always welcomed your opinions
please welcome me
you seem to be rewarding parents who end up apologizing or who ‘come to the dark side.’ I am not sorry for my beliefs- I don’t want to agree with you in order to be taken seriously
I welcome your opinions
I want peace as well
I have never heard from a teacher “I see where you are coming from”
I have tried to do this but it is not returned.
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Angela of hayward do you work for the district ? I was asked to also use mine but i refused. My baby has suffered enough and it WILL be long term! And i was told it would be public info meaning all my info would be availble for all to see. And now after reading all these stories now i am even more scared!
Even though my incident was my fault to still he had no right!
As i have stated before i was wrong but that is then this is now and now at the district i was told its too late to pull them out and homeschool and that i need to take them back but at this point i think suffering the consequences of truency might be best! Not because of the school cause it is a good one but due to the incident! I cant stand to see her hurt!
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Once again lets help eachother out and put a stop to this strike.
Being angry will not fix anything! I was angry at the school but i too calmed down and realized that i needed to dig and find out why things were the way they are! And i did ! And i was wrong! And now that i offered my apologies i can now help to find a solution.
I want to help more in the classroom itself , to make it the best one in the school, I would like to help the school with anything i can! But first the strike needs to end …..we the parents really need to reasured that our kids will be safe after this ordeal……what counciling service will the school or district provide for the kids that have gone through something…..
everyone instead of insulting eachother (really that just makes all involved really more angry) lets listen to everyones opinions with respect…no attacking cause really that is doing no good anywhere.
Markham parents maybe we all need to get together and see what we can do to help out the school and its teachers?
if everyone put in a little then maybe we can make a difference and hopefully keep all the great teachers that are there.
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:59 pm
If my daughter feels up to it we will go to the rally this week and represent markham.
And i am proud to say i am a markham parent and i do believe our kids are the most important here not vigil not the teachers. We need to get the education going again! Sometimes an apology will go a long way…maybe someteachers and parents need to try it!
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Leslie: No I am not an HUSD employee. I applied, I interviewed. I have done anything and everything within my power to contribute to this community and where I attended school. It is for that reason I stay active with the
“happenings” and broaden my knowledge. When people ask a question that I don’t know, I ask. If it means that I ask several board members, so be it. You would be surprised how much you would learn about the City of Hayward by asking simple questions.
Even through High School, I was active and the only government student that represented my class in front of City Hall. Even Dr. Gonzales recalls my activities and realizes the concern that I have for our schools today. The reason I know this district does not have money is because I myself have made several proposals. In all my efforts one roadblock was hit – - not enough money to implement my ideas.
To all: This school board truly is dedicated to ensure that it does not go back in the red. If you attend the meeting as regular as I have, you too would understand more than what is currently being said. For those that are stating they want to recall the Board…… Do you really want to recall them when they themselves are the reason changes are continuing to be made? What will you get in their place? Although I do not agree with the recent termination of employees, I do believe that they were convinced that this was necessary. Those that said nay, were unfortunately out voted!
Please stop the strike. It is within your power! Go back to work….. Please! Accept the offer that is on the table. It sounds like it is a fair offer. Eventually, even though it will put us in the red, it will get :
everyone back to work
money in your pocket and
kids back in school.
Even though morale will never be the same, the strike will be over and focus on our kids.
Tell Kathy to accept this last offer and get back to work.
To all the moms out there: thank you for the validation – it means more than you think.
To angela: by performing her duties as the union president, Kathy is getting paid. It comes with the territory.
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Watching the news station, the one teacher in HUSD that does make more than many administrators was walking in the front doors of the district office tonight with Kathy to negotiate the contract. Can we say – conflict of intere$t?
WHERE’S WALDO?????
April 23rd, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Particular teacher’s salaries are not known to the public. No teacher, working a normal year with a regular schedule, makes more money than any administrator.
April 23rd, 2007 at 8:58 pm
So are you going to be a teacher in HUSD working with the students? or in the District office?
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Again, there has been no violence (see my post on other blog). Scab is in the dictionary, and it refers to one who does not honor a union’s picket line and is derived from the same word meaning a rascal or a scoundrel. I apologize for my colleagues if they have used any other truly inappropriate language, but these people are threatening our livelihoods, undermining our bargaining position, and prolonging this strike we all so dearly wish to end. We are angry with them.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Angela of hayward ,
if you were to run for office then you got my vote.
This is my last blog i will keep reading to get info but that is it!
TO MARKHAM AND ITS PEOPLE:
I have been very lucky to have had my daughters in your school. Once again sorry for hurting you all in anyway that i have. I am a proud parent of two mustangs!
TO THE INTERN:
Once again sorry….words really cannot express the way i feel. If we work together we can as a team achive anything. I will help you as much as you need or with what ever you may need. No one could have picked a better person to teach our class.
TO THE MAN: If you feel bad …well dont it was my fault too if i had known about unions and the picket lines then i would have not done what i did. but as you know parents will do anything for them! And i think she will be okay after a long talk with her father tonight she later came up to me to see if she can pack her lunch for tomorrow. hopefully she will be okay the first day of real school!
ALL THE TEACHERS: I hope you all get a raise, just remember to compromise. And take responsibilty for your actions weither their good or bad. violent or not. Remember abuse can be verbal,mental , and physical and after everything i am sure a few teachers did do a few of the above. Anyone is capable of anything not one person is an angel. Except my baby shes perfect.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL AND STILL POST I NEED TO BE UPDATED!
ANGELA RUN FOR HUSD OFFICE I AM SURE YOU WILL WIN:)
MS.SANTOS THANKS FOR THIS BLOG IT HAS HELPED ME OPEN MY EYES I HOPE YOU GET A RAISE TOO!
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Those “reports” of violence are unsubstatiated. Where is the evidence. I know for a fact that the statements made regarding my school are complete lies. I wrote a deposition refuting all of the allegations. The injunction was withdrawn because they didn’t have a leg to stand on. I was on the picket line all day and the things that were written were untrue. There were several parents on the line that are willing to testify in court regarding this as well.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:49 pm
I am sorry, but to the Angelas and Jennifer, you really do not know what you are talking about. You are spreading
misinformation about teachers and the district.
First of all, TEACHERS ARE NOT GETTING PAID DURING THE STRIKE!
There are no teachers in this district making more money than administrators. There are no teachers making incentive money.
There are no teachers in this district overspending large sums of money. There are strict budgets for everything, and of course we cannot spend money without our administrator’s approval! We get about $150 a year for supplies. We buy most things ourselves, including paper and pencils. When we run out of copies we must pay for them ourselves.
As far as “not taking field trips to pay teachers salaries”; or whatever you said, everything that is purchased in this district comes from seperate budgets. Salaries and supplies and field trips are all paid from seperate budgets. It is not possible to mix them or use money from one to spend on something else as you say Angela.
Teachers at my school have no “wish lists”. What are you talking about? You are in no position to dispute how much teachers spend on supplies and why. You do not work for the district. You are not Hayward teachers. By the way, Angela 1, how can you be a teacher and be a member of CWA? Please stop using this blog as a social hobby. This strike is life or death and survival for the teachers and the future of Hayward Unified and its students. This blog is not to write about everything you dislike about teachers. Do you want all of the current teachers to leave and to be left with all substitute teachers and brand new inexperienced teachers? That is what is going to happen. People are already looking for jobs elsewhere. If you think it is bad now during the strike, get used to it. You all complained about one intern at a school, well imagine schools with a majority of interns as teachers.
Luckily most of Hayward is not like you, so this most likely won’t happen. But if your attitude prevails this is what things wil be like in HUSD. Realize that you are going to be part of the problem or part of the solution. Leslie did.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:28 am
I’m a High School Student and I really want to go back to school. Spring Break has been great but school needs to start again with the RIGHT teachers, not subs. I am NOT saying i don’t support the teachers, I DO, 100%! but hopefully both sides can come to an agreement so US, the students, can get back to our education. With STAR testing and most students taking AP tests in two weeks, we need as much learning and studying we can get.
I see how people are saying that teachers don’t care for the students, i believe they are wrong. The teachers are on the picket line for 8 days so far, they aren’t getting paid. They probably, as most students, just want this to be done and over with. I can’t speak for ALL students but most love their teachers and support their teachers fully. We see all the hard work they do, before, during and after class. They devote their time to grading papers, preparing assignments and getting grades to students.
I just wish for the best on both sides.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:16 am
Ok, enough is enough. Please just fire Crummy and the HEA negotiators and go back to the classroom! I wish I even had a job. Unfortunatly putting three children in child care so I can work just isn’t worth it to my family financially.
I sympathyze with the teachers. I agree that the district made a huge error in giving three of the top administrators a huge raise. I also agree that prices are going up. Just look at the price of gas. I know teachers spend a lot of money out of pocket to have the things they need to teach the children, and yet the district keeps cutting thier supply budgets. The rising cost of health care is affecting everyone not just HUSD teachers. All of this makes it difficult for any family to make ends meat even when both parents work. This is not just a plight of HUSD teachers.
However, the district is also having trouble making ends meat. The system of funding public schools is flawed, but the district is doing the right thing by standing firm. If they don’t have the money the union is demanding (and I don’t beleive they do), then this strike is just pointless since it will bankrupt the district. How are the teachers salaries paid anyway? From our children being in school! Once the district offered more than the independent arbitrator recommended, this thing should have been over.
I beleive in public education, but, I have lost the respect for the district, the teachers, and their greedy union. Both sides have made errors and to force the teachers back into the classrooms with an injunction would be another. Would that be a happy place for my children? I don’t beleive so.
As for me, I am not planning returning to Hayward schools next year. The way I feel right now, I don’t think we’ll be returning when the strike is over. This strike is to blame when the districts prophecy of declining enrollment is fulfilled because they just lost three GATE students and money to pay the teachers salaries!
April 24th, 2007 at 8:12 am
I never said any of the things that you mentioned in your letter another tired teacher. please don’t lie and misconstrue my words. You probably read 2% of them and then drew conclusions.
Anyways….there are never any comments to things I say with substance….things that don’t have anything to do with money. but…because you have money on your mind..that is all you relate to…so it makes sense that you would only respond to a money matter.
and because you don’t respond to any of the IMPORTANT issues that I am concerned with…..you reinforce my notion that you just don’t care. How am I supposed to not have concerns when they are ignored?
by the way…please don’t hurt anyone in the strike today. try to have a non-violent peaceful protest…can you do that for the kids?
please don’t give parents any more dirty looks for bringing their kids into the schools.
please don’t follow any subs home today…harassment is bad.
please don’t do this: the children beg you.
April 24th, 2007 at 8:15 am
I agree with the statement that teachers have greatly contributed to the solvency of the district, and have gotten very little acknowledgment for it. They have taught for many years with token pay raises.
Angela HM&A: You ask if we really want to have a new board?,
The wanswer is yes. Maybe not the entire board, but certainly more then half.
Mr.Peterson has presided over the hiring of our last two Supertintendants.
The first one put us in the hole. Kowal: How in the world do you rack up a$300,000 deli bill, and the Board didn’t know about it?
The second, Vigil and Schimmel, got us out of the hole, but at what price?:
Dissent from the service employees,
500 teachers leaving the district over the last two years.
Teachers stiking because of lack of COLA and our kids missing their education.
The alienation of the parents and the community.
The price of their management style has been to take the unified out of HUSD.
Was it worth it?
These superintendats came to us with some lugage from their previous jobs because of their management stryle.
Kowal already had demonstrated being loose with money.
Vigil was “let go” from Santa Rosa.
Schimmel was known for closing schools in San Jose.
Google is great, do the research yourselves, there are news articles out there.
Did the Board not know this? If they didn’t, I question their involvement in the hiring process, and…
If they did, the Board must have agreed that that was the right path to take.
However, this path has led us to our current crisis. The city council’s lawyer might not want to call this a crisis, but I think most of us would agree this is now a crisis, since apparently there are no talks scheduled to negotiate at this point and Vigil and Schimmel will be filing their infamous injuction.
So, to get back to your question:
Do we really want a different board?
Yes we do.
The way I look at it, Mr. Cook has been at least responsive to the community.
Mr. Cook and Mr. Frumpkin have shown some compassion, as their vote to not fire the drivers demonstrated.
The other three, in my opinion, need to be replaced so that this community can begin to heal after the strike.
If there is a silver lining to this whole ugly affair, maybe more parents will get involved, and remain involved after the strike is over.
April 24th, 2007 at 8:20 am
To another tired teacher: I have written this before:
I know there may not be people who agree with me (or there are a few) but I am expressing my feelings and I feel I should have a voice like everyone else. this is what I am talking about…it’s not allowed for me to voice my opinion.
Right now- I want a resolution. I want there to be peace. I feel this can be a lesson for children- that when people have different opinions the environment can still be peaceful. Lets leave the purpose of the strike alone for one second- my current concern is the behavior of the participants in the strike and the effect this is having on our community/ parents and most of all children. I have said this and I will say it before: I am scared to have kids teach my child who can’t handle different points of view, who are violent, who name call, who gang up on subs and teachers, who stalk subs and supers, who don’t know how to compromise, who don’t have concerns for parents points of view, who smash cars where children are, who scream vulgar statements- this is my concern.
Thank you for listening,
teachers I have always welcomed your opinions
please welcome mine
you seem to be rewarding parents who end up apologizing or who ‘come to the dark side.’ I am not sorry for my beliefs- I don’t want to agree with you in order to be taken seriously
I welcome your opinions
I want peace as well
I have never heard from a teacher “I see where you are coming from”
I have tried to do this but it is not returned.
P.S. you said if I think its bad during the strike get used to it? That is the attitude that I am talking about….I don’t want teachers like you teaching my child. You scare me. I have options….I am going to exercise those rights. Trust me…I am not stuck with you…I am taking my child elsewhere…where better teachers exist…where they have better outlooks on life..where they respect parents and their beliefs…teachers that are not like you.
I respect that Leslie has her own beliefs…but they are not mine. I like how you reward people for thinking like you and punish them for being different. Good riddance to you! My child (and all children) deserve more than what you are willing to offer.
You are not helping anything. You are getting angry and discrediting parents feelings and expecting us to jump on the train with you. NO thanks. you also lost my support a long time ago with your anger and ignoring my REAL concerns.
April 24th, 2007 at 9:03 am
WHICH IS THE BEST WAY TO END THIS STRIKE?
When I tried to think about ways this strike might end, I recognized that one of the reasons for the current impasse is that the strike isn’t about money — it’s about “respect” and “trust.” And yet, under the terms of the contract, teachers can ONLY negotiate over money.
The school district keeps talking about money, or the lack of it. They simply ignore the issue of trust and respect. If they continue to ignore it, no settlement is possible.
I see several scenarios to end the strike:
(1) The union succeeds in “breaking the district,” causing the board to agree to increase its offer (probably in a 3-2 vote, perhaps over the public objection of one or more administrators), and setting the stage for possible reversal by the county or state (which would likely trigger another strike, which in turn would probably trigger a state takeover of the district, which would collapse into chaos as Richmond and Oakland have). If the deal doesn’t “break the budget,” then it would probably result in short-term peace (and loss of the fewest teachers), but might lead to a false(?) sense of confidence and unreasonable demands in the next round of contract negotiations.
(2) The district succeeds in “breaking the union,” causing the union membership (probably by a narrow majority) to reject the current leadership’s position and accept an offer from the district. Teachers would be split into several groups (5% who crossed the picket line, perhaps 50% who accepted the offer, and 45% who didn’t want to surrender). Tension between those groups would continue for many years. Many teachers from EACH group would seek to leave the district, and those who stay would accept lower salaries in future years, widening the gap with neighboring districts.
(3) The district persuades PERB to go to court, resulting an a court-ordered injunction forcing the teachers to go back to work. Dozens of teachers resign instead of returning to the classroom, and most of the others “work to rule.” The district would no longer need to negotiate. If the union doesn’t accede to the district’s offer, then eventually, the injunction’s cooling-off period would end, and the teachers would return to the picket lines, probably in the fall. By then, the district would have fewer than 18,000 students.
(4) The board acknowledges that mistakes were made, apologizes for specific acts of disrespect and dishonesty, including the fact that “interim budget #4″ presented to the board on March 14 was a “sham” and was an improper deception. The board publicly disciplines the administrators who lied and disrespected teachers; this might include firing one or more administrators. The action would need to be significant to persuade even a minority of teachers that it was sincere, and some process would need to be established to try to prevent future recurrences (especially further budget-manipulation abuses). If the board “sincerely apologizes and changes,” then the union would probably reduce its demands and might even agree to some “contingent” provisions.
(5) The board modifies its offer in recognition of the absence of trust from teachers: all contingencies are removed, and the offer sets out a fixed salary schedule that will not change based on any new developments in 2007-2008. The board also agrees to make future COLA increases automatic, equal in percentage to the increase granted to the district by the state. The union would probably accept the offer.
