Tigard students leave class to protest teacher cuts
by Wendy Owen, The Oregonian Wednesday May 27, 2009, 12:31 PM
Students at Fowler Middle School in Tigard left class to protest budget cuts that would include teacher layoffsTIGARD -- About 150 students at Fowler Middle School protested this morning against teachers being laid off at their school.
Students filed onto the school football field as school began, some carrying signs with "Save the Teachers," others wearing shirts with the names of teachers who received notice they may not have jobs next school year.
Among the names was Steve Rice, a popular social studies teacher.
"I'm touched," Rice said.
Two eighth-grade girls said they came up with the idea on Tuesday and word spread through the school. They also created a Facebook page encouraging students to come out for the protest today.
"This ... teaches us about life more than the actual classes," said Jessica Schmid, one of the leaders.
About 14 Fowler teachers and other staff received notice they may lose their jobs.
Earlier this month, Tigard-Tualatin School District officials eliminated 71 teaching positions, 50 classified positions, including media specialists and secretaries, and six administrator positions. District officials said they don't foresee needing to make additional staff reductions next school year.
As the Fowler protest cut into school time, administrators warned the students of consequences for missing class.
"This is a school day," said Fowler principal Shelley Corry. "We have to carry on as usual."
Students who skipped classes could lose their end-of-year privileges, such as school celebrations and yearbook signing, Corry said.
In Rice's eighth-grade social studies class, the protest was the talk of the day. Several students asked if it would make a difference.
Rice said he didn't know. Funding "is still up in the air."
But he thanked the students.
"I'm really proud of you guys."
-- Wendy Owen; wendyowen@news.oregonian.com
http://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/index.ssf/2009/05/tigard_students_leave_class_to.html
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Posted by resistol on 05/27/09 at 12:45PM
Better jail 'em.
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Posted by cmpmom on 05/27/09 at 12:58PM
I'm the mom of a 5th grader. I would be proud to have her stand up for what she believes in. And, happy to have teachers she supported that much. Taking away year book signing sounds so lame. I just can't think of another word for it.
I am thankful that she won't be attending Fowler in the fall, not with administration like that.
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Posted by General360 on 05/27/09 at 1:01PM
You've gotta love where these kids are coming from. The budget is what it is, but it's great that these kids are being proactive and showing some conviction.
Good on ya.
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Posted by missysause on 05/27/09 at 1:24PM
That principal sounds like a real blow hard. I am afraid I would have to stand behind my kids on something like this. If they couldnt be a part of the end of year stuff I would probably just let them come home durring those events. These kids were not skipping school to do drugs or any kind of crime they are making a stand for the teachers that have made a difference in their lives. If they feel that strong I think that says something for how special these teachers must be.
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Posted by landershigh on 05/27/09 at 1:58PM
it sounds like the kids are just wanting to skip out on class more than anything else. Maybe the kids should take those signs to their neibors during "voting" time so the schools can get more funding through the measure system...
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Posted by citizen97203 on 05/27/09 at 2:02PM
I'm 100% behind the students. Kudos to them for taking initiative and trying to make a difference!
That said, I am not hopeful, given the administration's comments. So read no further if you don't like realist/cynic view:
That one student is right - this will teach them more about life than a class. They'll learn that when you do the right thing and stand up for what you believe in:
a) it will make no difference to the people in power, and
b) those same people will punish you for what you did ("We have to carry on as usual."). Because the people with the power and the money want to keep it that way and don't take kindly to individuals getting in their way. It really is just like real life...
I hope I'm wrong and the administration pulls the proverbial stick out of you know where.
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Posted by cecilbdml on 05/27/09 at 2:03PM
This is where the kids would really benefit from a lesson in reality. Lay off some of the teachers, and the rest stay there and teach. Lay off none of the teachers, and the school closes.
NONE of the teachers are left.
It's not a matter of administrators with too much, it's a matter of there's only so much money to go around, and you can't have folks doing a $30K/yr job and getting paid $57K+ with full PERS. So...since they won't budge, someone's gotta go.
A few teachers, or the whole school. You kids choose...
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Posted by chiphilton on 05/27/09 at 2:11PM
More lessons that kids should be taught besides the obvious ones mentioned above. Kids should be taught that because some people (maybe their neighbors or parents) lied on loan apps and got homes they really couldn't afford, some real estate people (maybe their neighbors or parents) enabled the false loan apps, some bankers (maybe their neighbors or parents)approved these bogus loan apps knowing the info was false, etc. etc.etc and the economy tanked, tax income dropped and teachers got axed.
