Thursday, March 12, 2009

Hundreds at Rally 'Stand Up for Schools'

This e-mail went out today from Mike Noce, MDEA president.

"I want to thank everyone that attended yesterday’s “Stand Up for Our Schools” Rally. In our estimates we had close to 500 people attend. Everyone was wearing stickers and pink arm bands to show support for over 600 teachers in our district that will be receiving pink slips tomorrow. Many were also holding signs with a variety of messages. There were a number of television news cameras there as well as a hovering helicopter from Channel 7. Print media was also well represented.
We had a variety of speakers that shared their perspectives of the current crisis public education is facing. These speakers represented Elected Officials, the County of Education, School Boards, Superintendents, Teachers, Labor and Parents. The key point speaker was Dean Vogel, our CTA Vice President, who urged us to let Sacramento know “Enough is Enough.” It was nice having such a broad coalition working together for our students. I especially want to thank Gary Eberhart, Sherry Whitmarsh, Dick Nicoll, and the number of site administrators that came out to participate.
The highlight of the afternoon was the march to Ygnacio Valley Rd. to inform the thousands of commuters about the crisis. It was awesome seeing our ranks stretched over 6-7 blocks as we paraded with our signs and chanted “Save Our Schools” and “Enough is Enough.” The chant leaders did a great job in keeping everyone involved and motivated. It’s also always nice to hear the honking cars and waves from the commuters as well to keep spirits high.
This was a kickoff event, we need to individually keep informing friends, families, and neighbors of how these massive cuts are affecting not only teachers, but our students as well. We need to reach those members of our community that don’t have kids in our schools. We need their support to pass Measure D, our parcel tax, and to remind their state legislators that enough is enough.
Ask your reps when your site is scheduled to phone bank so you can schedule it into your calendar. We also need you to write a check for $20-$89 to the MDEA PAC to help fund the Measure D campaign. It’s going to be a busy two months, but passing Measure D is our best local option.

Thank you,
Mike"

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did Gary do his Bush bashing and profanity routine?

Carissa said...

And what does Bush and profanity have to do with our children's education?

Anita Johnson said...

This is a great sign of how unified our community has become. Parents and students that I know from outside my school knew about this rally - they had seen other teachers wearing pink arm bands and they all shared our concern about the state of Education. The rally was announced via district email, administrators were encouraged to attend, three school board members and the interim superintendent attended the rally. Everyone is getting the message that we can support our schools locally even if the State Government is unreliable. If the kids that live the Diablo Valley are going to get a good education, it is up to the adults who care about them to make it happen. Today's rally was a great beginning!

Anonymous said...

Carissa,

That is a great question. You'd have to ask Gary Eberhart though as a public post of his on Claycord.com last week was full of Bush bashing and laced with profanity.

It even made me blush and I've been around the block a couple of times.

Anonymous said...

How are pink slips delivered?

Carissa said...

I believe that pink slips are sent out by certified mail and have to be signed for. I remember the first time I received a pink slip (2002) and I had to stand in line at the post office--there were about 20 of us teachers standing in line together.

Anonymous said...

They should give Gary Eberhart a pink slip.

Carissa said...

Dear Gary Hater,

I am more than tired of reading your posts (both here and at Claycord.com). Your hatred (some other posters have pointed out that perhaps it's an obsession) is not relevant to our students' education.

Many people take this issue of horrific cuts to the California education system very seriously. It is not a joke. Thousands of kids are going to suffer. Our society is going to suffer as a result.

If you post another irrelevant comment about Gary, I will delete it.

Anonymous said...

Carissa,

Are you aware of Gary's Bush bashing, profanity laced speeches?

He's a piece of work. Actually I'm all in for our kids also and I truly believe that Gary has done the parcel tax initiative a disservice with the way he has chosen to handle himself.

Carissa said...

Once again, Measure D is about our students and our community, not about whether you disagree with how Gary comports himself.

Clearly Gary rubs you the wrong way. However, your motives are suspect (as has been pointed out a few times). Do you realize that you have not once said that you are interested in helping the MDUSD students? That you're concerned (or, better yet, disgusted) at how California has cut our kids off at the knees? The best you have done is said that 'I'm all in for our kids'.

Seems to me, my Dearest Anonymous, that you are trying to defeat Measure D by channeling people to look at a different issue all together--an issue that has nothing to do with the education of my students.

Personally, I have bashed Bush. And as anyone who knows me will tell you, I also swear. Doesn't make me a bad person.

Next election, run for School Board.

I appreciate Gary and his voting record as a School Board member. He consistently votes for students and for the best of all involved.

Gary's 'special interests' are the students.

Anonymous said...

Gary's special interests are the liberal PACs that he intends to siphon our tax dollars to.

Carissa my dear, it is clear you are a proud card carrying member of the CTA.

CTA - what a waste of good money