Am I missing an option here? I think option 4 is the most desirable, and option 5 is most likely.
April 24th, 2007 at 9:11 am
ANOTHER OPTION
Oops, I forgot to mention the “option” that HEA proposed yesterday: agreeing that the district and teachers will work for passage of a “parcel tax” which could be used to pay a salary increase to teachers.
I view this as ABSURD, even more of a “pipe dream” than the notion that taxpayers will (any time soon) approve a bond to fund urgently-needed repairs and improvements to our schools.
April 24th, 2007 at 9:21 am
Seems to be this Kathy Crummey is getting paid and does not care how long the strike lasts. I have spoke to severalleaders of bay area Unions and they told me the teachers should have taken the latest over. If you guys are for Vigil’s firing i suggest you fire Crummey also, as she is doing a HUGE disservice to your union. To me it seems, nobody wants to be first to give in.
April 24th, 2007 at 9:37 am
To Mark: you say that its really about respect? How is it that you will see a districts bankruptcy as a sign of respect? I am teaching my child that respect isn’t when someone gives in to your every demand…but when a person listens, tries to work it out, and is willing to compromise with you.
I don’t think its fair to poison the well by stating its not respect the district has for you. I don’t feel the district (as I have stated before) is out to get you. I feel that they are offering what would make sense to the entire school community- not just teachers.
You say this fight is about respect…but money is all you can ask for. How is it then that you are equating money and respect? You are asking for money- the district can’t give the full amount requested. You mix this in and believe its respect they aren’t giving?
I didn’t know money = respect.
Isn’t that what mothers protect their daughters from? Pimps- when you get paid a service is it respect you are getting?
You should think higher of yourselves.
April 24th, 2007 at 9:58 am
I just read the proposal the HEa revises , I think had they not added that they wanted to have a parcel tax passed ,
the district would /have meet the HEa demands !!!!!!!!!
I am a single disabled parent who has been off work due to chronic back pain and since this strike has began , not only
have I had my son at home , but I am caring for 3 other children as well , because I am a qualified preschool
teachers and know the do and don’ts of childcare , their parents have opted to leave them for me , I am grateful
that I at least get paid for some of this , but it has been really hard on me physically, I am tired and pass out by 8 pm , yesterday was my birthday , but there was no way for me to enjoy it , having to deal with kids and my chronic pain all day, so everyone needs to wake up and reach a damn settlement all ready !!!!!! our kids need an education and this tired momther needs a break already !!!!!!!!
April 24th, 2007 at 10:26 am
I’m 100% behind the teachers but when it comes to a parcel tax; that is a pipe dream!
April 24th, 2007 at 11:00 am
Jennifer – I say that it’s about respect because that’s what individual teachers tell me when I ask them why they went on strike. It rings true because that’s what teachers were saying in February and March, and indeed it’s what they were saying two years ago when I decided to move to Hayward, marry my wife, and add a wonderful stepdaughter into my life. After 14 years in Pleasanton, I can assure you that there are only two reasons I moved to Hayward: my wife and stepdaughter.
Many teachers told me — before the strike began and since — that if the district hadn’t demonstrated such extraordinary contempt for teachers, they would have accepted a 3% raise. Instead, the district engaged in a long series of insulting and demeaning actions, culminating with a fake budget (the district has abandoned that imaginary budget, but won’t admit it was a sham). Dr. Vigil lied to teachers, administrators, the media, and the board. Even this morning, schools were calling parents and telling them that students are safer in school — even after Dr. Vigil publicly acknowledged that the schools were no longer safe! And board members Peterson and Cook have written insulting, offensive opinion columns in the newspaper. I won’t try to list all the other “minor and major” insults that teachers have endured.
But in the end, Mr. Schimmel’s email (sent to all district employees) “pushed teachers over the edge,” doing incredible damage to teacher morale. He is an abrasive “numbers” guy whom many teachers viewed as insensitive, but his email (and his follow-up) made it clear that he simply has contempt for ALL teachers, whom he views as completely interchangeable. Nobody has ever apologized for Mr. Schimmel’s insulting email; he merely apologized that his comments were made public.
Maybe your perception is right, and these teachers really are just greedy — but quite frankly, given the shortage of certified teachers throughout the state, I can’t imagine why a teacher motivated primarily by money would even be in Hayward. In fact, given the disrespect teachers have received from administrators and board members, the ONLY logical reason they might have for staying here is because they CARE ABOUT HAYWARD STUDENTS. I honestly don’t understand how teachers can be so loyal to such a crappy community, but there they are, working longer hours for less money with less support than most teachers in the Bay Area. (Since the strike began, I think parents have shown teachers that they are appreciated by the community, but honestly the level of community support was a surprise to most teachers.)
April 24th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Keith O., a new voice I think,
welcome to the debate.
Correct me if I’m wrong. There are also onther Unions that have contributed funds to the HEA strike fund in support of the work stoppage. I suspect none of these other Union leaders, regardless of where they stand, have been privy to the budget and details of what is going on. So their opinion is only as we good as ours.
I have read the disenting opinion regarding the injunction, it is in the HUSD site.
In it there are very specific funds mentioned that HEA seems to think are available or not due for a long time. These are the funds whose availability is contested They amount to about 12 millions. (17.6 million unrestricted minus 6 million for economic uncertainty reserve)
If the district seems to think some of those funds are resticted (legaly), I would like to which ones are restricted, and which ones are a question of priorities?
If the District’s administration and the Board dispute any on these specific points I would like to hear the details.
They need to explaint to us why the wide divide on these points of view?
April 24th, 2007 at 11:37 am
Hayward is not a crappy community! I’m part of this community and I’m not crappy.
April 24th, 2007 at 11:41 am
Hey Mark:
Now, now, lets not take our frustrations off on ” the city” in general. As a long time Hayward resident, I’m the first one to acknowledge we are far from perfect, but have chosen to see the potential in this community.
In a sense, we moved in to a fixer upper, and we are working on making our city better. If our community was so “crappy” as you described us, we would not see the loyalty that many of our teachers display, even the ones that do not live withing us.
Our house might need a coat of paint and a new fence, but the community, by and large, are good people.
April 24th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Mark- again I never said greedy! Can you quote me on my last post?
I also said teachers deserve a raise….please stop focusing on the money. I am tired of saying that. If its not about money- focus on other issues. It’s boring and its redundant.
However- I thank you for your time and opinions. I promise I am not going to post anymore- I don’t agree- but I agree to disagree.
Thanks-
April 24th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Mark,
You seem to be the voice of reason here. As a teacher, I’m frankly tired of all the shenanigans pulled by the district, and frankly, just want this thing to end. Option #4 is the most desirable, with the addition of the automatic COLA increases from here on out. I’ve taught here for 7 years, and spent 20 years in the business world prior to teaching. I’ve never seen another industry where the professional people in that industry are so undervalued and taken for granted.
I’ve also never seen another industry where the professionals who are stakeholders in the “company” aren’t privy to a real, validated, CPA-reviewed budget. For Vigil and his cronies to put forth that “interim budget” demonstrates his disregard for both the board, the teachers, and the students he supposedly serves. The man needs to remember that he is a public servant, not a king sitting in his palace. His actions should be transparent to the community, rather than done furtively, behind closed doors. This community deserves honest dealings from the superintendant!
For me, personally (since I really can’t speak for anyone else), I’d like to see the following:
–Barry Schimmel fired for his public disrespectful comments about a teacher,
–Dr. Vigil publicly sanctioned for the myriad lies and half-truths he’s put forth to the community,
–a FAIR settlement that includes future COLAs automatically added to the salary scale,
–no retribution from the district once we return to the classrooms (yes, everyone is afraid of this!), and finally,
–District office support for what we deal with in the classrooms on a daily basis.
Some of the feelings of disrespect that teachers are reporting come from the fact that the district office is extremely wishy-washy in dealing with discipline issues. When we have students, in a classroom of 32 kids, who disrupt our classes, it virtually takes an act of God to have them removed from our classrooms. We’ve had students at the middle school where I teach who have been assaulted by students, and very little has been done by the district. If this is any indication of the value they place on us, then it should be obvious why we’re striking. There is far more than money at stake here, but paying professionals a decent salary is one way of showing respect.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Mark,
I can confirm that this is about respect and honesty. I for one do not care about the numbers. I have learned to live paycheck to paycheck even though I know I could go elsewhere and make a lot more money ad be treated better. The Schimmel debacle, the Board’s attitude, the fact that EVERYONE, principals, even subs got a $25 a day raise and the fact that the top administrator got a 16% raise are what did it for me. Last year I actually thought I was not going to strike. After all that I had to strike.
I LOVE the students and families here and do not want to leave them. I think it is very sad that the district is behaving in the manner in which they are. I cannot believe that Vigil went on camera last night after rejecting the unions’s last offer and said “We are getting close to clarifying some concepts. We will be meeting in the near future. We are just a phone call away.” As if this is a big political game to him. Our lives are being disrupted and he is calm and collected as if he doesn’t care and has all the time in the world.
As far as the parcel tax, I live in a small East Bay city that constantly approves parcel taxes for the schools which the parents lobby for. I live there, I pay them. Maybe I should teach there too. The towns where the schools are better have these parcel taxes people. The towns where the schools are better have parents and community members that go above and beyond to support the schools and do not sit around complaining in blogs about it. Those teachers do not have to strike to be respected. That is a fact of life people. Welcome to the real world. The towns that have great schools have parents that do all kinds of things that this town has no clue about. The parents who are in here complaining about teachers are pushing the good teachers out of Hayward and into those towns.
I do not condone violence or damaging private property, yelling at parents or children and have never done any of those things.
I love my school, my students and their parents, but I have my own children to worry about too.
I would like to see both #4 and #5 happen Mark.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Ooops! A correction: that should have read TEACHERS who have been assaulted by students, and very little has been done by the district.
Typing too fast and not proofing my work – sorry!
April 24th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
I wasn’t going to write but first- I agree with many things you said tired teacher. I think you have some good ideas and I hear what you are saying.
I don’t like your tone however about parents doing something or not. I am VERY active in my sons school (as active as they will let me be) I donate tons of materials and I volunteer whenever there is a need.
You are actively posting comments on this blog- does this include yourself? Again- black and white thinking. Either a person agrees with every comment you make- or you criticize them for having a different outlook. I support teachers- I support parents- I support school districts- I don’t think there is a ‘god’ side and a ‘devil’ side however like many of you. I think we are all people- and I don’t agree with you or anyone else’s putdowns etc.
just b/c I don’t agree with the strike doesn’t make me unsupportive of my community. Sorry you think this. It must be hard living with narrow blinders on. Hopefully you can take them off and see others point of view without resorting to child like put downs and criticisms.
I would like to live in a community where teachers have an open mind and where they don’t insult parents for sharing some beliefs but not all.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Also tired teacher: I used to live in a community where the schools were 9′s and 10′s. I had to move due to job circumstances and personal reasons- but we loved our teachers and respected them. They went beyond and above and so did the parents. I don’t like your closed mindedness to insult a parent stating that I (we) aren’t aware of the rest of the communities. I have lived in many places during my life and I have done my fair share of research, activism and kindness (which I will continue).
Stop judging people for having different opinions than you
you read what you want and you ignore the rest
I feel sorry for your close mindedness
good luck to you
I am going to protest the war now and the children/teachers suffering in Darfur.
Take care-
April 24th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Hello teachers
Thank you for teaching our children. Thank you for all you have done.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Jennifer,
I am worried about how I am going to pay my bills, literally keep a roof over my head, feed my baby while being called selfish, greedy, incompetent, violent, stupid, childish by the community I work in. To cross the picket line means going against your colleagues and never being spoken to again by them. While I wrestle with looking for a new job, letting my students and their parents down, and abandoning them, or working in an unbearable situation in the future. This is very stressful. I do not think you can begin to understand what it feels like to be in this situation. It is a little difficult to sit back and be objective sorry.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
It’s difficult for me too. I don’t mind you having your opinions- I just wish we could come together and understand each other. I want to support your cause-
if you heard about the violence and teachers wouldn’t you be worried for your little ones?
I am sorry for the rude things I said. Please accept my apology. You don’t have to- but I am sorry.
I am stressed too and I don’t like to behave that way. I am sorry tired teacher.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Thank you Jennifer. I apologize too. I only get defensive because I work so hard, and am so hard on myself.
I give so much, so when I hear that teachers are lazy and greedy I just see red. I have not even been able to sleep throughout this whole thing. My back and neck are like rocks. I have been on the phone with my students parents a lot. I care A LOT. I am always getting sick because I spend so much time at school and working. I spend too much money on my class.
I need to get off this computer and spend time with my own family.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Another tired teacher
My husband works for att and is part of the union CWA which also makes me part of his union , his decisions, job and
choices affect us. just as your decisions , job and actions affect your family , you are not personally attacking again , and i find you to be insulting . Is this you way for
using this blog as a social hobby. This is freedom of speech i call it as i see it . you are not the only one intitles to an opinion. So because we voice our does not mean that we do not know what we are talking about , we just may be looking for facts where you are not , open your eyes its even on the news there has been voilence ,
ignorance is what these personal attacks are for
April 24th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
parents are tired too.
many of us can’t afford child care
many of us are excellent parents
many of us support our teachers
I hope everything will turn out good for everyone
I hope you are okay
Please take care
April 24th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Isn’t it interesting how some posters take everything as a personal insult, even as they insist that their own broad generalizations should not be taken as insults? Notice that when a teacher says something on this blog, the people who are against the strike immediately take it as a personal attack, yet when they tell the teachers how wrong they are the teachers are supposed to accept it as free speech. I don’t want to hear any more of “what about me, I do such good things, what about what I think, I feel sorry for your attitude”. For crying out loud, talk about solutions, not about who’s feeling insulted/put down/misunderstood/self-righteous. And I don’t mean the teachers.
April 24th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
if you do not want to hear it , then do not visit the blog, you are not being forced to read this , and this if for all not just teachers
deal with it
April 24th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
well ph to tell the truth i feel the same way but i think it goes for everyone! Teachers and parents as well!
I think that everyone is only concerned withthemselfs who is really trying to fix this?
How can we all come together when people are insulting others and sorry to tell you but in a way you are too!
You say your kid is in room 2 well mine is in room 3 i have the twins so you must know who i am!
Mabe if you could take the time to talk to me and another parent we can tell you a few things that you might want to know! Just some advice because really us parents need to stick together. And who else to better help than another parent! Its up to you. The more we can all get together the more we will see change.
April 24th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
then enlighten me PH
what is your suggestion for an answer? you pose nothing new. we all have said we wanted to come to a common ground….we already talked about that
now enlighten us. bring up something new – what makes your ideas original? help a redundant person come to the light
April 24th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
thanks jennifer!
we have made our points and i did and will keep posting facts!
Do some research dont just guess !
PH IF YOU DID SOME RESEARCH YOURSELF YOU MIGHT GET ALOT OF NEW INFO ABOUT SOME OF YOUR SUBS!
BUT I GUESS SINCE YOU ARE TIRED OF ME YOUR GONNA SKIP MY POST ! QUE BIEN !
BACK TO THE ISSUE HAS ANYONE READ THE POST FROM MARK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT WAYS THE STRIKE CAN END?
i HOPE AND THINK THAT HIS FOURTH THOUGHT WOULD WORK BUT HOW CAN WE MAKE IT HAPPEN?
April 24th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
To all parents: Please remain or get involved with your children’s schools after all this is over. The last parent meeting I went to had about five people there. I know it’s hard to juggle work, family, and school, but we all have to stay involved to make a difference!
April 24th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
What parentmeetings ? can kids go?
April 24th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
I know that i will be discussing with my sister to keep her children on homestudies , I now worry about the safety and type of education they are getting in hayward , If teachers will not accept your opinion here than imagine about in the classroom ,
April 24th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
OK folks–
HEA backed WAY DOWN with their last proposal to the district. 8% retro this year, 3.24% beginning in Jan. of next year. That’s 11.24% over two years.
And, FYI, the parcel tax idea was one that’s been floated around for several years. The district has always liked it. Many teachers have serious concerns about it.
That said–the district’s last best offer was worse than it’s previous two offers.
HEA budged significantly, folks, and HUSD did not. That was a complaint many of you had (that HEA wasn’t budging); HEA heard you and, inspired by your support and voices, continued to bargaine in good faith w/ HUSD.
I’m beginning to think that HUSD doesn’t want the strike to end anytime soon. Each of their offers is worse than the last.
I want to go back to my classroom, but we’ve been out so long now than HUSD is going to have to meet HEA’s proposal–just to cover what we’ve lost in wages during this strike. Remember, the district saves $250,000 per day we are out on strike. If we’re out long enough, we’ll practically pay for our own raise this year!
