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Apr 6, 2008 9:53 pm US/Pacific
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California Teachers Protest Proposed Budget Cuts
LOS ANGELES
Hundreds of California teachers rallied in downtown Los Angeles to protest $4.8 billion in proposed state cuts to education on the eve of a statewide "Cuts Hurt" bus tour, organizers said.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said the cuts are needed if the state is to reduce its $8 billion budget deficit without raising taxes.
Declaring that no more funding cuts should be made for public schools, California Teachers Association President David A. Sanchez led the rally of about 800 educators at the California Teachers Association convention at the downtown Westin Bonaventure Hotel.
Teachers held up mock pink slips representing the 14,000 teachers and more than 4,000 education support professionals and other educators who have received layoff notices across California. The educators then tore up the mock pink slips in disgust.
"We are here today to rip up these symbolic pink slips because the governor's proposed state budget cuts and the damage they are causing are tearing the fabric of our schools and communities," Sanchez said. "Teachers and their students are in turmoil over the thousands of layoff notices that have gone out due to the governor's reckless proposal to slash $4.8 billion from our schools."
Bernie and Lisa Harding of San Dimas both work for the Covina Valley Unified School District and have been given notices that they may not be rehired in the fall.
"My students and my profession deserve better respect than these mass layoff notices," said Bernie Harding, a third-grade teacher.
"It is outrageous that the governor's actions are now threatening my students and my own family," said Lisa Harding, a learning specialist who helps struggling students.
Sanchez vowed that the 340,000-member California Teachers Association will not let Schwarzenegger make the largest ever cuts in the nation's largest public school system -- especially at a time when California ranks 46th in the country in per-pupil spending.
"The governor's proposal to balance the state budget through cuts alone would be devastating to our students and the future of California," Sanchez said. "Any approach to solve the budget crisis must include increased revenues."
On Monday, the CTA will kick off a statewide "Cuts Hurt" bus tour to help show the impacts of the proposed budget cuts. The six-week CTA bus tour of hard-hit schools will make at least 10 stops, including in Inglewood and Rialto on Monday, and Orange County and San Diego on April 17, ending in Sacramento May 20.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)