This is outside my normal occasional emails on this list, but as a 30-year veteran of Adult Ed in Los Angeles and CA, who spent most of last year, in retirement, fighting alongside students and teachers to Save Adult Education, this is too near and dear not to share and pass along. I know people are (as I am) rightly critical of Gerry Brown and resentful of his blackmail attempt to get the measure passed by putting a trigger for deeper education cuts if it fails, but a defeat would wipe out adult ed statewide without a doubt.--MN
Message from UTLA Adult Ed Committee Chair, Matthew Kogan: It's time, once again, to step up and defend public education, and more pointedly, Adult Education. Proposition 30 is very close in the polls -- it's neck and neck -- victory is not assured. If Prop 30 loses, sixbillion dollars will be cut from education in California. All of us know that if these cuts are triggered, Adult Education will be near the top of the list. This battle for Prop 30 has again pitted billionaires and their money against teachers who are volunteering their time. Teachers are the thin line defending public education. What teachers lack in money, we make up for in numbers and organization. The final days of this election are a time for us to assert our numbers and organizational advantage. While the billionaire Munger siblings have used their money to unduly influence the election through advertising, teachers' unions across California are identifying people who plan to vote YES on Prop 30 and getting them to the polls on election day. Thank you and congratulations to teachers who have stepped up to volunteer to be part of the democratic process - you are standing up for yourself, your fellow teachers and students to defend public education. If Prop 30 wins, it will be due to your work, and many will be in your debt. For those who stand on the sidelines watching and reaping the benefits, while others work to defend their jobs and yours, well, it's hard to know what to say. However, one of your non-rehired colleagues says it best, I think. Please read Kenya's comments below. To my colleagues: I am a laid off adult ed teacher, and even though I tried for about 6 months to save adult education by going and organizing in the community, I did not get my job back. I do not need anyone to feel sorry for me, because I will figure out what to do with my life and profession. Instead I feel sorry for the students that are not able to learn English and complete the high school program and go on with their life and education. There is one thing that all of you fortunate teachers who got their positions back need to know: if you do not continue to get involved and continue to attend union meetings, there is a big chance you may end up in my situation. As it is, if Prop 30 passes Adult Education will probably face more cuts; however, if it does not pass, we will be faced with huge cuts, cuts that you as teachers and the communities you serve cannot afford! So today I would like to ask all of you to go out and support the different events that teachers throughout the city are organizing. Step outside of your comfort zone and take the extra step to be the real life leaders that teachers are supposed to be! Kenya Barbosa Former Academic teacher, Rafu Learning Center Roosevelt CAS Co-Chair Treasurer, Adult Ed Committee Opportunities for Getting Out the Vote Don't let Kenya go it alone! Let's keep her company to work together to save education for our students and save our jobs! Final Precinct Walking Tuesday, 10/30, 12 noon - 8 pm Saturday, 11/3, 9 am - 5 pm Sunday, 11/4, 12 noon - 5 pm Monday, 11/5, 12 noon - 8 pm Election Day Tues, 11/6, 8 am - 8 pm Click here for multiple walk locations Confirm participation ahead of time by contacting Daphne Brooks at (213) 447-5498 or [email protected] Phone Banking (at UTLA, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles) Thursday, 11/1, 4:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Monday, 11/5, 12:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.; 4:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Tuesday, 11/6, 12:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.; 4:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. To participate, call Campaign Organizer Glenda McCarthy at (213) 368-6263 or email [email protected]. PROP 30/32 AREA RALLIES On November 1, UTLA Areas will be conducting rallies and other activities to emphasize the need to pass Prop. 30 to get critical funding for education and to highlight the deceptive nature of Prop. 32, which is aimed at stopping unions from having a political voice. We will update utla.net as more information becomes available. Send photos from your Area's rally to [email protected]. Harbor Area UTLA Rally in San Pedro Meet at Gaffey St. and 1st 3-5pm Go to this link for more details North Harbor Rally Meet at Western and Imperial 3:30-5:30pm Go to this link for more details East Area UTLA Rally at Mariachi Plaza 1st and Boyle 4-6pm Go to this link for more details West Area UTLA Rally at the Federal Building Wilshire and Veteran 3-8pm Go to this link for more details Valley West Area UTLA Community Campaign Day Canvas your school, neighborhood, markets, mall, or wherever you know that you can reach your community with colleagues and friends! Meet after at- Acapulco Restaurant 9400 Reseda Blvd. Northridge, CA 4-6pm Go to this link and this link for more details For sample letters to use or revise to fit your school please visit this link. ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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