Call the board members–HEA’s offer was more than fair. HUSD was crazy not to accept it.
Finally, please remember that HEA CAN ONLY BARGAIN ABOUT MONEY THIS YEAR!!! If HEA bargains about ANY of the other very VALID ideas that many of you are bringing up, HEA would be in violation of the negotiations and we’d have to start back at square one.
April 24th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
To ALL Parents:
Parent-teacher meeting Junta de padres y maestros
Wednesday, April 25, 2007 miercoles, 25 de abril, 2007
2:00pm 2:00 pm
San Felipe Park (D Street) Parque San Felipe (por la calle D)
Hayward, CA Hayward, CA
Please bring your questions. Traiga sus preguntas.
Spread the word! Avisele a todos!
April 24th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
thank you HEA for trying , what was the districts new proposal or answer to this
April 24th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
angela- I am scared to say this but that has been my point. I am not here to offend anyone but that is what I am saying. No one hears it. They think I am trying to cause trouble or insult people.
I am worried that my child is in a classroom with teachers that see the world from one point of view. There has been a lot of talk on here about how parents are judging the teachers etc….but I feel all I have gotten in this blog is teachers ignoring my concerns and talking about how ‘good’ people join them and ‘bad’ people ‘complain.’
I am truly worried…I wish this would be addressed.
Teachers: do you understand this? When you are teaching do you foster kids to find themselves and what they think about the world…or do you lead them into beliefs that are your own?
I am sorry people see this as an insult. It is not- but what is insulting is that ‘good’ teachers won’t address it.
April 24th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
i am a little confused hayward teacher.
you said the hea doesn’t want the tax…but it states on their website that this is what they have been asking for.
Can you show me a website that substantiates your claims?
April 24th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Jennifer , I think that this is the point that all parents really want to make , unfortunately most teachers have lost
reality with what it feels like on the other side of the fence , on what it feels like to be the parent , we really are not for or against anyone , I just want my family to have the education they deserve and right now that is not
happening ,
also we are not allowed to voice our opinions or comments , if not we are bad or do not know what we are talking about , it seems like not much can be discussed as adults yet teachers are supposed to be role models in the community
April 24th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Angela, I can truly say it feels good to have a fellow parent who understands where I am coming from. At least the teachers have 1,000′s of ‘fans’ (and this still isn’t enough) but we stand to be attacked. People treat us like we are stupid and have no idea what we are talking about. We know this isn’t true.
As for the teacher that said SCAB is in the dictionary (so are racist terms by the way) this is what is on their website. Is this what we should teach kids?
After god had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, the vampire, He
had some awful substance left with which he made the SCAB….
A SCAB is a two-legged animal with a cork-screw soul, a water
logged brain, a combination backbone of jelly & glue….
When a SCAB comes down the street, men turn their backs,
angels weep in heaven, & the Devil shuts the gates of Hell to
keep him out….
Judas Iscariot was a gentleman compared to a SCAB. For
betraying his master, he had character enough to hang himself. A
SCAB has not.
April 24th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
This was the HEA’s offer:
8 percent raise for 2006-07 school year, retroactive to July 1, 2006.
♣ 3 percent raise for 2007-08 school year, starting midyear on Feb. 1, 2008.
♣ 1 percent one-time, off-the-salary-schedule raise paid on July 1, 2007.
♣ Agreement by teachers to mount a campaign to pass a parcel tax in Hayward that would provide
salary increases in Hayward Unified for educators and all other employees for 2008-09.
April 24th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
WITHOUT A SCAB HEALING CANNOT BEGIN
Main Entry: 1scab
Pronunciation: ‘skab
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Swedish skabbr scab; akin to Old English sceabb scab, Latin scabere to scratch — more at SHAVE
1 : scabies of domestic animals
2 : a crust of hardened blood and serum over a wound
3 a : a contemptible person b (1) : a worker who refuses to join a labor union (2) : a union member who refuses to strike or returns to work before a strike has ended (3) : a worker who accepts employment or replaces a union worker during a strike (4) : one who works for less than union wages or on nonunion terms
THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS FOR SCABS SO ALL IN ALL IT IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, I TEND TO AGREE WITH THE PARENT THAT POSTED THIS
” WITHOUT A SCAB HEALING CANNOT BEGIN ”
THANK YOU FOR CARING
April 24th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
this is where you can get the districts offer (if they aren’t trying to settle then why do they keep posting their proposals?)
http://www.husd.k12.ca.us/PDF/Negotiation/April24SalarySettlementProposal.PDF
April 24th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Jennifer,
I’m sorry, I see that your questions didn’t get answered, but I can’t always find your question, I see reference to it, but I do not, nor do I want to read everything. So I wasn’t ignoring you I just did not really want to read everything here. That being said. . .
I personally have a couple methods for answering questions, it depends on the question. I teach second grade, if I taught older or younger, I would answer differently.
Some questions I refer back to the parent. Questions involving big horrible things (9/11, hurricanes, tsunamis) I try to reasure the students, and then talk to the parents. I get asked every year about Santa, the Devil, God, Hell to name a few of the ones that I pass on to the parents.
Sometimes students need to tell you what their parents say about a topic, and then they want to know if it is “true” or are they “kidding.”
My political views I keep out of my classroom. I try to teach compassion, responsibility, and respectfulness. Through that end we as a class raise and give money to a charity every year. In the past we have given monies to Hurricane Katrina, and 9/11 fund, Habitat for Humanity. This year we gave to the Leukemia foundation. It changes every year, I wait until something happens, the students bring it up, and we talk about it. Usually by now, the students have all of the ideas.
Of course by law I have to refer any questions regarding abuse to my principal, and then sometimes to the proper authorities. (In 11 years that has happened once)
Also a few times my student or one of their parents, grandparents or family member has been hospitalized, this is especially scarry for young children. We talk as a class about how we can support the child involved. I let parents know then also.
I hope this helps to answer your questions.
April 24th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Thank you elementary school teacher. I think you answered my question well. I hope a lot of teachers are like you!!
You do sound like a great teacher- your pro-social teachings are really comforting. I thank you thank you thank you for hearing me!
This is all I care about- I just want reassurance.
I know I am repeating myself but that is exactly what is important (for me at least) for children to have- teachers that promote different beliefs and ideas.
This is Wonderful
April 24th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
I also must add I love how you help your children donate to a wonderful cause. This also promotes them learning about things that are going on in the world (not to mention compasionate/empathetic behavior etc.)!!
I love it!!!!
April 24th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Jennifer:
At our union meeting today, HEA informed us that the parcel tax is something that the district has talked about for several years during the bargaining process. I think that HEA or HUSD would be hard pressed to acurately remember who came up with the idea several years ago.
My conjecture is that HEA included the parcel tax in their proposal in the hopes that HUSD would accept the proposal, settle the contract, and end the strike.
So yes, the parcel tax is a part of HEA’s last proposal with the contingency that if it didn’t pass their would be a “reopener” on the salary part of the contract.
Per my previous post, several teachers spoke up at the meeting today and expressed deep concerns about the parcel tax.
The district had not responded w/ a new offer when we were at our meeting. In checking out HUSD’s website, I’ve discovered that HUSD is now offering 5.5% retro for this year, 3.22% for next year, and then the parcel tax with the contingency that the entire contract would be up for a “reopener”.
Reopener means that the stated part of the contract would be up for renegotiation.
The entire contract as a “reopener” in the district’s last offer is fairly hostile. HEA won’t like that and I certainly don’t like it. It would mean we’d be right back to square one in two years. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to go there. I’d like to teach peacefully in my classroom for MANY years after this strike!
If HUSD got rid of that clause and made this year’s retro a 6.5-7.5%, then we might have a shot at getting everyone to agree.
Also, Jennifer, per some of your frustrations and feeling like you couldn’t trust your kids w/ some teachers, please remember that we are very stressed folks just like you are right now. My heart aches for my kids. There are some darn good teachers in Hayward–some of the best I’ve ever taught with. I put up with a lot of disrespect and dysfunction from the decision makers in this district because I love my kids–I choose to stay here because they inspire me in so many ways. Hayward students are incredible people–smart and resilient. But Hayward is a very challenging district to work in. Here are a couple of examples of the balls I juggle every day:
1. In March, I called 40 parents of students I had who were struggling two times–sometimes three or four if they had cell phones and I was leaving messages on different phones–leaving messages on the phone and, if available, following up via email. Only 4 parents called me back. Four. How do I help these students if I can’t get them to come in during lunch for help and I can’t get ahold of their parents? How do I get them to do their homework if their parents don’t know they have any? It’s very frustrating.
2. Last year, the teacher across the hall from me had a parent come screaming into the classroom in the middle of a class due to a low grade the student earned on a paper. The parent didn’t call first, didn’t attempt to contact the teacher, and interrupted the education of 30 students for 15 minutes. It’s very frustrating to watch this.
3. When I arrange for fieldtrips (yes, some of us do this!), the district approves the fieldtrip and then refuses to pay for the sub or for any part of the bus. Who pays? Students. The paperwork to arrange all of this is time consuming. And you need at least 8 weeks lead-time to get it all processed, so you can’t be spontaneous at all.
4. At back to school night this year, only 10 parents out of 90 showed up. I called the other 80 parents; 5 parents called me back.
5. The district has refused for 5 years to pay for a supplemental text book that I desperately need. I always end up paying out of my own pocket to copy huge chunks of the textbook.
6. I had to BEG the district to go to a vitale conference last summer. It took an act of God to be able to go, even though there are grant monies available for such training.
7. At Hayward High, we (the teachers) were forced to sit through 3 days of staff development at the end of last year that were the worst I’ve ever endured. The presenter repeatedly berated us, refused to listen to suggestions, put down the people who tried to share ideas in response to his questions, and then required us to write a very basic lesson plan in small groups. When we shared lesson plans, he berated almost all of them. We endured this professional insult and waste of time–and the district paid this man $10,000. To top it off, he’s not the presenter who we were told would come. The district told us one presenter, who is the top in his field, would come and then this other presenter showed up. I’m sick that the district wasted money on this man.
8. In light of last year, HHS requested that we be able to collaborate during staff development this year, allowing staff members who have been participating in Literacy Institutes to share the pedagogy they’re learning. The district told us that only “qualified” trainers could present. I guess we teachers are not qualified.
I could go on, Jennifer, but I hope that I’ve made my point: we teachers are just as frustrated as you parents are! And so many of your frustrations are things we can do nothing about because the district is calling the shots.
April 24th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Isn’t it interesting how some posters take everything as a personal insult, even as they insist that their own broad generalizations should not be taken as insults? Notice that when a teacher says something on this blog, the people who are against the strike immediately take it as a personal attack, yet when they tell the teachers how wrong they are the teachers are supposed to accept it as free speech. I don’t want to hear any more of “what about me, I do such good things, what about what I think, I feel sorry for your attitude”. For crying out loud, talk about solutions, not about who’s feeling insulted/put down/misunderstood/self-righteous. And I don’t mean the teachers.
April 24th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
again fernando- thanks for the insult!
anyways- high school teacher thanks for the information
I think your point came in clearly….again there are a percentage of bad egg teachers…and a percentage of bad egg parents.
I am sorry…I am tired too. I am trying.
I can promise you that I am one of the parents that would make the phone calls….that would go the extra mile for my child…etc. etc.
I really appreciate what you are saying.
I do hope the district gets this over with.
Thanks for being patient high school teacher.
thanks for not getting upset with me with my frustrations etc.
I can see the way you handle yourself and the way you are dedicated to your students makes you an excellent teacher.
Take care
April 24th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
One more thing for Jennifer:
I think HUSD can be a very frustrating district for parents to have kids in, too. But you guys–the parents–you have the power and the voice to make real change. That’s one thing that is consistent in every district for which I’ve ever taught–parents have the power to affect change at the district level in ways teachers do not.
April 24th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Fernando then don’t read the blogs.
You are being productive?
you are instigating
do you think it helps when you are telling people that they shouldn’t voice their opinions b/c they are wrong?
are you inspiring change?
April 24th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
also…I think it’s funny that you call yourself ph sometimes and fernando other times…are you attempting to show power in numbers?
kind of funny
April 24th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS OURS
IF YOU DO NOT LIKE IT DO NOT READ IT
ITS AS SIMPLE AS THAT
April 24th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
HAYWARD HIGH TEACHER:
THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU!
IT IS YOUR WORD THAT GIVES US HAYWARD PARENTS HOPE!
I CAN ONLY WISH THAT IN THE FUTURE MY GIRLS WILL HAVE YOU AS ONE OF THEIR TEACHERS!
IF THAT DOES HAPPEN I WILL BE A PARENT YOU CAN LEAN ON FOR ANYTHING!
HA HA HA HA JENNIFER YOU GOT PROPS FOR THAT ONE!
April 24th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
COULD NOT HELP BUT TO AGREE WITH YOU JENNIFER
HA HA HA HA THANKS FOR THAT
April 24th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Other school districts have parcel taxes–including Oakland, where homeowners pay 1 $195 a year parcel tax that goes to the school district. Some of the parcel tax is going to fixing school sites that are in need of repair. Clearly Oakland as a district has had more difficulties than Hayward USD, and yet the voters in Oakland are willing to pass parcel taxes.
HEA’s most recent offer is reasonable: 8% COLA FOR THIS YEAR, 1% off the pay scale bonus and 3% next year. We are predicting that the state will give us a 4% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT next year.
Every day we strike the district saves about .5% on our salaries. After ten days we will have lost 5% of our salary for this year. I wonder–is HUSD trying to make us pay for our own increase this year by stalling in negotiations, going for an injunction rather than bargaining with us, and refusing to settle prior to a strike.
Thanks to the community for support. Show up at the School Board Meeting tomorrow–March and Rally at 5 PM, school board meeting at 6:30(but sign up to speak earlier). Demand an accounting of where the school district spent this year’s 8.08% state cost of living adjustment.
April 24th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Hi PH/Leslie et all:
PH:
sorry for reposting your statement, I usually copy the text I’m responding to in the comment box so I can reread as I compose my response. I hit the wrong key and it got posted before I meant it to go out, I guess you could say I pulled a Schimmel!
I wanted to second your displeasure that we are indeed spending too much time reading statements that are not necessarily constructive. I have stoped responding to those, since that way we don’t have to spend time reading those as well.
On to something else:
I just came back from the Families in Action meeting at Kennedy park. It was quite an uplifting experience.
There were quite a few folks there, many concerned parents willing to get involved.
I was amazed at how many people have received “missinformation” from the District about testing dates and truancy consequences through the phone system, intended to pressure them to bring their children back to school.
However, the district did not inform the parents that they can “opt out ” of the test by just filing a form. Or that all they need to do to avoid notes of truancy in their kid’s record is to call once a week and tell the office their child is excused. Even if you don’t want to say wheather or not you support the strike, all you need to say he or she is staying home for personal reasons, no questions asked.
I believe one high school, I can’t remember which one, will apparently start testing this week even though the test will probably have to be administered again.
They have three weeks before the deadline anyway! Why start now, when there are not enough subs to properly staff the schools? Do they mean to imply they have enought subs qualified to adminster the test?
If the District has our kid’s best interest at heart, you figure they would wait to see if their injuction goes forward.
That way, at the very least the teachers (at least those who don’t simply tender their resignation and go elsewhere) at the very least the teachers would be back in the classroom for the testing. They will be angry, but at least they are qualified to administer these tests, and they know our kids.
Leslie:
I also think option #4 from Mark Welch’s outcomes would be the better resolution to this whole mess.
You also ask: “What can we parents do to make this happen”
One thing that would help, is to come to the Board meeting tomorrow and speak up directly to the leaders of our school district. The Board directed Vigil and Schimmel to follow this path, or at the very least condoned and approved their recomendations.
We (and here I’m not pointing the finger at anyone) should not be yelling at each other in this blog.
We should take our complatins to the 5 poeple who can actually do something about this. They set the priorities, Vigil and Schimmel implement these priorities with the Board’s approval. Regardless of where you stand on this issue, this is your opportunity to be heard by the Board!
They are ultimatelly, as the leaders at the helm of this district, responsible for the situation we are in right now!
Families in Action is holding a rally tomorrow, Wed April 25th, at the main library down town, 835 C St. starting at 5pm.
While at the library they will have a system set up for folks to get their speaker card and get a chance to participate during the meeting. They will explain how the process works, help people with their statements,etc.
From the library we will eventualy move to City Hall, across the street, where the Board will be meeting at 6:30
They want to try to get enough people there to encircle the building. Even if you don’t speak, your presence will make a difference.
If youn’t make it, at least watch the meeting on television, Channel 15 government access.
I hope to meet some of you there.
Fernando
April 24th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
No, I’m not PH, just pulled a Schimmel, correction already sent.