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Posted by caveman1313 on 05/27/09 at 2:12PM
walking out of school to protest.
hmmm. something seems wrong about that.
like PETA going out and abusing animals to protest animal abuse.
or suing to protest frivolous lawsuits.
i guess i would have more respect for what they did if the kids were also blaming the teacher unions and politicians.
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Posted by jjgidds on 05/27/09 at 2:18PM
Good for them!!! We're losing our much-loved and respected 2nd-grade teacher in the fall and feel just the same way.
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Posted by jooky on 05/27/09 at 2:22PM
lets see. we have more new homes.. they pay taxes on the land. land that wasn't even lived on before.. and no taxes were received from it before.. but still we have funding problems? Who is wasting money? take massive cuts out of the admin of school systems. kick out the teachers union. bet I saved a few trillion right there
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Posted by blazerfan84 on 05/27/09 at 2:31PM
I'm suprised they knew how to rally a labor induced protest since they don't get taught about Cesar Chavez in school. All in all though, its sad and it'd be great if there was enough money in the system right now for those teachers, but middle schoolers don't have the greatest sense of reality or understanding of financial issues. They walked out on school, for issues they don't full understand. I'm not saying that these kids should have things like year book signings taken away, but they should know this isn't right to do. Write a letter to your teacher to let them know they mattered, write a letter with a ton of other kids to the administration, but don't give 150 kids a reason (they don't understand) to skip class and then pat them on the back for it.
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Posted by Fredric89 on 05/27/09 at 2:44PM
"Stand Up for What You Believe In, Kids!"
Sure, it would be nice if everyone could keep their job and be pampered as much as the teachers are. But these 150 kids represent kids who are acting only on emotion without a solid understanding of why jobs are being cut.
Schools are raking in more cash than they ever have. These teachers are loosing their jobs cause of the greedy union, not because there is a lack of funding. If the kids had any sense they would be blaming the Education Associations for putting a choke hold on public schools.
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Posted by bigmike45 on 05/27/09 at 2:45PM
cmpmom:
Instead of talking trash about the administrators you would be better off talking to your child about how their decisions can have repercussions.
Why should the students who CHOSE to violate school rules not be punished?
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Posted by blazerfan84 on 05/27/09 at 2:56PM
I agree with bigmike, if you don't talk to your kids about why it happened and just let them aimlessly protest then they are likely to do that with other future issues. Too many people want the easy answers to hard questions, just so they can have a finger to point as someone, even though its probably not the right person to blame.
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Posted by illeterati on 05/27/09 at 2:58PM
A blow-hard principal...imagine that.
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Posted by flyers73 on 05/27/09 at 3:05PM
Add July to the schedule...... Get something done NEA
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Posted by yarrrum on 05/27/09 at 3:16PM
I agree with the Principal. You can't skip class.
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Posted by caseysister on 05/27/09 at 3:49PM
Bless their hearts! Even if their efforts don't create the change they hope to see, they stood up for what they believe in. Maybe they know something the public doesn't: that Tigard-Tualatin is spending nearly half a million dollars to replace a successful math program that was purchased less than a year ago. The district will spend that kind of money to appease 1% of the parent population, but they are cutting the teachers they claim to value. I hope these kids don't face a harsher consequence than any kid who skips class at any other time...
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Posted by blazerfan84 on 05/27/09 at 4:17PM
I hope these kids don't face a harsher consequence than any kid who skips class at any other time...
No they should just get the same penalty FOR SKIPPING SCHOOL
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Posted by haileyhailey on 05/27/09 at 4:25PM
I was at the protest- the kids that attended it were really focused on the problem; they wanted their teachers back.
One student even told me that "at first, they were just going to check it out and skip class, but after hearing what students had to say, they were really touched and wanted to help as much as possible."
...and yes, we did skip class, but it was for a good reason. It technically didn't do anything to fully help yet, "things are still up in the air" as Mr. Rice had said before, but we definitely showed the school that we really care. It took lots of teamwork to put together a protest like that.
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Posted by DUDEINNEP on 05/27/09 at 4:41PM
Everyone complains about the apathy and selfishness of todays youth, then some kids go do something pro-active and we end up questioning their motives. At least they care, at least they're involved, unlike the thousands of us adults who don't even take the time to VOTE on school bonds and levys. So long as a couple kids remember this as their first time truly participating in political discourse, despite the inevitable tagalongs who just want out of class, I find this rally an inspiring success. PARTICIPATE!
