Protests Pay off as California Gets More $ for Education

Los Angeles teachers say schools can be funded by taxing corporations and the rich, at a May 13 rally in downtown LA. Photo: Paul Krehbiel.

Three days after statewide protests and lobbying by California teachers, Governor Jerry Brown earmarked an additional $3 billion for education. This victory is the result of many months of massive protests and lobbying across the state.

In downtown Los Angeles May 13, about 6,000 teachers and their allies packed the square. Many had left their schools early—with administration support in some areas—to attend.

Some political leaders and the media have barraged teachers and the public with cries that there is just not enough money to fully fund education. Over the past three years 40,000 California teachers and support personnel have been cut; in some schools, 40 students are crammed into a classroom built to hold 25.

But growing numbers of teachers are disputing the claim that our society is so poor there is no alternative to a life of unending cutbacks. United Teachers Los Angeles brought hundreds of signs to the rally demanding a solution for the budget crisis: "Tax the Rich to Fund Education" and "Tax Corporations to Fund Education."

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When Governor Brown released his revised 2012 budget and announced an additional $3 billion in new funding for California schools, UTLA demanded that the Los Angeles school district “move to immediately rescind all layoff notices and begin to restore all other educational programs that have been slashed over the last three years.”

The teacher-led movement has also called on the state legislature to prevent expiration of taxes that we already pay, totaling $8.5 billion, and to support an additional 1 percent tax on the state's highest 1 percent of earners. Only two Republican votes in each house are needed to pass this tiny tax increase on the very rich, but not one Republican has supported it to date.

The lobbying and protests continue. The message is clear: victories can be won if a massive public movement is built to stop the cuts.