Fernando
April 24th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
1. “I think it’s funny that you call yourself ph sometimes and fernando other times…are you attempting to show power in numbers?” – I don’t know why my post appeared under Fernando’s name. Fernando, if you copy my post, please make that clear.
2. “then enlighten me PH what is your suggestion for an answer? you pose nothing new. we all have said we wanted to come to a common ground….we already talked about that now enlighten us. bring up something new – what makes your ideas original? help a redundant person come to the light” – I don’t have any ideas. I’m just tired of hearing all the sarcasm and jeering. All *I* want is to stay on topic and not stray off into whose got a good or bad attitude. Does the fact that we already talked about wanting common ground mean that now we can relax and make fun of people?
3. ” PH IF YOU DID SOME RESEARCH YOURSELF YOU MIGHT GET ALOT OF NEW INFO ABOUT SOME OF YOUR SUBS!” – What makes you think I haven’t done any research? I have info about the subs. There is nothing in my previous posts to suggest that I am uninformed. What exactly are you accusing me of? Ignorance? I have to LOL now.
4. “well ph to tell the truth i feel the same way but i think it goes for everyone! Teachers and parents as well!
I think that everyone is only concerned withthemselfs who is really trying to fix this? How can we all come together when people are insulting others and sorry to tell you but in a way you are too!” – I have not insulted anyone, called anyone a name, told them they are wrong, made any discriminatory comments…in what way am I insulting anyone? Facts, please, not just an assumption of what you think I mean.
“You say your kid is in room 2 well mine is in room 3 i have the twins so you must know who i am! Mabe if you could take the time to talk to me and another parent we can tell you a few things that you might want to know! Just some advice because really us parents need to stick together. And who else to better help than another parent! Its up to you. The more we can all get together the more we will see change.” – I know who the twins are, but I’ve never met their parents. I’m sure we could exchange interesting views, but I feel I have the information I need to make my decisions regarding my child. Thanks anyway, and I hope to see you after the strike.
Last but not least, look at the last few posts before this.
“HA HA HA HA JENNIFER YOU GOT PROPS FOR THAT ONE!”
“COULD NOT HELP BUT TO AGREE WITH YOU JENNIFER
HA HA HA HA THANKS FOR THAT”
“TAKE A BOW FOR THAT ONE JENNIFER.
FERNANDO YOU GOT CALLED OUT!”
This is such juvenile “high-fiving” over someone jeering at another poster. Does this belong here? How can you accuse teachers of unprofessional behavior and then do this? I think you ladies should all go out for coffee and laugh yourselves silly, but keep your sarcasm and snide remarks off this public blog.
By the way, has anyone noticed what my actual views are, or are you just turning on me as a new target for your frustrations?
April 24th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Fernando (sure you aren’t PH- no I am just kidding lol)- is it true that my son doesn’t have to go to school?
I would love to hear more about this.
I thought he had to take the star test??
Also- will he still graduate this year if he is in elementary school?
Also- does anyone have any information on how to home school a child for the rest of the year? I would love advice.
I have to leave (fly on a plane) in the beginning of the summer. Are they going to extend the year?
Please help….I don’t know what to do….ugh
April 24th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
PH:
The reason I addressed your post, despite the fact I had decided to not address any comments whose owners did not have their name to them, is preciselly because you are suggesting that we focused back on the issues.
I also find the HA HA HAs and all that stuff pretty juvenile.
Focus people, tomorrow, City Hall, Time to speak up!
April 24th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Hello PH- thanks for your comments.
I agree with 9% of what you are saying. I think everyone is trying to get along…and come to an understanding!
Just some advice: I don’t think you should call out people and insult them. I think Angela and Leslie were just trying to be light hearted…I don’t think they were being immature. I was only commenting on calling someone out…b/c I was tired of hearing people (no comment) state what others shouldn’t’ and should not say.
Anyways….you and everyone else are getting on the right track (including me). Lets stop pointing out (you included PH) who is writing the ‘right’ type of blog and lets start communicating. Pointing things out like this only instigate things further…you are doing the same thing that you are complaining about.
anyways…we can work this out.
to my fellow parents
to the teachers
to the district
to our community
lets start to restore trust, faith and humanity- b/c someday teachers will be back in the classroom and I disagree with some things but overall I believe we have the same end goal in mind.
Peace (I haven’t said that in a long time in this type of way- now PH please don’t point out how childish I am)
Take care-
April 24th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
oops…I meant to say 90%
I don’t want to start a war!
sorry
April 24th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Jennifer, The start test doesn’t affect you child,
It doesn’t test the child, it tests the school it self. I believe the test is in fact evaluated somehwere else, not at the school site.
I do believe there is a form (maybe the folks from Families in Action or one of the teachers involved in this discussion can confirm this) to opt out of having your kid take the test.
And as far as going to school and issues of truancy, I believe even Kim Santos piped in with this a while back: Just call the office and tell them your kid will be absent for personal reasons. That simple.
Anyone correct me if I’m mistaken or missinformed,
Fernando
April 24th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
PH your post is interesting:
“By the way, has anyone noticed what my actual views are, or are you just turning on me as a new target for your frustrations?” Is this not what you have been complaining about in others?
I think that it’s clear with this:
“Isn’t it interesting how some posters take everything as a personal insult, even as they insist that their own broad generalizations should not be taken as insults? Notice that when a teacher says something on this blog, the people who are against the strike immediately take it as a personal attack, yet when they tell the teachers how wrong they are the teachers are supposed to accept it as free speech. I don’t want to hear any more of “what about me, I do such good things, what about what I think, I feel sorry for your attitude”. For crying out loud, talk about solutions, not about who’s feeling insulted/put down/misunderstood/self-righteous. And I don’t mean the teachers.”
Now you join the rank of the rest of us. You are human!!
April 24th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Thanks Fernando- I know it was answered before but since then I have been told different things from the school.
It gets confusing!
Thanks for the answers…I appreciate the help!
April 24th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
PH- if you kinow my twins then you know me! another thing look at your response to me i was coming at you calm and with respect but you chose to go another way! Are you calling ME ignorant! When your childs teacher left on maternity leave you should have done your homework on the sub! Ask your child if he/she got PINCHED! Now if that makes you say hemm then you can always come ask me what thats about! I use my real name ot a cover up! If you are here for answes and peace then stop adding to the fighting! Damn cant we all just get along!
FERNANDO MI AMIGO,
ONLY ME TWO SIX YEAR OLDS AND A CRYING BABY! Which it was probably the baby that made me get seen(who wants to hear a fussy infant). But i was happy with the results! And if my participation will help end this then i for sure am down! Everyone should be involved!
For sure i willbe there with my girls tomorrow! If it rains no because of my baby but other than that we will be there.
Instead of people arguing over nonsense use that energy for something good! I have been to the district already and talked to who i wanted to talk to(unlike others who just want confrontation on here and only want things one sided)
and really it was a good turn out! and i was alone! NO POWER WITH NUMBERS
April 24th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Leslie- I think it’s awesome how proactive you have become
Thank you- on behalf of the parents thanks for getting information and for keeping a positive light. You have inspired me…I know I haven’t been the nicest but like you I was frustrated.
I do want to be a positive role model for my child as well…so I love the way you are going about this!
Thanks for your presence, your light heartedness and motivation!
I am proud to be in a community with people like you
April 24th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Fernando-You are right. Your children aren’t truant if you call in their absence or send in a note. As for the state test, right again. These tests evaluate the district and the schools. They DO tell us where children are and what we need to do to help them the following year. They are not graded at the school site. They are top secret. The
state grades them and we don’t get the results until usually around August. You should get a copy at
home. They start testing in the second grade. They have nothing to do with your child’s report
card or whether or not your child would be retained. Also, children can’t be retained without the
parent’s approval. Parents can opt out of taking the test but Districts need to show that 95% of all students took
the test. That’s why they’re filing the injunction. These are really important questions and can be asked at the Board Meeting. But it’s hard to get in so if you plan on speaking get there early! And, while I love seeing kids there (one of my 1st graders spoke to the board about closing her school!) they tend to push these things toward the end of the night in hopes people will leave. I’ve done a little Google searching about homeschooling and there is a lot of information out there.
Hope that helps a little.
April 24th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Thank you Michele- that was very helpful!
I did research home-schooling (I might do this next year but I’m not sure) but all of the registered places I found don’t accept kids this late in the year. I don’t know how to do it on my own (without a place to register).
Again- thanks for the info.
have a good night
April 24th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
anytime , i was so angry in the begining and then i too was attacted but then i got off this blog did my own research saw some things that the protesters have done and went to the head of the district all on my own (with my kids too) with no help. And really if more of us parents can get together we can make things happen . I am not for the teachers or the district i am for the kids and only them! For their education because without that they really will have nothing.
As for making the haha comments really i had to let you know that was funny and if i seem inmature then it is what ist is i am still a kid at heart but trust me if i let everything go to my head or hurt me i will be an old prune! I am still 28 so i wanna hold on to my youth a little. I am so tired of fighting that now i am just laughing.
We have to try to make the best of things! And really knowing that you are in this blog for the same reasons i am really helps me. SO THANK YOU!
April 24th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
I will go to the meeting by the way so this will be great- I am hoping to get more answers there….so fellow Markham parents I hope to see you there!
Also- I do think I will have my child take the test because I do think its important for school evaluation. This is a good way to help assess what needs to change or what needs to be emphasized in the classroom.
Take care
April 24th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
I am intrigued by the level of engagement on this blog. Though I don’t agree with a lot of what is said, I applaud those involved for continuing to ask questions and seek answers.
On one of the other strands (blogs??… forgive me I’m new to this), I already posted an update about negotiations, but I will restate these facts here, and echo a comment by Highschool Teacher. The districts new offer contains a deal-breaker. This offer suggest that HEA supports the parcel tax, but includes the contingency that if it does not pass, this entire contract must be renegotiated (I guess this would be in either 2008 or 2009??). If the district does not know that this is unacceptable (to give us two years contract then send us back to square one) then they are complete fools. I for one do not think they are complete fools, just dishonest negotiators. They reissued their injunction today. They want us on strike longer. Mr. Cook stated in his inflammatory editorial that “only HEA” has the power to end this strike, but yesterday, that power rested in HUSD’s hands. They had the opportunity, and then threw it away. This strike is hurting us badly monetarily. I am fortunate, but I worry about other teachers that are single parents with multiple kids. I just wish the district wanted this to be over as badly as we do.
April 24th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
We are both trying to hang on to being a kid at heart (I am 29)…I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up! hehe
I am for the kids too! I am also wanting everyone to get what they want/need (or at least close to it) so our community can function to the best (and beyond) of its ability. I also want future teachers to want to work here…and what is going on isn’t going to attract them….so you are right! Let’s move foreword
I believe we can do it…I did lose faith earlier but I am trying to restore it!
April 24th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Your on the right track. Look at me it took time (a few days) but i calmed down! I wont be leaving hayward anytime soon so it is importent to me too what kind of teachers they will have now and in the future. But if we stand up for them then i believe we can make it happen!!
BY THE WAY JENNIFER,
i am a markham parent too and if you remember in the begining of the year how the school locked all the doors in the morning and made us walk our kids around the playground you know how or whom got those doors unlocked ? IT WAS ME! I am known for not taking anyones b/s. And for standing up for what is right. Finally besides Jessica there is you.
I was begining to think we were the only markham parents to fight for whats right! once again thanks!
April 24th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
oh, everyone excuse my typos i always have my baby either on me or next to me . She has learned to be touchy and loves the keyboard.
Editor’s note: Hi Leslie, I tried to e-mail you but the address didn’t work. Can you please send me your police report number? ksantos@angnewspapers.com. Thanks. -Kim
April 24th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Hi Jennifer:
In being confused you are not alone.
Like I said, at the meeting in Kennedy park a lot of parents had no idea what their options are.
Many still believed their child could be retained if they chose to not attend during the strike just like that, on account of the absences!
To retain a kid, in fact, there is a rather time consuming process with various meetings after evaluations are made, and forms are signed. In these forms there are places where you can object to their decission if you sign the proper place. It takes months to go through the process and school would be way back in session by the time the entire process was followed and a final determination was made.
I went through a similar process when my daughter stoped going to speech therapy last year. I remember taking a deep breath when the time came to sign the line that said I agreed with their decision that my daughter no longer needed the help.
As much as I would have loved for her to continue working with the therapist because there had been so much progress,( the therapist is really good, in fact!)
I understood there were other kids who needed the help more than her,
So I signed, I agreed with the therapist’s determination. I was a happy costumer.
Retaining a kid is not that an easy endevour, retaining 15,000? I don’t think so.
April 24th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Jennifer:
You bring up an interesting point about the value of having the tests performed, my daughter is second grade and I was thinking about filing the form to exempt her from the test.
But after reading your comment…
We do need the results to see where we need to direct our resources after we move past the strike. Don’t we? Duh!!!!
I stand corrected in my position. I would like my daughter to be tested, but I would like to ask the Board and Mr.Vigil to make sure she is not tested in a gym or cafeteria with dozens of other kids and a couple of subs of questionable qualifications.
She should be tested in close to the same conditions as she would be if she were in her clasroom with her teacher. How can we expect our children to perform “normally” under the current circumstances?
After seeing the level of misinformation of whether(sp?) or not tests could be used to retain a child, I would like someone on the Board or Mr. Vigil’s office to promise me that these tests will be implemented properly.
The last thing we want to happen is to be taken over by the state because our children tested low on tests they took under duress.
Fernando
April 24th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Hi night owls:
Has anyone looked at the poll results latelly! I can’t believe my eyes!!
It looks to me like as the sample becomes bigger, the “yes” vote is picking up pace!!!
That is ceratinly not what I expected!
The undecided are about 10%, very interesting!…
Does this mean we as a community are possibly willing to ante up and make the statement that we need the best teachers for our children????
I wander what the Chamber of Commece’s stance would be. I can only assume property values would go up if we have an excelent school district, where people want to be transfered into, not out off.
I’ve got to go to bed, I think I’m dreaming.!!!!!
Editor’s note: Please note that in viewing the poll results, you should discount one “maybe” vote. That was me testing the poll to see if someone could vote multiple times from the same IP address (answer: nope, anything after the first vote from the same address doesn’t get recorded). I am unable to alter the results of the poll, so just keep in mind that one “maybe” is not a real vote. Thanks. -Kim
April 25th, 2007 at 12:39 am
Hello all, I’m a Hayward parent new to this blogspot. I’ve read some of the past comments, and I just wanted to give my ‘two cents’ on a few of them.
Like some of the parents before me on this blog, I personally witnessed disturbing behavior by a few teachers in the picket line at my child’s school. I’ve read about other scenarios (involving striking teachers) that seem to be worse than what I’ve seen myself. Online, I fell upon a couple of websites dedicated solely to displaying pictures of “scabstitutes,” with childish commentaries for each photo. Mind you, I was on google looking for more factual information involving the strike. In addition to those photos, I’ve also read some horrible, hateful words coming from a Hayward teacher in another blog site. I’m wholeheartedly disappointed in seeing all this. Teachers are the ones who preach non-violence (in all forms) to their students, and yet some of them choose to act aggressively during this strike. I’m shocked, saddened, and dismayed.
On another note, I want to let Angela know that her earlier statement (“Without a scab, healing cannot begin”) is excellent– I totally agree.
As far as this strike is concerned, I’m in a neutral position between the two parties. All I care about is the education of my child in a safe, non-violent, productive school environment. The more informed I get from all sides of this picture (the parents’ perspective, HEA’s stance, HUSD’s position, high school students’ opinions), the more I feel like a ‘tug-of-war’ rope inbetween the district and the teachers’ union. Both sides want to look “good” for the parents, all in an effort to garner their support. I’ve come to the point where I just want this whole fiasco to be over. No one side can have it their way– a compromise must occur for all of us to move on.
Good Luck to both sides, and many prayers for the students, for they are the ones who are really affected by this adult fight.
“Like a leaf on a river, I will ride the current”
April 25th, 2007 at 3:42 am
Good morning folks!
A lot of you have questions that some teachers at Hayward High are trying to answer. They’ve created a Question/Answer handout for parents. It should be ready today (Day 10…).
If you come by Hayward High, this group of teachers has been hanging out around the exit to the front of the school (it’s a loop driveway in front). The past couple of days, they’ve had a big, green tarp up. Not sure if they’ll have it up today.
The Q/A handout should be a great help to a lot of you in dispelling the many, many pieces of misinformation floating around out there. And, of course, any of the teachers up at HHS would love to speak to any parent who has concerns/questions.
HHS is on East Avenue. If you get to second street and proceed south, turn left onto E street and follow East avenue as it the road bends to the right, you’ll find us. 1633 East Ave. Lots of other teachers on the line have other information handouts too, so please feel free to talk to any of us.