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Posted by sophie1905 on 05/27/09 at 5:02PM
Okay, I was one of the kids at the protest.
Yes, we were skipping school, but it was for a good cause! All of the kids who were there really care about the teachers and staff who are getting laid off. I think that the whole thing is very positive! A group of kids getting together -not knowing the consequences- and standing up for what we beleive is right.
I think that everyone who was there really cared about the teachers, and was really wanted to help as much as possible. I hope that this gets the message across. One, that we really care about our teachers! And two, our generation is not just a bunch of selfish brats who just sit around and watch the world go by. Some people actually care, and want to make a difference! We understand that the budget is what it is, but we just want to show that we care.
I also think that the consequences are pretty severe for a protest. All of the kids who missed first, second and third period automatically get 2 refferals, and possibly OSS (Out of School Suspension)
1 refferal for skipping school, the other for truancy. Truancy? Truancy is when a student skips class without a justifiable reason, and staff members do not know where the student is. What we did was not truancy! We were still on school grounds, and all of the staff knew where we were.
I really hope that this gets the message across that we actually care! So please to the voters out there, think about the students in your community who you will be effecting.
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Posted by gr8tpa on 05/27/09 at 5:05PM
Having lived through times of great civil protest one thing I remember, those who marched and those who protested did so with a willingness to suffer the consequences. I guess that may be one of the differences between then and now - we want to do what we want to do and escape any and all consequences to our actions. The attitude of "spare the little dears" may be sweet but totally unrealistic. If it is a cause worth standing up for then it should be a cause for which one is willing to suffer.
As far as the lay offs are concerned there is enough blame to go around - from throwing away a math program less than a year old, to the political pressure that the teachers unions and their demand place upon a district; from mandating so much social engineering to our schools rather than education that will prepare our children to live in the real world to apathetic adults who are too busy and self-absorbed to vote and become involved in the process. In short, I think there needs to be a total realignment of our priorities.
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Posted by thegrafixguy on 05/27/09 at 6:04PM
To the kids - congrats!
To the Administration - pull your heads outta what you sit on. This activity show more civic responsibility than a semester of civics class.
To the politicians reading this. Teachers make less than you folks do and education should be the absolute last thing to be cut - behind even fire departments, law enforcement and prisons. Release ALL of the non-violent offenders - keep only the violent offenders in jail and put the rest to work cleaning up our communities via community service
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Posted by katlynLS on 05/27/09 at 6:24PM
I am a student at Fowler Middle School, and i was in the protest. Now i know that people say that this generation is a selfish one but most of us do care about the people and the world around us. We did this for a reson and that reson is that we just got money to get more teachers for things like health and spanish...ect. things like that! But now its all being taken away from us! Now you may not think that we know what is going on with the comunity but we do we just want to show that we care and get our piont across!
Some of the kids yes did not care about the teachers and only did it to skip school but the kids that did this for the teachers got punishment that were not right yeah they knew were we were and refurals were so uncalled for maybe a lunch or an after school detention.
Yes we were skiping school but even Mr.Rice knew why we did it and was proud of us i hope that the econamy will get better before the next school year! i would hate for a pregnent spanish teacher to get layed off her first year. Or a new health teacher Mrs. pollici, we didnt have a health class the past year or 2 because we didnt have a teacher right for the job but now we have a perfect strict but funny and fun teacher!
SO PEOPLE THAT ARNT PAYING BACK MONEY TO BANKS AND PAYIN THERE TAXES THINK ABOUT YOUR COMUNITY. you may be effecting the people you know and love. please..voters of USA help with your cominity and help your schools around you we need your help!
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Posted by katlynLS on 05/27/09 at 6:24PM
I am a student at Fowler Middle School, and i was in the protest. Now i know that people say that this generation is a selfish one but most of us do care about the people and the world around us. We did this for a reson and that reson is that we just got money to get more teachers for things like health and spanish...ect. things like that! But now its all being taken away from us! Now you may not think that we know what is going on with the comunity but we do we just want to show that we care and get our piont across!
Some of the kids yes did not care about the teachers and only did it to skip school but the kids that did this for the teachers got punishment that were not right yeah they knew were we were and refurals were so uncalled for maybe a lunch or an after school detention.
Yes we were skiping school but even Mr.Rice knew why we did it and was proud of us i hope that the econamy will get better before the next school year! i would hate for a pregnent spanish teacher to get layed off her first year. Or a new health teacher Mrs. pollici, we didnt have a health class the past year or 2 because we didnt have a teacher right for the job but now we have a perfect strict but funny and fun teacher!