Editor’s note: We also were able to sit down with Dr. Vigil yesterday and do part of our Q&A, which will be published soon. I will see if Kris Noceda can go by HHS and pick up one of the packets Hayward High Teacher talks about above. -Kim
April 25th, 2007 at 7:31 am
Only 10% of Hayward citizens vote.
April 25th, 2007 at 7:59 am
Good morning everyone
Fernando thanks for your comments- I agree that the conditions should be better than ‘ok’ if our kids are going to be able to take the tests!
Hayward High teacher- I think it’s great that the teachers are handing out q&A pamphlets- this is much needed among my peers
And thank you Leslie for what you did for Markham!
Good day everyone- I must get to work!
April 25th, 2007 at 10:25 am
A poll in a blog that’s mostly followed only by people who are intensely interested in education is likely to have a quite different result than a random poll of likely voters. Remember that there are 1,300 teachers who have a “stake” in this poll, and I suspect that they will represent a disproportionate number of votes in this poll, when compared to the actual voting public.
April 25th, 2007 at 10:53 am
To It’s a MAD World- I agree with you 100% !!!!!
I want the best education for all of the kids
I am now ‘neutral’ as well.
I don’t feel any-side is more ‘wrong’ or ‘right’ at this point (with all of the research/literature that is available)
I agree both sides should compromise
and hopefully this will benefit not harm our kids
Well put ‘It’s a Mad World.’
April 25th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Please note that I am not allowing comments that publicize the Web addresses of the anti-scab sites. This is because a lawyer has told us that anyone featured on those sites could potentially sue for libel. In doing so, they could also sue the newspaper for broadcasting the address. I’d rather not take our chances. Thanks.
April 25th, 2007 at 11:22 am
Sorry- I didn’t know.
I think its mean though- to post websites of scabs.
April 25th, 2007 at 11:35 am
I am new to this blog and I’ve read a lot of comments about how more parents need to get involved. This is also true for the teachers and the administration. It seems that anytime the principle at my childrens school asks for anything, the district always says to ask your parent teachers club. However, they also need to encourage more parents and teachers to get involved. If the district thinks parent teacher clubs like the PTA or PTO’s can do something to improve our schools, we need more parents and teachers to step up and volunteer their time! There are only three of us at our school that are trying to get things done. We hold monthly meetings and even provide child care, but do you think we get many to attend? Parents and teachers alike don’t seem to care. There have been meetings when no one outside of the officers have attended! We have to work together to get things accomplished with such limited resources. Kary’s leaders link would be a great solution to the apathy that is very apperant in this community. These functions would be even better if the district was involved and could listen to what the community needs. Maybe their involvement could foster the involvement of more parents and teachers alike. GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEER!
April 25th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
Has anyone read the injunction on the husd website? What do people think about the complaints made against ‘some’ teachers? Again- I know this isn’t all of the teachers so I am not generalizing- but I think it’s kind of scary. The comments about how some teachers encouraged kids to yell at the subs….how they yelled at ‘scabs’ and told them they were going to have kids put bombs in their cars. Now I know some teachers say this never happened….but I can’t accept that all of the reports came from liars…especially after looking at the website made to bash scabs.
Again- I am not calling teachers bad or blaming all of them. I am a concerned mother- I know emotions are high during a strike but teachers still need to remember that they are role models for children (in or out of the classroom). It scares me to know that teachers can behave this way because it makes me question what they teach in the classroom.
I am sorry to all of the teachers that didn’t engage in this behavior because it makes all teachers look bad (when people in other states are reading about it in the media etc.). I also apologize for stating with passion rude things about teachers through this heated strike. However I am now talking with clarity- how are teachers going to repay our community after modeling such horrible behavior for all to see- especially for our children to see.
Thank you
April 25th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Kim,
If you havn’t checked your email then please do i sent the number and if you need any help with it let me know and i will whatever it takes for you to get the info you need! Thanks again .
EVERYBODY IS IT STILL TAKING PLACE TONIGHT?
April 25th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Wow, Jennifer, I just read the injunction. My first response, honestly, is disgust for the district.
I have learned over the years; that you can pretty much say anything you want to in papers filed in court. The judge’s responsibility is to review the facts and then enter a judgment.
In the injunction, the district refers to numerous attachments, where are they?
As stated prior to this posting, I have been a Hayward parent for 13 years. In those 13 years, I have seen a lot. Every teacher I have ever encountered in the HUSD has one primary focus and that has been their students. I cannot believe that any of the teachers that I have associated with would behave in such a manner ~ and I don’t believe it.
Allegations run amuck when tempers are high (and boy are they). This is a labor dispute between an employer and its union. Unfortunately, their business of education and our children are suffering as a result of it.
The district needs to resolve their labor dispute so that education can proceed. By filing an injunction, nothing is being resolved. If the courts find in the district’s favor, we have unhappy teachers who will comply with the court but will move to a new district next year. So we lose more teachers…..
Where are the numbers???? Why don’t we see them? The district posts notices from previous financial advisors but there isn’t any substance. Why are we providing almost 17% raises to administrators who make a considerable amount of money.
Where is the money allocated? Why can’t we adjust the budget to meet HEA’s most recent proposal which appears most reasonable to me.
Declining enrollment can only be reversed by improving API scores which require good curriculum and good teachers. Let’s get back to the business of education.
April 25th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Thank you for your response Susan. However I do disagree. Yes I understand the district hasn’t been the greatest during this strike- but I stand in a position where neither the union nor the district are to blame or cherish.
I know some parents who have witnessed such scenes so I personally believe some of the allegations are true. I understand that these things seem so horrible that no one wants to believe them- but that doesn’t mean they aren’t true.
The union was promoting the scab website (you can look it up by googling hayward scabs) so it doesn’t seem so far fetched that their violent words would lead to violent behavior.
I don’t believe this has been the behavior of all teachers- but I don’t believe all of it is nonsense either.
Thanks for your time
April 25th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Jennifer/ Susan:
I, for one, believe that some of these thigns happened, and some didn’t. Some were probably small incidents that have been blow way out of proportion for dramatic effect. We do need to talk to HEA, who expects us to support them, that if they expect our support in the future, we will need to do things diferently next time.
I have seen some level of missinformation from all sides and from all the different media sources, but particularly from the district.
After all the calls from the district telling me the schools were safe and teaching and to go ahead and bring my daughter to school, followed by various reports that the reality is otherwise pretty much have made stop believeing anything they say, or at least take with a huge grain of salt.
I thought it is interesting that the District has not refuted, to my knowledge, the letter in which HEA discented with the fact finding report, it it they list specific budget items to the tune 12.+ million they say are not restricted, money they believe has been “sheltered” unnecesarily.
Has anyone found anywhere in the district’s site if they contest HEA’s assertions? Or is this true? Again, the big question is whether this is a matter of “restricte funds” or priorities.
I hope to see some of you there, in a few minutes. And remember, if you just can’t make it, Watch the meeting on TV, Channel 15, 6:30
April 25th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Hello Fernando
I am not sure if I agree with it being blown out of proportion. If a teenager did any of those things in another circumstance of time (not related to the strike) then I don’t think the community would be so easy on him (if he were to shake a bus- name call- disrupt school- take pictures and produce slander etc.). The allegations weren’t the districts- they were filed by many individuals in the community.
Anyways- thanks for the dialogue
I am not sure about the money restrictions etc. I would like to hear about that as well.
April 25th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
I hope some of you were able to make it to HHS today. We had the Q/A handouts for parents by early afternoong. So, if you didn’t get a chance to stop by today, you might want to stop by tomorrow. I’m assuming we’ll still be out there on the line as there were no negotiations today (though I did hear that CTA and district accountants were reviewing the HUSD budget–so maybe…).
I think that many of these “incidents” with teachers may be blown out of proportion. Tempers are high, people are frustrated, so even a little thing can be misconstrued. For example, a parent yelled at one of the teachers today who was passing out Families in Action fliers because the parent felt the teachers were trying to prevent her from dropping her student off for the STAR testing taking place at HHS. When the teachers spoke with her and said no, we’re just passing out the Families in Action fliers, she completely changed her attitude and realized they were trying to help FiA, her whole attitude changed! I don’t know who she was, but I’m glad she said something to the teachers so that they could talk to her about what they were doing.
I think maybe people are assuming things because they’re upset.
I hope to see some of you (I know I won’t know you!) at the Rally tonight at 5pm. (It’s at the main library, if you don’t know). I’m running a little late, so I better get going!
April 25th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Hello Hayward Teacher- I am appreciative of your comments. I have no feelings of being upset- I have been going through a process (if you have been reading my last posts) that were beginning to see where teachers are coming from- trying to put issues aside and do what is best for the kids!!
I don’t feel upset- I would never yell at a teacher- so I understand your logic as to post a comment about a parent but that doesn’t change the behavior of many protesting teachers.
I don’t have clouded judgment- I am not upset. I was actually more for teachers until I saw the scab website and have heard of the allegations made against teachers.
I am sorry you feel you must dismiss my inquiries about the teacher violence by stating its about being upset. I am only trying to get to the bottom of things.
Anyways- I feel sorry for some of the ‘scabs’ because some have been attacked and they don’t have much of a leg to stand on because many teachers are standing up for other teachers and denying the occurrence of things (even though they have happened).
Anyways- take care
April 25th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Jennifer, Susan, Fernando — I also read the district’s petition to PERB, and the only thing I found surprising was the district’s admission that it never had grade-level-appropriate lesson plans for many grades and subjects.
In every strike, management publicizes claims of harassment against scabs, and the union publicizes allegations of violence by scabs. Like Susan, I was disappointed to find that none of the “attachments” were included; certainly the declarations could easily have been posted, though perhaps some of the other attachments might require extra effort to scan and post.
Although I am an attorney, I am definitely not familiar with practice before PERB; certainly the claims in the petition sound very weak to me, but it appears that there is a very low standard to persuade PERB to schedule an evidentiary hearing.
Quite honestly, apart from the harassment allegations (which PERB will probably view with skepticism), and an allegation that the union didn’t bargain in good faith (which sounds very weak to me), it looks like the district’s real complaint is, “the strike is working.” That is, it is arguing that it can’t function without the teachers, and thus the teachers must be ordered to return to work. I honestly don’t know how PERB or a court would view that claim.
April 25th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
It’s funny because I was reading blogs from outside the district and their opinions on this strike. Teachers were explaining that if their union had advocated standing outside of the supers home- they would not be a part of it. They also express that 16% is an outrageous amount to ask for.
It’s interesting that we dismiss the claims of teachers harassing ‘scabs’ but if it were the other way around I don’t believe anyone would be dismissing the claims if it involved harm to teachers. Interesting psychology.
Anyways- If the scab website doesn’t make alarms go off for anybody, then I am not surprised that people wouldn’t have a problem with violence. It really puts a new meaning to tolerance.
Thanks for your input
take care
April 25th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
I am not here trying to defend the District but i just have to put my two cents in regarding the scab website. I think it is in poor taste and in my opinion leds to more problems not needed. Outrages
April 25th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
What is going on? Why doesn’t the district just accpet that our teachers are not going to give up. THEY DESERVE IT! If they said they won’t have enough money, how come they don’t cut back on their salaries? If they believe our teachers are worth it, they can give up something because our teachers are giving up their time in the classrooms with students, students who are the future.
April 25th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
I agree , they should have not had a raise if it was not afforded across the board , for admin and teachers alike
April 25th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Jennifer,
On 16%:
TV News and other outlets continue to claim that we are still asking for 16%. HEA’s latest offer (which HUSD rejected) was 11% over two years, plus a one-time off-schedule payment of 1%. That is not 16%. We came down a lot to put a reasonable offer on the table.
Remember that last year, when we asked for 3%, the district countered with offering us a 3% pay CUT and the permanent loss of PE, music, and library prep teachers. Our bargaining team has to play hardball just to get something reasonable. It seems ludicrous to me that all the administrators had to do to get 16.84% was to ask. HEA is only asking for the cost of living adjustment money that was allocated by the state.
As to your comment that no one would dismiss claims that scabs attacked teachers; well, scabs have made threats, pushed, and hit teachers with their cars. All these things I have witnessed myself. But I still would not characterize this as a violent strike. The negotiations still remain the key point in ending this.
April 25th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
people hitting people with cars and that is not violence , than what is that ? what was the husd’s counteroffer? maybe the compromise should be at 9% that seems to me like a happy median
April 25th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Okay Hayward teacher I understand your point of view. I hear you- I really do.
I think my problem is the “but they did it too” that you keep emphasizing. Yes if the scabs did that it’s wrong. No one is disputing that.
However- the way I was raised was to take responsibility.
In my beliefs- the scabs have lesson reason to attack a mob of angry teachers. I would be scared to be an individual against many. Check out the website- it makes it very clear how angry and hateful the teachers are against scabs.
Again- I am sorry for all of the trouble that this strike has brought EVERYONE especially the children. However dismissing violent/cruel behavior is not an answer either.
It is in my belief that when you or other teachers dismiss any wrong doing of the teachers and point to all of the wrongdoings of the district- it makes it hard to be sympathetic to your point of view- it’s just not realistic of human behavior. accepting the wrongs of each party and taking responsibility would make it easier to believe other things you state. I am not saying this to be cruel- it’s just human nature. We are people- no one is an angel or a devil. we are both- and I don’t believe it does a service to your fellow teachers to defend everything they do.
Thank you though- I hear where you are coming from. I understand the financial matters are frustrating- I wish the district would settle on a fair raise for the teachers-
I also wish that every misdoing that the district does (we have already gone over their stupidity with their raises) isn’t automatically evil yet to even point out the wrongdoings of a teacher is similar to committing a crime against all human kind.
Thanks for reading
take care
April 25th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
I want to make a point here ,
everyone is so quick to call someone a scab because they either continue working or cross the picket line , for those that continues working have you ever thought that it was against their religion to strike ? here is a poem that the union is posting about scabs.
After god had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, the vampire, He
had some awful substance left with which he made the SCAB….
A SCAB is a two-legged animal with a cork-screw soul, a water
logged brain, a combination backbone of jelly & glue….
When a SCAB comes down the street, men turn their backs,
angels weep in heaven, & the Devil shuts the gates of Hell to
keep him out….
Judas Iscariot was a gentleman compared to a SCAB. For
betraying his master, he had character enough to hang himself. A
SCAB has not.
this is not right morally or on the behalf of religion
if we want to place god in this listen to the other side of the story , these are quotes from the bible
Romans 12:18
“if it is possible as far as it depends on you . Live at peace with everyone.”
-in order to remain peacefull it is required for them to remain neutral
if executive authorities misuse power it s not the duty of the christians to overthrow them nor is it providence of christians to advocate, promote, or engage in mass demostration, strikes , or protests , christans are not foolish we are only simply not frustrating ourselves with only what god can do ,
Psalms 37 7-9
be still before the lord and wait patiently for him . do not fret when men succeed in their ways when they carry out their wicked schemes for eveil men will be cut off but those who have hope in the lord will inherit the land
this is only a small portion of a letter that was sent in to a union from an employee, in most union jobs we are obligated to pay dues in order to keep the job, but that does not mean that a “scab” is a bad person maybe they really have a good reason think about it
April 25th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
A lot of information here seems unsubstantiated. If you cannot verify anti-scab websites, reports about what is happening on the picket lines, it does not seem fair to post this information on this blog. If you look closely at the viewpoints from the various bloggers, you can tell whether or not the bloggers are representing factions (ie, district point of view). Please look beyond what you read here.
Editor’s note: The anti-scab Web sites do exist. I am able to look at them. However, I am not allowing the publication of the addresses to those sites because we could be sued for libel. You could probably find those sites independently. As for reports of what is happening on the picket lines, we are getting conflicting information. The police tell us they haven’t really gotten any reports or calls since the second day of the strike. However, I have had at least two readers e-mail me their police report numbers that are on file at the PD, regarding incidents that occurred after the second day. We will be following up with the police again. -Kim
April 25th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
jennifer,
You are right. It is wrong for anyone to commit acts of violence, especially in front of a school where children are. I have not seen teachers do these things with my own eyes, so I cannot be certain they have occurred. I certainly don’t condone such acts and join you in saying they are wrong and should not be accepted.
angela,
The posting which you copied here which begins, “After God had finished the rattlesnake” was originally written by the famous American writer Jack London who died in 1917. He was actually from the Bay area and was a huge advocate for workers rights.
Whatever reasons the scabs have for crossing the line, they are making this strike go longer so I cannot respect them. Those that have crossed at my school have given many reasons for crossing, but religion has not yet been one of them. There are many Christians that honor that line, and as far as my understanding of the Bible goes, Christianity does not forbid participation in strikes. Those that wish to truly remain neutral should substitute teach somewhere else. When they cross the line, they are choosing a side. There are a few extreme circumstances I can accept, but most of the people that I have seen cross are collecting a $300 check for each day (that’s more than I make!) and aren’t qualified for the job. It seems to me that they are just greedy.
April 25th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
the point i wanted to make is not for those who start striking and then cross but for those who chose not to strike , certain religions do not allow the striking , as we know there are a wide range, as with religions who are not against. a sub who goes somewhere else yet lives in hayward is not neutral but is taking your side , so again it is in the eye of the beholder ,
what is making the strike go longer is the district and union not able to compromise , not really the scabs , parents , teachers, pr students , at this point it is all in the hands of the higher ups , you are just able to strike, we are only able to complain and let our voices be heard , the students sit and lose education , and the scabs are abused and tormented , who wins no one
“without a scab ther is not healing “
April 25th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Hello Hayward teacher – thanks for taking the time to respond
I know that subs may be frustrating but I don’t believe they are prolonging the strike for several reasons. One- we all know ‘true’ learning isn’t taking place so the students aren’t getting any school credit with their presence (which still offers the strike to be salient)
2. many of them are literally babysitters which is important through a time of turmoil for many families. Many parents do support the strike but they must feed their families and some people find comfort knowing they have somewhere (although not the best place) to leave their children. Their option may be to leave them home alone or to bring them to school. Some children are very young so home would be less safe then the schools.
3. Although people may not agree with the subs politics- they still have the ‘right’ to work and do what they are doing. We need to remember civil rights. People can be upset, it may cause frustration but it’s still improper to make it a safety hazard for them.
4. Having no teachers is helpful to get your point across- and this sounds redundant but you have to know that it’s obvious the school district and parents know that school is in a disarray. Some parents are very happy that they have ‘babysitters’ so teachers shouldn’t be threatened by them. To some they are a godsend.
Thank you Angela and Hayward teacher
I am glad we can share ideas
take care
April 25th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
I actually feel sorry for the teachers at this point , your family is probably not making its bills, and for those who have children going without , its horrible ,
even with this raise after your loans are paid off you will break even ,
and for the students , so much valuable time wasted , education lost , and little minds confused at what the adults are being loud about
April 25th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Angela- I never thought about the religious aspects. I am not religious so I am not knowledgeable on these notions. I think you bring up a good point.
I agree that at this point it is out of our hands and it is between the teachers and the district. Whether people support or not the strike- the only way its going to end is if both parties agree to a settlement (if the district offers a fair one and if the hea is willing to accept it).
Thanks
Also- Hayward teacher, maybe a lot of ‘anger’ is directed to the ‘scabs’ because of frustration. It’s difficult to address the district (not always available) so when the subs come around all of the ill feelings get directed to them. Just a thought.
April 25th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
great news from the meeting tonight … it went very well i am proud of myself and of angela of hayward . we did a great job!
April 25th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Also Hayward teacher: this is just a thought. Maybe the union ought to set up a fund for future strikes- if subs are such a problem then maybe there can be an emergency babysitter plan so parents who have to work can have an option to leave their children in a safe environment. I know that a lot of teachers were yelling at me as I dropped my son of to school one day that the conditions were horrible and I am making a bad safety decision for my child. Then what options do we as parents have?
Maybe it would be a good idea to have union funds to have daycare for children and supervision for highschoolers (so they stay out of trouble).
What does anybody think about this?
April 25th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Okay everyone- now I am not going to be polite about this I am very offended. I showed my husband the hayward scab site and they made some updates. I am sick to my stomach. I am not religious but I am into Buddhism (I consider this philosophy) and the teachers posted miss wigg wearing Buddhist Scab. Did the teachers ever think that there could be Buddhists in their community (parents etc)? Also…isn’t this soooo wrong to insult somebody by making fun of their religion.
In addition- there was an asian women (my family is Asian) and they were making fun of this fact by saying the kids claimed she couldn’t even read- you can figure this one out.
I am really offended- for ethnic minorities (my family)- for religious reasons etc. This makes me really sad…and has reinforced again that I am disgusted that some (yes i know not all) teachers think this is okay (advocate it)- but do they turn it off in the classroom? How do we tune bias’s off?
April 25th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Here is some research- if anyone is interested I will send you links to the research articles: when I was studying to become a teacher this is what I learned:
There were studies conducted in school systems. People who didn’t think they had gender bias’s were surprised to find that when they were recorded in class- they allowed the boys to take longer to answer their questions and they were ‘shorter’ with the girls.
Other studies indicated that there was a concern for stereotypes of ethnicities among school systems. Many AFrican American children start out in school having the same grades as their white counterpart. As time goes on their grades go down, because of the treatment of teachers expectations of them.
If the teachers think they can have racism/ stereotypes of religions etc. outside the classroom and turn them ‘off’ inside the classroom they are fooling themselves. The more you try to ignore a thought the more it comes to light.
I hope someone does something about these scab websites, I hope the ‘criminals’ pay for their hate crimes.
April 25th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
teachers have hate for scabs
the scabs were verbally abused on this website
their religion was insulted
their ethnicity was turned into a joke
this = hate crime
it could easily be tried as a hate crime in the court of law.
April 25th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Hello everyone:
Reporting, for those not watching the meeting on tv or the news a few minutes ago, there has been a tentative agreement, the teachers WILL be at school tomorrow (short day, mind you) and the entire Union membership will vote on the settlement tomorrow evening!!!!
If everything goes well, we’ll be done with this for sure tomorrow night!
It was nice to meet some of you at City Hall tonight, thanks for speaking up!
I hope we all remain as involved in what is going on at our school sites even after this whole mess is well past us!
I do believe we made a difference tonight, all of us who spoke, and all of those who showed up and stayed so late to support the speakers as they took their turn.
I for one, will remain active. I will volunteer time with the Families in Action folks.
I would also like to make sure we make BOTH the Union and ther District understand that they have to be more forthcoming with information and resources if they are planning to do this again. Lets not forget that they will have to renegotiate their whole relationship once againg in 18 months (I think?)
Jennifer, I agree with you. We the parents displayed an exemplary amount of support for the Union, and if you expect us to support you again, we want you to think about US, the parents, when you prepare for your strike, not after is has started but before and during the strike.
I’m so elated! I just plain gitty!!
Good night everyone,
Fernando
April 25th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
goodnight fernando- Yay
It’s over
Now the healing will have to occur- I hope the district AND the teachers make up for their hatred. I hope people will take responsibility and I hope their can be forgiveness…because now that the strike is over…it really is just the beginning.
take care all of you wonderful dedicated parent!
good luck teachers
Sweet dreams kids- you are going to get an education!
Bye
April 26th, 2007 at 5:31 am
Why have school at all if it’s gonna be minium day? The kids have been out long enough, then they shorten their day. when they are to go back? cCan’t this meeting take place in the evening or even around 5 PM? This distict is bang out of order.
April 26th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Pete, I agree with ya!
April 26th, 2007 at 10:17 am
I agree with you on the minimum day issue, and almost kept my son home. But when we got to the cafeteria and saw the teachers with their big smiles, then my son’s teacher asked her class for a group hug, it was very emotinal.
WELCOME BACK TEACHERS!!!!!
BOWMAN PARENT – ANNETTE
April 26th, 2007 at 11:59 am
School was let out at 11:30 AM. Why even have classes when most parent’s where notified at the latest hour possible. Parents also have appointments, work scheduales to abide by. The short notice was utter nonsense. Why coudln’t the faulty meet at a later time, or like i said not have school at all. Unbelievable.
April 26th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
does anyone have any information if the ‘scabs’ are going to press charges against the website with their pictures and comments against religious beliefs?
It’s a hate crime
does anyone know what’s happening with this?
I would love to know
April 26th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
They should have just closed the schools for today. They only stayed till 11:30 anyhow. It was Chaos all around. I felt sorry for the kids who took Durham transportation, because a parent told me Durham was not going to honor th early time because of short notice. Meaning those whom got picked up by them would not get transportation, home. Some parents didn’t even know school was going to be let out early till they got there. Like I said total mess today. Why couldn’t they vote and sign the paperwork later in the day?
April 26th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Let the healing being. No scabs necessary.
April 26th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Sorry, that should read, “Let the healing begin. No scabs necessary.”
April 26th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
I think ‘scabs’ are part of the healing…..
they were the most ‘abused’ party
April 26th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
without scabs there would be no healing that is a medical fact
April 30th, 2007 at 8:42 am
The Strike is over!!..Let us forgive one another for the inhumane actions that some experienced….
Like A Super Bowl Match; WIN OR LOSE, THERE IS ALWAYS A “SHAKE HAND AFTER THE GAME”… Remember
“Yesterday is History,Tomorrow is Mystery & Today is a gift ,That’s Why They Call it The Present!”
You should now All work for the improvement of our Education system for your students’ sake!!!
April 30th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Paolo:
Thank you for your post, I agree in particular with your last statement.
I think your analogy to a sports event to describe the strike we just lived through is not the right analogy though…
In a very real sense, what we experienced was a bitter divorce battle,
Sometimes divorced couples do get back together, but this is not an easy process.
The trust lost during the strike will take more than a mere handshake to be restored.
It will take good faith negotiations on the part of the district.
It will take the inclusion of The Community in the decision making by both HUSD and HEA
It will take truthfulness from HUSD about how well prepared they are to deal with a strike. (Or other emergency situations!)
To try to continue operating like nothing is going on is just like burying your head in the sand. We need to demand the district have a CONTINGENCY PLAN where parents are given actual information rather than misinformation and hollow opinions.
It will take a Board that will address and inform the public in situations like this.
Parents:
As somebody said before, this IS our wake up call!
Get involved.
I’m ashamed to say I have not participated in the PTA at my daughter’s school. I plan to do so now.
Join Families in Action.
I have been checking their web site, awaiting to know when the next meeting will be…
What is our next move as parents?
What is our strategy to make sure we are not only heard by the Board, but to make sure our opinions are taken into account before decisions are made.
PLEASE, do not forget that the current resolution is good for only 14 months or so.
At the end next school year, our teachers will go back to working without a settled contarct,
This will simply set the stage for yet another round of negotiations that if failed, will land us right back at the door of yet another strike.
Are you willing to go through another strike without putting in a fight?
We can’t let this happen to us again!
April 30th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
The reports of a particular scab not being able to read was because several students and support staff that worked with her stated that. It had absolutely nothing to do with her ethnicity. Making the implication that it did have something to do with her ethnicity speaks to your preconceived notions of her. Nobody ever mentioned her ethnicity until you did. The comments made about her reading ability were just that….about her reading ability. Don’t make something out of nothing. Kids had to read to her because she couldn’t read to them. Period.
April 30th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
14 months is not such a long time. One thing the district did learn from this strike–don’t bargain, hold the teachers off, provoke a strike, save some money, give the teachers a non-retro settlement, lie to the community — mix and repeat.
I’m going to have to sign off now. Teaching and getting caught up is overwhelming! I’ll check into the Families in Action website fairly regularly–but remember parents, the squeaky wheel gets the oil!
April 30th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Thanks to all for reading my posts ,concerns, and my personal experiences with the district its schools and its teachers.
I have learned so much in a short period of time and i owe it to some of you. im a busy mother of four kids whom thought i was active in the school enough but have learned that i need to go the extra mile!
We need change here in hayward and us parents can and will make it happen!
Kim , thank you so much…
Vigil and the rest, I will see you at the next meeting…..if not then i will be watching it. i will continue to be the thorn in your finger…
FOLLOWING IN ANGELA LOPEZ’S FOOTSTEPS……….
LESLIE CIENEGA SIGNING OFF
May 1st, 2007 at 5:32 pm
to the teacher: you never mentioned the Buddhist….aspect. oh but religion affects the classroom right? good looking out for yourself. I am asian…and yes I get a lot of slack for it…so if you aren’t you aren’t as ‘aware’ or sensitive to others comments.
Funny that you direct your comments to me….however you are more appalled at my feeling offended than you are at the website? hmmm….seems to me there is something wrong with this picture.
May 1st, 2007 at 7:39 pm
I spoke of that particular incident because I, personally, know of that situation. I didn’t speak of the Buddhism aspect because I don’t have first hand knowledge of it. The intimations that ethnicity was a factor in the comments made about the scab that had reading problems were unfounded. If any “sub” that was paid $300 per day couldn’t read a story to first graders, it would have been noted regardless of their ethnicity. Accusing somebody of racism is an extrememely serious endeavor.
May 2nd, 2007 at 8:14 am
hate crimes are too. look the definition up in a dictionary. the scab website is a hate crime. regardless of what you say about the money subs were making bla bla bla…are irrelevant here. that has no meaning or justification of the scab website. you could be a bad teacher mrs. teacher…but if someone posted a website of you….that would be the issue.
again…teachers who only see on tree and miss the forest scare me…because you are teaching children. i hope kids never have conflict in your classroom b/c if they did you probably would only see one kids point of view.
May 2nd, 2007 at 8:33 am
I wanted to give my last opinion on something:
unions
there are numerous ways of getting information on unions which isn’t the side that the teachers want to persuade you of.
first of all…it is a FACT that unions take dues from teachers monthly. what do the unions do with this money? they lobby it for political agendas…don’t believe me look it up. so why does this matter to us? we are taxpayers..the money goes to teachers…they pay unions who may lobby for things you don’t believe in
2. unions and strikes are manipulative. when teachers are out of school- the refusal of work hits the parents and children the most. this ‘forces’ the parents to get involved and they help the teachers cause (remember more money) and assume that the district is ‘evil’ (because most teachers respond with ALL of your questions- as if you don’t like it talk with your district)….so we as parents need to turn our frustrations to someone…we don’t want to not support our teachers (teachers say we either support them or not….meaning either we help them get money or we don’t respect them) we feel turmoil…we do respect our teachers but many people feel confused as to supporting the strike…but this is how it plays on your emotions. so parents feel the way to end it is to have the district give in to their demands because that is the only way the strike will end (and teachers keep saying it’s the district that’s preventing them from working…so we as parents have to do whatever we can to get the district to budge) and wala…we were manipulated and put in the middle of a money fight.
We are told it’s not about the standards of teaching- it’s not about other issues….well there you have it…it’s about money.
the teachers depend on your anger…to direct it towards the district so they get what they want.
3. it is the law that the district reports only facts and doesn’t try to persuade you of a specific point of view. This is not true for Unions. They are not required to post only facts…so many of their words are twisted into emotional jargon to manipulate and persuade you of their ideals.
I would go on….but this is enough to make interested parties do their own research. I am not asking parents to believe only my side…I am saying that their is research out there and you should make your own opinion fueled by information.
It’s not true that other teachers support the Haywards Cause. Their are websites created by teachers who are appalled at the way the teachers handled their strike out here.
Other states outlawed strikes because its unfair to put parents and students in the middle of a financial war. There should be standards that made BOTH sides negotiate without work stoppage.
Many teachers don’t agree with unions (they wouldn’t be vocal in Hayward) but they are forced to pay union dues monthly…and they are forced to take part in strikes or else you can research the consequences.
This doesn’t seem fair. Teachers complain they don’t get enough money…but they are paying monthly dues to unions?
take care parents
be informed
May 2nd, 2007 at 6:08 pm
Jennifer,
I am sorry, but the district did not just state facts, that is a lie. They stated lies. They said that they couldn’t pay more than they stated, in the end they did. They stated that the schools were safe and that academica standards based teaching was going on, it wasn’t. Please do not be so naive. Do you believe that the president never lies too?
AND please remember who got rid of child labor and gave you a fair work environment; the 40 hour work week, the 8 hour day, and the WEEKEND: UNIONS! I am not saying that they are perfect, but you are portraying them as all wrong and the district as all right , and that is not fair.
Every union in the area sent reps to our rallies and sent donations to help people with hardship grants grants (single moms and the like). What teachers have set up web sites against us? Subs? Please.
We tried to negotiate without stopping work. Do you really think we wanted to stop working? The district was being unreasonable. In the end they gave us much more than they said they could. Doesn’t that say something about their credibility to you?
I wasn’t going to post anymore, but I just could not let this go. Vigil and his cronies have huge salaries to protect. he teachers of Haywrad have deep roots here and strong connection sto the families and children. We have a much stronger relationship and much more committed to this community than the people running this district. They are here for a few years and then will be gone. There is no comparison between the teachers’ integrity and theirs’.
May 2nd, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Hate Crime Definition: Crime of aggravated assault, arson, burglary, criminal homicide, motor vehicle theft, robbery, sex offenses, and/or crime involving bodily injury in which the victim was intentionally selected because of the victims’ actual or perceived race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or disability.
Perhaps you didn’t read the definition yourself.
May 2nd, 2007 at 9:50 pm
why are you all still cryin..you should be happy..you got your raise and something for sure is better than nothing!
I saw the scab website and it is that teacher or those teachers in my opinion that gives haywards teachers a bad name. TEACHERS LET ME ASK YOU THIS “IS IT ALRIGHT TO DEGRADE SOMEONE WITH MEAN COMMENTS AND TO ALSO POST IT ON THE WEB”?