SO PEOPLE THAT ARNT PAYING BACK MONEY TO BANKS AND PAYIN THERE TAXES THINK ABOUT YOUR COMUNITY. you may be effecting the people you know and love. please..voters of USA help with your cominity and help your schools around you we need your help!
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Posted by katlynLS on 05/27/09 at 6:24PM
I am a student at Fowler Middle School, and i was in the protest. Now i know that people say that this generation is a selfish one but most of us do care about the people and the world around us. We did this for a reson and that reson is that we just got money to get more teachers for things like health and spanish...ect. things like that! But now its all being taken away from us! Now you may not think that we know what is going on with the comunity but we do we just want to show that we care and get our piont across!
Some of the kids yes did not care about the teachers and only did it to skip school but the kids that did this for the teachers got punishment that were not right yeah they knew were we were and refurals were so uncalled for maybe a lunch or an after school detention.
Yes we were skiping school but even Mr.Rice knew why we did it and was proud of us i hope that the econamy will get better before the next school year! i would hate for a pregnent spanish teacher to get layed off her first year. Or a new health teacher Mrs. pollici, we didnt have a health class the past year or 2 because we didnt have a teacher right for the job but now we have a perfect strict but funny and fun teacher!
SO PEOPLE THAT ARNT PAYING BACK MONEY TO BANKS AND PAYIN THERE TAXES THINK ABOUT YOUR COMUNITY. you may be effecting the people you know and love. please..voters of USA help with your cominity and help your schools around you we need your help!
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Posted by katlynLS on 05/27/09 at 6:24PM
I am a student at Fowler Middle School, and i was in the protest. Now i know that people say that this generation is a selfish one but most of us do care about the people and the world around us. We did this for a reson and that reson is that we just got money to get more teachers for things like health and spanish...ect. things like that! But now its all being taken away from us! Now you may not think that we know what is going on with the comunity but we do we just want to show that we care and get our piont across!
Some of the kids yes did not care about the teachers and only did it to skip school but the kids that did this for the teachers got punishment that were not right yeah they knew were we were and refurals were so uncalled for maybe a lunch or an after school detention.
Yes we were skiping school but even Mr.Rice knew why we did it and was proud of us i hope that the econamy will get better before the next school year! i would hate for a pregnent spanish teacher to get layed off her first year. Or a new health teacher Mrs. pollici, we didnt have a health class the past year or 2 because we didnt have a teacher right for the job but now we have a perfect strict but funny and fun teacher!
SO PEOPLE THAT ARNT PAYING BACK MONEY TO BANKS AND PAYIN THERE TAXES THINK ABOUT YOUR COMUNITY. you may be effecting the people you know and love. please..voters of USA help with your cominity and help your schools around you we need your help!
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Posted by noregister on 05/27/09 at 6:49PM
Ah, the ignorance of youth.. Guess what kids - teachers cost money. If there ain't no money, there ain't no teachers. And you can thank the unions for the particular teachers who are getting laid off - it's pure seniority. The youngest teachers get laid off - who, naturally, are the ones the kids identify with the most. Doesn't matter who's a better teacher - all that matters is seniority. Thanks, OEA, for the overwhelming mediocrity!
What I have to say about it.
I myself was part of the protest I was stubborn and didnt leave until I felt like it was almost too much.
I want to say we were out there to support our teachers and we understand that it's not the schools fault that all our awesome staffs are leaving because of the economy.
It is the voter and citizens fault for not voting.
We will soon be old enough to vote and this will definitely help us.
At first all i was worried about was getting in trouble but you know what? That's stupid. We love what we did and I and everyone is proud of us.
Im proud of me for doing my part to try to make a difference. We followed the footsteps of Marthin Luther King. We were well aware of the fact that it could lead to suspension and expulsion and I;m glad that we all stepped out when it was time.
What i hate is that people think of american teens as selfish, spoiled, bratty, hormonal teens. This protest proves that we're not because it was started by two popular kids.
We rebelled and I'm proud of it.
We didnt go to class.
The police got involved.
But-- what bugged me the most was their were guys out there.. foolish guys who just wanted to skip class and had the cops chase them for their amusement.
They were not doing it for the teachers they were doing it for themselves.
Mr. Paldino (dean of students) was very touched as were the other teacher for what we did.
His own words were: "It's One Thing to say you're going to do something I'ts another to actually do it."
I'm so glad. I feel like i did the right thing.
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