WHO EVER MADE THAT SITE SHOULD GIVE A PUBLIC APOLOGY TO ALL THOSE THAT WERE DAMAGED!
May 2nd, 2007 at 9:53 pm
POSTING THEIR PICTURE IS WHAT I ACCIDENTLY LEFT OUT..SAVE YOUR BACKLASH PLEASE ..YOU TEACHERS HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR WHAT WAS DONE TO THOSE SUBS!
May 2nd, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Who’s crying? I’m not. Somebody posted saying that creating a website was a “hate crime”. I simply posted the definition of “hate crime”. It is absurd to equate “not nice” behavior to “criminal” behavior. People throw words around with no regard to their meaning. Words have meaning. A crime is a crime. An insult is an insult. They are not synonomous. I find some of the statements in this blog offensive. Perhaps those bloggers should be arrested for committing a hate crime against me.
May 3rd, 2007 at 6:55 am
It is a hate crime. Look in the news- in Tennessee someone spray-painted a mans house with derogatory terms of homophobia. They are being charged for a hate crime.
Hate crime does NOT have to be violent/physical.
do your research. I don’t get my information from one definition. I looked up cases, I looked up definitions in law books- because I feel sad for the people who were targeted. I would help them if they decided to press charges. I guess your anonymity makes your true colors come out teacher.
to another tired teacher:
the argument of historical reasons for unions don’t hold up. What was good then is not good now. Your argument is flawed. I can appreciate something that worked for a long time without appreciating its many downsides today. The union is not for the community- its for itself and I won’t continue.
I am not attacking all teachers- just ones like teacher who advocate/defend hate crimes.
I feel sorry for many teachers to be honest. If you read many many pages of complaints online- many teachers can’t stand their ‘forced’ membership into the union. I know that not 100 percent of teachers support it in Hayward. That’s a fact.
It’s unconstitutional but I won’t get into that either. I do believe their are good teachers with wonderful intentions.
my attack is on the union not you.
Take care
May 3rd, 2007 at 7:15 am
Please cite the case law in which posting pictures on a website constitutes a hate crime. Spray painting somebody’s house is vandalism. In the case you cite, it is fuled by hatred of a particular minority group. VANDALISM + HATE=HATE CRIME. There was no crime committed here. Cite the case law.
May 3rd, 2007 at 7:25 am
First of all teacher- I am not going to spend time researching for you. Other people who are interested will find the information for themselves. I am not here to prove or disprove anything to YOU b/c your are biased by your views. Second- I will not post an incident of the hate crime I have mentioned above. Anyone can search it- it’s not hard to find- but for the respect of the victim I will not do this especially for you.
I will post this:
Your crime fell under the mail section
second- your crime has hurt others
third- hate crime is usually fueled by a leader (your union leader was very clear how she supported this behavior)
third- your hate crime intimidated people- just read the stupid quotes on the scab website-
making sure they don’t work again, run scab run, personal insults to be viewed by others. You can’t be so ignorant as to deny it was a hate crime. I won’t spell it out for you- because if you wanted to learn you would. Quite frankly I am doing this for parents who are interested- and the ‘scabs’ as you so proudly call them. I am concerend for the victims. so move over bully.
“Hate crimes are defined under specific penal code sections as an act or an attempted act by any person against the person or property of another individual or group which in any way constitutes an expression of hostility toward the victim because of his or her race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, gender or ethnicity. (Elements of crime statutes and protected classifications vary from state to state.) This includes but is not limited to threatening phone calls, hate mail, physical assaults, vandalism, cross burnings, destruction of religious symbols and fire bombings.
Often when incidents of either bigotry or other acts motivated by hate occur, it is left to the victims and members of the particular group that has been attacked to speak out.
This should not be the case. We believe that if one group is attacked, it is as though all groups have been attacked. We all have a duty to respond. Many times, good people may feel outraged but do not know how to respond. Thus, when an incident occurs, precious time is lost struggling with this question. What follows are some specific suggestions that may help facilitate a prompt and effective response. “
May 3rd, 2007 at 7:31 am
can I have your picture so I can make a website and post little captions next to it?
It is essential in order to be a good person- to be able to see all parties point of views. You are thinking about your point of view- but if we must:
again- lets see how you would feel if I hated strikes- so any teacher that participated in one was the target of my anger. so one day me and my friends post a website with your picture with mean (some against your religion) captions.
then – everyday when you went to picket I would scream at you- take your photograph and threaten that you will never work again.
My union leader would advocate such crimes and your picture being posted would be defended by all of my anti-strike members.
now do you see?
I am sure you didn’t
but just walk in a mile in someone else’s shoes
because then it will be easier to run from them
because you have their shoes.
May 3rd, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Just to inform You that all your Sub-Teachers are College Graduates from Accredited Universities and are
fully Credentialed by the State of California…Some are experienced mathematicians, engineers and scientists
who can teach your Calculus, Physics And Chemistry in the High School level Blinfolded!!…Just like an astronaut
trying to learn how to fly a kite….. They are usually accepting assignments for that day because the weather is
not conducive to play golf or take the boat out Fishing!!! The teahers’ faculty often request these “baby sitters”
to take their classes during their absences; to connotate $300 With them is absolutely absurd!!!!!
May 3rd, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Let me educate you ms. teacher, maybe the scabs might not be able to sue for hate crime but for sure they can sue for libel…to save you the trouble of looking it up here is some info on it:
The common law origins of defamation lie in the torts of slander (harmful statement in a transitory form, especially speech) and libel (harmful statement in a fixed medium, especially writing but also a picture, sign, or electronic broadcast), each of which gives a common law right of action.
So you see for all the teachers that posted the pics of the subs they better remove them and write an apology(even though sorry really is not enough). what was done WAS wrong! end of it!
May 3rd, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Paolo, some of them may be what you described, but most of them are the dregs of society, Strange misfits that cannot get a job doing anything else. They sit and read a newspaper and feel jutified doing NOTHING all day while the kids go wild. I have seen so many loony tunes over the years it is AMAZING to me that they let these people near children. The fact is, if you have ANYTHING on the ball and you are subbing, you get snatched up in a minute to do regular assignments, projects, and long term assignments like ,maternity leave and surgeries, and long term leave of abscences, and you would NOT be crossing a picket line. Subs who cross a picket line are the WORST of the WORST. No teacher will every request them. Only the good subs get requested by teachers, and retained by principals for special projects and assignments. The losers get assigned in emergencies, day by day through the sub line only.
May 3rd, 2007 at 5:23 pm
I know many subs who are very good and did not cross the picket line. They subbed in other districts during the strike, or did tutoring.
May 3rd, 2007 at 5:38 pm
How can you justify the fact that half of your Graduating Seniors from High School can’t perform
in College Basic Level…They end up in remedial courses!!! Why is it that Hayward Students perform
the worst among all the 17 school districts in the Alameda County…Some impoverished districts in
Los Angeles are outscoring Hayward students…So What’s your Excuse Regular Teachers?
May 3rd, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Jennifer, of course you have a right to your opinion about unions. I just question how you form your opinions, when you constantly say that “The district cannot lie, because it is against the law for them to lie, and they have proven that they do lie over and over throughout the strike. I suspect that you believe everything that you read in the newspaper and see on t.v. and the Internet. I suggest that you look into some alternate sources of information and knowledge. I am not trying to insult you, or judge you, I am just making an observation.
I must correct you. Membership in the Teachers Union is optional, not mandatory. The “agency fee” is what is mandatory. The union does perform services for us. People do not have to be members however. This fee can be thought of as similar to a Homeowners Association Fee which all new communities have, and is also mandatory. That is really not a big deal. I have known of teachers who did not want to be members and were not members. To say that they cannot opt out is a fallacy.
Also, Hayward is a labor town. Many many Hayward citizens are union members and laborers so they are supportive. Many Latinos are supportive of unions, and there is a very large Latino community here. The United Farmworkers
Union has been very important for migrant farmworkers (Latino and Asian) in ensuring that they be treated humanely. They were treated like slaves for many years. The Hayward Education Association just donated $10,000 to the United Farmworkers by the way, and Dolores Huerta came and spoke at our rally. Many Latino parents and teens were there and were very touched and inspired by her words. The community is very important to our union.
Also, I have personally interacted with HUSD top administrators, and HEA top leaders, and I have to tell you objectively that I trust HEA leadership the most. They truly seem to care most about other people, are most accountable, and are not just worried about themselves. I do not always see eye to eye with them on every issue, but if you want to compare who is concerned about the Hayward Community, has the biggest committtment, and has the most integrity, there is no comparison between the HEA leaders and the district superintendents.
The district administrators are highly paid mercenaries. They go to the highest bidder, and are not committed to this community. You see Schimmel is out of here even after the big raise.
May 3rd, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Hate crimes and libel are two very different things. I didn’t need to be educated on hate crimes or libel. I am a member of a minority group, myself. A friend of mine was almost beaten, literally, to death because he was gay (or perceived to be gay) . The case was tried as a “hate crime”. You don’t have to educate me on anything. I live my life acutely aware of the possibility of being a victim of a hate crime. I find it repugnant that people would exploit such an important and profound law as the hate crime law. This is legislation that was put in place to protect minority groups that have ben vicimized for centuries.
You left out the most important component of the definition of “libel”. The accusations must be false. They crossed the picket line. A term for them is “scab”. What is untrue? The post about the “sub” that couldn’t read was based on factual events reported by several HUSD staff members working inside the classrooms as well as several students. I see that you’re dropping the “hate crime” argument. Dig deeper and you’ll see that the libel argument is just as erroneous. You are the one trying to prove “hate crime” or “libel”. You do the research. As anybody that has taken the most basic of science classes knows, you can’t prove a negative. The burden of proof lies with you.
This is a quote from an article that ran in the Daily Review:
“The individuals being portrayed on the publication can make a case of their reputation being damaged, which includes hurting their ability to make a career, living and lowering the community’s opinion on them,” said Sergio Benavides, a Hayward-based attorney.
After viewing the Web site, Benavides said the published material falls under name-calling.
“There isn’t any falsehood with them being called ‘scabs,’ because although it can be insulting it still is true,” he said. “The definition of a ‘scab’ is widely known in the general community.”
May 3rd, 2007 at 7:31 pm
We are not talking about mambojambos anymore, tired Hayward Teachers; How can You
Have The Audacity to ask for a Raise When YOUR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IS AN EMBARRASSINGLY
MEDIOCRE AMONG ALL THE STATES, 49TH AT THE BOTTOM NEXT TO tHE STATE OF LOUISIANA!!
May 3rd, 2007 at 8:09 pm
* being a minority is no excuse , nor does it mean that a minority cannot commit a hate crime .
hate crimes can be commited by any race targeting any race
calling them a scab while wrong is name calling, but posting a picture of them without their permission is against the law and grounds to be sued , it is invasion of privacy and one of intentional infliction of emotional distress. do we really want our children learning this type of behavior ,
oh and in this case they scabs WERE the minority while the strikers were the MAJORITY
May 3rd, 2007 at 8:11 pm
okay can we please get back to finding a way to make things better!
Scabs are real people too remember that. They took the three hundred or whatever it was for their own reasons maybe money problems who knows but that under any circumstance give anyone the right to take their picture post it on the web and talk madness about them!
Ask yourself this: If it was your daughter or son that crossed the picket line and someone took a picture of them and on the internet posted it and did NAME CALLING how as a parent of that scab would you feel? if he she was crying over it what would you say “oh well scab”! I am not trying to be mean or rude i am just trying to say that all the name calling was wrong! Racial comments were wrong! Religious comments were wrong! SOME teachers were wrong!
I too am a minority but i refuse to play that race card. And just for being human i know enough thanks to the education my mom gave me that it IS unacceptable to degrade anybody..
AS I REMEMBER IN ELEMENTRY SCHOOL THE FIRST THING THAT WAS TAUGHT WAS THE GOLDEN RULE AND TO ME IT SEEMS THAT SOME PEOPLE HAS FORGOTTON IT WELL LET ME REFRESH YOUR MEMORY:
TREAT PEOPLE AS YOU WANT THEM TO TREAT YOU!
May 3rd, 2007 at 8:11 pm
teachers-
I thought you were so busy in a school day that you would find no time to post on a blog, seems to me like this is now your pasttime , take up another hobby
May 3rd, 2007 at 8:18 pm
It is 9:16pm. Are we supposed to be dedicating every waking hour to our careers? It seems that you have time to post. Shouldn’t you be working or raising your children? You should be allowed to blog…but teachers can’t. That makes sense.
May 3rd, 2007 at 8:26 pm
I am simply saying that the scab blogs may not be pleasant or nice, but they are certainly not hate crimes. No, it wasn’t nice. I agree. But to say that there was a crime committed is irresponsible. I never had any intention of revealing the fact that I am a member of a minority group. I was challenged by a blogger. She said, “I am asian…and yes I get a lot of slack for it…so if you aren’t you aren’t as ‘aware’ or sensitive to others comments.” I thought it necessary to let this blogger know that I am a member of a minority group. I seem to remember some of the same bloggers that are so offended by the treatment of scabs, saying that some teachers were “trash”. Funny how what’s good for the goose isn’t good for the gander.
May 3rd, 2007 at 8:44 pm
angela:
We all have the freedom of speech. Saying that I shouldn’t be posting is suggesting that I shouldn’t enjoy that same freedom of speech you enjoy simply because I’m a teacher. I feel that we should all be able to present our points of view.
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:03 pm
maybe i was confusing u with someone else but in an earlier blog during the strike i was insulted becasue of me posting and being a teacher they did not think i was supposed to have the time , their point was that correcting work and setting up lesson plans took several hours of their evening , i apologize if I mistaked you for another teacher but your posting name is very similar,
the minority blame game is not cool ,
every one is human , the poeple who crossed the picket line could have had very good reasons just as some could have been only greedy , it is not fair for all subs to be judged due others behavior we are all individuals
and yes freedom of speech- enjoy away , again if i mistook you for the other teacher from a few weeks aga my apolologies, but if you are the same one I was only trying to make a point
our careers do not last until all hours of the night , oh and by the way it being 10:00 my children have a decent bedtime , You really cannot do anything by way of child bonding when they are asleep
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Thank you Angela. I think you are mistaking me for another blogger. I would never suggest that anyone not have the right to free speech. I think we may have to agree to disagree on the ethics of picket line crossing. While I disagree with you, I will always defend your right to express your position. Yes, we do spend countless hours on work related tasks. We do, however, like to break away sometimes to do something a bit different
I honestly didn’t see any minority blame game going on. A blogger implied that I couldn’t understand some things unless I was a member of a minority group. While I don’t believe that is true, I thought it pertinent to let her know that I am a member of a minority group.
Angela, I think I am ready to put the negativity behind me. I think it’s time to move forward and work on strengthening the Hayward community. Are you in the same place?
I hope that we can all move on and put all of this to rest. We don’t have to agree, but I think we can find that common goal and work together to achieve it.
Peace
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:14 pm
teacher if that was ment towards me (about calling a teacher trash) then fine guilty as charged. no excuses! AND I APOLOGIZED FOR WHAT I SAID ! I DID IT HERE ON THIS SAME BLOG!
The difference is i was an angry parent who was angry with the situation, and angry with the education that has been givin , angry that the district refused to hear my cry for help, angry that as a parent and tax payer (for your salaries) Us parents were not informed of anything!
Sooo that being said …i never posted anyones picture on the net and wrote bad things about them nor would i ever ..probably because i am an adult!! Which is more than a few teachers are!
My opinions were mine..they of course are not the same anymore..which is better for me cause now i use my energy into helping the teacher. But you tell me this…since you know it all..why is it that someone like myself who does not have degrees from a college whom is not a teacher or lawer or doctor BUT WHOM IS A MINORITY, MIDDLECLASS,GREW FROM POVERTY, RE-ENTERING COLLEGE STUDENT ,WIFE ,MOTHER OF FOUR, AND WHOM IS ONLY 28 YRS. OLD PERSON ….WHO HAS MORE LIFE EDUCATION AND KNOWS RIGHT FROM WRONG AND KNOWS HOW TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER OWN ACTIONS! tELL ME TEACHER WITH ALL YOUR DEGREES WHY DONT YOUR COLLEGUES DO WHATS RIGHT AND SAY SORRY FOR HURTING PEOPLE…THAT IS ALL IT TAKES. IS THAT TOO HARD?
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:21 pm
People should stop fighting. Apologize it can go a long way! Work together to make hayward one of the best districts in the state. Scabs were there to do their job even though it might have been done half *** still they showed up! Let it go! We are all supposed to be recovering now. Bigger issues are that we might see this type of thing in eighteen months lets all relax say sorry and start working on what we can do to stop this thing in the future!
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Leslie:
I didn’t know who posted that comment, I just remember reading it. Like I said in my previous post…I am ready to put all of this negativity behind me. I think we have to agree to disagree. I hope that you can understand the anger of many teachers. You may not agree with the tactics, but I think you can understand the feelings of betrayal by their colleagues. Maybe the folks that posted the blogs will someday feel differently about their tactics. Maybe it will take some time. I don’t know. But think back to how you were feeling when you posted those comments about the teachers. You were angry. You’re allowed to be angry. You expressed their anger. Those teachers expressed their anger in a perfectly legal way. It may be unsavory, unpleasant, hurtful or unkind. Maybe in time the bloggers will change their minds. Until then, please try to understand where they are coming from.
Leslie, people are people. We are all humans with human emotions. Degrees don’t change that. I hope that we can all move forward. We need to make peace with all of this. There were many hurt feelings here…on all sides. It’s time to heal. I have been responding to the accusations of “hate crimes” and “libel”. I wanted to clarify some things on that topic. I believe I have said everything I wish to say on that. I’m ready to move on from this. I hope that you are too. It seems that you are. I have gone back and read some of your previous posts and I thank you for all of your time and effort during this whole thing. I think we have all learned a lot. I wish you luck in all of your endeavors and hope that you can be at peace with all of this. I’m going to try my best.
Peace
May 3rd, 2007 at 10:47 pm
oh i am at peace..and about hate crimes and libel i really dont think those things were commited. Maybe privacy yes but the other two no. I just feel that in order for bothsides to get along and for all of us to get together to make a change then eceryone needs to apologize to try to make things better so WE can all fix this mess. My point is that i did it and now look i am trying to do as much as possible and before when someone told me no (teachers and the district) i listened but now i see that i CANNOT except no as an answer that i have to push and push until i get my answers.
Apologies is what is needed so everyone can get together as a team to make a change! that is my point!
Maybe it should go for both sides .
May 4th, 2007 at 9:19 am
teacher: I was angry during the strike. Maybe I should post your picture up so you get the message if I post your picture that it was wrong to take kids out of school??
Wait…you mean that if the ‘scab’ have different political beliefs they should be taught a lesson? hmmm I am scratching my head.
May 4th, 2007 at 10:23 am
paolo I agree with most everything you say.
You see what scares me is that the teachers have been speaking with an arrogant tone- through the entire strike and beyond. People who feel they are great teachers (refer back to your statistics Paolo
are less likely to try to improve their education.
Money is supposed to motivate teachers to stay- yes I understand this.
but if the scores don’t go up in these schools it won’t be a shock
because teachers (as many are prevailing) aren’t able to budge in their communications- they aren’t open to change which makes them unlikely candidates for improvement.
by the way teacher: you made joke as to how you should sue b/c people have attacked the teaching in this community:
the difference is that you are anonymous- and your political beliefs (unlike the subs) won’t affect your job status
it honestly scares me how inflexible in thinking teachers can be
as they can look at my history of posts- I have tried to see each persons point of view- the more I agreed with teachers the more they attacked me
I am worried for the well-being of our students of Hayward
many have potential- but how are they going to meet this when teachers think like the teacher who has been posting?
awww. and by the way teacher- the buddhist scab…..that is a political stab…eh?
I have been concerned for our children because even if a teacher doesn’t agree- they should be able/willing and open to other peoples points of view. Teacher: that’s wonderful your a minority ?? but just because you weren’t offended by the scab post doesn’t mean I am not. You aren’t Asian….it did offend me.
You are not buddhist…it did offend me.
stating that it doesn’t offend you…so you discredit my being offended?
your thinking is faulty and immature at best.
please teachers- open your eyes- be aware and work on insight folks please.
May 4th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Jennifer wrote about studies that showed how even the best-intentioned teachers discriminate against girls constantly in the classroom; there is an excellent book about this called “Failing At Fairness: How Our Schools Cheat Girls” by Myra & David Sadker.
If you have not read this book, I STRONGLY recommend it. You can buy it through Amazon for just a penny (plus $3.49 shipping): http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/068480073X/timstore06-20
I observed a classroom teacher today, and noticed some of the exact same issues that I’d read in that book (and which I’d observed and experienced myself when I was teaching).
My advice to ALL teachers: at least once per year, set up a video camera in your classroom and film yourself for one class period. Then watch the video. I did this several times and felt that this one simple strategy gave me more useful feedback than I’d received from several different classroom observers. (I first used this strategy to critique my seminar presentations as an attorney, and my feedback for those seminars went from “okay” to “great” to “fantastic”.) (Of course, you MUST disclose to students that you are videotaping yourself, and the camera should be aimed at YOU, not at your students, which can be a problem if you move around the classroom a lot, as I did.)
Finally, on the issue of the “union” being biased or the district not being allowed to lie: they both lied during this strike, and they both acted in extremely biased ways. As you’ve all noticed, I am most outraged at specific lies by Dr. Vigil, Mr. Peterson, and Mr. Cook, who pursued an aggressive strategy of false communications “to and through” the media (specifically, the Daily Review and TV stations). The respect which I had for Dr. Vigil, Mr. Peterson, and Mr. Cook before this strike are now completely depleted, and I now view them as absolutely incapable of performing the duties they were hired and elected to do. Of course, they are proud of everything they have done, and they intend to continue to engage in a continuing pattern of improper conduct in order to ruin this district.
May 4th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
mark ,
that is a great idea (the camera) it would be a great tool in determining fairness and howeffective teaching methods are . especially if the videos are taken over a matter of a few days that way you can see yourself at different times.
a very good idea indeed!
teacher:
again in wake of the pictures of the picket line crossers , we will agree to disagree
I just want to tell you something , I have a friend who is a Jehova witness and striking or picketing is against their religion , it would break my heart if we would be in the same situation and if she was treated like some of the
scabs were , like I said some were just greedy , others may have had good reasoning.
but again we agree to disagree .
May 4th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Teachers are also learning constantly , things change so very often , some teachers are good some are bad, as it is in every day life wth everyone , a blog is for people to post their opinions be it good or bad, our constitution has given us freedom of speech lets be grateful for that also since some countries do not have that . respect others and others will respect you
May 4th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
paolo if you know anything about the tests then you would know that every state takes different tests and every state has different standards. Califormia happens to have the highest standards and the hardest tests. You really need to take a look at your statistics; who they are being put out by, why they are being used, for what purpose, who benefits and who loses. When I bought into all that, and then I did more research and after over a decade I have learned that the right wing benefits from discrediting poor urban school districts. This helps their campaign to get the whole Voucher Initiative” to pass, and have more corporate run charter schools created. These schools create a low skill and non critical thinking work force for corporations. This may sound like a conspiracy theory, but the whole history of standardized tests in this country is totally racist and classist. Do some digging.
Also, I would really like to know where you got those statistics about HUSD students in college.
I hate to say it, but unfortunately, the VAST majority of the best and brightest students from the elementary school
where I teach leave HUSD for a variety of reasons (that the district should research and do their best to curtail!) before they even get to 4th or 5th grade, so you are not judging my handiwork when you speak of high school scores.
To reply to the people saying that teachers who think they are the best do not grow, I am not that teacher either. I believe that when you stop growing you die. I am always reading and trying to do what will help my students. The best teachers are always open to new ideas. I know that I for one get tired of being blamed for everything and lumped together with all teachers though.
Unfortunately, prepping kids for the tests is not teaching them to think Paolo, especially when they are in the early grades. Have you seen the tests for elementary students? They leave much to be desired. They are not a fair
measure of my kids, especially English learners and newcomers to the country.
May 4th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Here are a couple of good articles to start you off Paolo and anyone else interested in the truth about the Standardized Tests:
http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/testtoday.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views/041600-109.htm
May 5th, 2007 at 9:20 am
Mark, that actually used to be the thinking about girls and I believe that many many teachers have actually overcompensated to cater to girls, but it really isn’t the true problem anymore. Most teachers are female so girls are actually usually are receiving instruction from someone that understands their learning style, at least in the elemenatry years. Maybe as they get older perhaps there are more male teachers. If you look at the publish date of that book though you see it is 12 years old. There have been many more studies out lately that show that girls have surpassed boys in academic success. I was shocked to see the ststaistics on boys and realize that they are in DEEP trouble. I am also the mother of a boy so I am acutely concerned about this.
These are some recent statistics:
Boys receive up to 70% of the Ds and Fs given all students, they create 90% classroom discipline problems, 80% all high school dropouts are boys, millions of American boys are on Ritalin and other mind-bending control drugs, only 45% college students are boys, and three out of four learning disabled students are boys.
For every 100 girls diagnosed with a special education disability 217 boys are diagnosed with a special education disability
For every 100 American women who earn a bachelorís degree from college 73 American men earn a bachelor’s
degree per the National Digest of Education Statistics.
For every 100 American women who earn a master’s degree from college 62 American men earn the same degree
per the National Digest of Education Statistics
For every 100 girls ages 15 to 17 in correctional facilities there are 837 boys behind bars per the US Census Bureau
For every 100 females ages 15 to 19 that commit suicide 549 males in the same range kill themselves per the CDC
There are more young men in prison than ever before and there exists an incredible pressure to be gangster like and thug like amongst young men of all races and cultures in this society.
More statistics here:http://www.boysproject.net/statistics.html
There have been some more recent books written about this: “The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Falling Behind in School and Life” by Michale Gurian. He also wrote “The Wonder of Boys”, and “The Wonder of Girls” which you may really enjoy as the dad of a girl. Of course as teachers we must study how ALL of our students learn. I know for me, that the boys have been my greatest frustration and challenge. I see as time goes on that even my brightest boys seem to succumb to peer pressure later on and do not continue to be strong students.
Anyone else concerned with this here is a good website: http://www.boysproject.net/
Our prisons are filled to the brim and we must do something EARLY to prevent this. School is our best chance. If we do not figure out how we are all going to be in BIG trouble. I am fighting the good fight as they say, but I can’t do it alone.
May 5th, 2007 at 9:22 am
What I meant to say is that our prisons are filled to the brim with males. Even the Alameda County Jueveline Hall last I knew had something like 22 girls and over 200 boys.
May 5th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Celebration Teacher and Family Picnic
At Kennedy Park on Wednesday, May 9th starting at 4:00 pm
Please come and celebrate together as a community!
Celebrate our teachers on “Day of the Teacher”
Celebrate that our children are back in the classrooms!
Celebrate the unity in our community!
“The picnic is at Kennedy Park starting at 4:00. It’s a barbecue. The picnic is celebrating Day of the Teacher and also a thank you to our wonderful Parents and Community for the support we received during the strike.” Kathy Crummey, HEA President
Bring a dish to share. Bring your entire family for food and fun!
May 6th, 2007 at 8:20 am
What about the HUSD administrators, teachers and other staff that live in Hayward and choose not to send their children to Hayward Schools? Any comments? That might be a good place to start the research.
May 6th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Kim Santos:
Is there any way for the newspaper to announce the picnic at Kennedy park this wed.
I would be glad to write a letter to the editor about it if necessary, but I really feel we need to let the word out about this…
We should do all we can to make sure this grass roots movement (families in action) doesn’t fade away like others have.
Thanks
Fernando
I passed the info along to Kris. -Kim
May 6th, 2007 at 9:47 am
One thing admirable about you is your excellent use of Euphimsms: Difficult Exams for teachers’ Ineptness
(senior exit exams are 10th grade level & SAT should be easily passed after 13 years of education);Name Calling
For Hate Crimes (Insulting an individual for ethnicity & religious orientation)…Peaceful Rally For illegal
Trespassing (entering the Private Residence Of Dr. Vigil and causing horrible chaos in the entire neighborhood)
and Feedom For Blasphemy( disrespect for those who fought and died..and Americans dying on the other side
of the globe right now for what the context of “TRUE FREEDOM”;FOR ALL AND NOT TO BE ABUSED BY A
SELECTED FEW!!”
You can write a narrative essay of excuses and win the Pullitzer Price; But you can’t deceive the Fact that
you DEMEANED HUMAN BEINGS AND DON’T EVEN HAVE THE DECENCY TO ADMIT IT!!!
Furthermore, in the game of golf they call it”HANDICAP” FOR YOU “INCOMPETENCE” !!!!!
May 6th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Hey Paolo:
I’m a Hayward parent and I have to disagree with some of the staments from your last post:
If you knew anything about Hayward, you would relaize that many many of our students have NOT been in ther HUSD for 13 years before they graduate.
Many have just moved to the US from other countries and in many cases these students have had very little education, if any.
The tests you mention are administered wihtout taking into account the fact that many of these students are just learning the English language. Even students who have been in this country for just one year are expected to perform at grade level? Get real!
I don’t know how long you have been in this country, but I can tell you, as a person who came to this country as a teenager with practically no English, you do not become proficient in a language in a year or two.
Also, I WAS at the peacefull rally in Vigil’s compound and I can tell you, as somebody who WAS there, there was no “horrible chaos in the entire neighborhood”.
Your over the top characterization of the nature of that rally makes me question the bulk of your statements and opinions.
May 6th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Thanx to everyone that attended the Cinco de Mayo festivities! See you at the Thursday night street fairs.
May 12th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Bias isn’t something you “have or don’t have” — it’s something we ALL have.
Another tired teacher: Women have always been the majority in the teaching profession (at least in the past 100 years in the USA), but the Sadkers clearly explain (in the book) why female teachers engage in most of the same behavior as men, and why female students accept and expect biased treatment.
Statistics about raw performance (such as the higher dropout rates, frequency of low scores, incarceration rates, or college-degree rates) don’t prove that the “higher-performing group” were not victims of bias; indeed, one could argue that because teachers treat girls differently from boys in the classroom, the boys act differently in ways that result in these problems.
Some of your cited statistics actually support the “bias” suggestion. Does it make sense that 2x as many boys as girls are diagnosed with a “special education” disability? Not intuitively. Why might boys be diagnosed more often, and why do boys get IEPs more often? Perhaps because teachers allot “more or different” attention to boys than girls, and because teachers react differently to the same behavior based on the student’s gender.
Of course, teachers in 2007 are probably more “aware” of gender-bias issues than in 1995 (when the Sadkers wrote this book), or in 1979 (when I graduated from high school).
Of course, most people believe that anyone who observes a teacher and then points out apparent biases is himself “biased” or “over-critical” or simply “misinterprets” classroom events. That’s what I thought, when I read the book, but for weeks after reading that book, I noticed gender-bias while observing a number of different teachers (male and female, old and young).
Let me ask:
(1) Have you read this book? (“Failing At Fairness: How Our Schools Cheat Girls” by Myra & David Sadker. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/068480073X/timstore06-20
(2) Have you tried the “camera” technique to evaluate your own performance? [Set up a camera in your classroom to film yourself teaching for just ONE CLASS PERIOD, and then spend two hours watching the tape twice — the first time, just watch and make general notes; then watch it again while specifically considering whether you treated the female students differently than the male students. Try being objective: how many times did you make eye contact with female vs male students, how many times did you call on each gender, how often did you ignore similar behavior by students of one gender but not the other?
I do NOT want to single you out here (thus I’m glad you are posting anonymously), because I certainly don’t have any reason to believe that you are less sensitive to gender-bias issues than other teachers — in fact, it seems pretty clear that you are quite aware of gender-bias issues. But I do strongly believe that you are mistaken about teachers “over-compensating” — it’s entirely possible that many teachers have changed some aspects of their behavior or reactions based on gender, but I’m not at all sure that those changes have removed bias or even improved the situation.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
Mark,
I am very aware of the camera technique, and yes I have done it several times. This was taught to me my first year teaching. That was how I noticed that I treated boys differently. I have tended to be harder on them than girls. I have asked them more closed ended questions and cut them off more often. Also I have not let them “help” as much in the classroom. I have conciously worked on these things. I will definitely read this book this summer. Thank you for the rec. I am always looking for ways to better my teaching.
As an undergrad in Psychology classes they were always talking about the ways teachers treated girls differently so I was always looking for ways to reach out to girls more, especially the quiet ones. And especially when it came to Math and Science which I struggled with, so of course I always have strived to prevent that from happening to my girls. After more than a decade teaching, and many strong female students, I still struggle with some boys being poor readers every year that I just cannot reach. They just don’t like to read. It feels so much harder than dealing with the girls. That is my challenge. I cannot speak for other teachers.
I still stand by my opinion that the sheer number of males in prison and the fact that the number of boys dropping out, the pervasive thug culture, the huge number of boys not going on to college is extremely alarming to me, and to me constitutes a state of emergency. I feel very strongly about that. Girls on the whole are doing a lot better than boys. I am not saying that we as teachers don’t beed to look at our teaching, I am saying that our boys are in a serious
crisis, and our girls are not going to have husbands if we don’t do something to save them.