Last Friday, March 13th was Pink Friday.
It is unsettling to be a California teacher these days... looming budget cuts could mean pay cuts, if not job cuts.
Friday, March 13 was the deadline for school districts to issue pink slips to California's teachers. As of Friday morning, more than 26,500 teachers received these notices.
Parents, teachers, and students wore pink to show support for our schools.
Here are some of my students who were pretty in pink. :)
This is pretty impressive as Friday is spirit wear day for our school and our school colors are red and black... so it was very touching to see all the pinks today. :)
Comments (11)
I can't imagine the loss of 26,500 teachers! What will happen to the students? To class size? Philadelphia, where we live and my husbsnd teaches, is always in a state of crisis. I have not heard any talk of layoffs. Then again, they are never able to recruit people to fill vacant positions.
Posted by sheri | March 15, 2009 3:44 PM
Posted on March 15, 2009 15:44
I know just how you feel. Our state is in a huge mess also and we are waiting to hear about possible or should I say at this point pending pay cuts. That is very sad that so many teachers were given pink slips. I applaud the parents and kids supporting the teachers by wearing pink.
Posted by girasoli | March 15, 2009 7:25 PM
Posted on March 15, 2009 19:25
wonderful photo - it IS very touching!
Posted by Annie | March 16, 2009 6:21 AM
Posted on March 16, 2009 06:21
What a cute picture. My heart is bleeding pink for all of you right now, and with a daughter with a fairly new credential, I really feel for all our teachers.
Posted by Marcia | March 16, 2009 1:31 PM
Posted on March 16, 2009 13:31
Pretty scary stuff. I don't know why only the federal government can carry a debt in the US. If Ontario had had to balance its budget this year we'd have class sizes of 58!
Posted by Jerry | March 16, 2009 4:46 PM
Posted on March 16, 2009 16:46
What a sweet photo!
Supporting the teachers - that is great!
Posted by nancyhol | March 16, 2009 7:53 PM
Posted on March 16, 2009 19:53
Very scary, but what a darling photo!
I love the kid with the mittens. Kids are so uninhibited!
Posted by Palma | March 17, 2009 9:26 AM
Posted on March 17, 2009 09:26
Eden, I'm so sorry to hear about all of these job cuts. That's devastating news for families and their communities.
Our politicians love to talk so much about the sanctity of the family and importance of children, but they rarely walk the walk. Schools and teachers are so often among the first to face any budget cuts and it's wrong.
Posted by sandrac | March 18, 2009 6:52 PM
Posted on March 18, 2009 18:52
I love the support for the teachers!
Remember this quote from Sam on The West Wing?
"Education is the silver bullet. Education is everything. We don't need little changes. We need gigantic revolutionary changes. . . . Competition for the best teachers should be fierce. They should be getting six-figure salaries. Schools should be incredibly expensive for government and absolutely free of charge for its citizens, just like national defense."
Posted by Amy | March 19, 2009 2:54 PM
Posted on March 19, 2009 14:54
Eden I feel so bad for all those many teachers. Your photo is adorable and heartwarming how they've shown their support.
Posted by Barb Cabot | March 20, 2009 6:27 PM
Posted on March 20, 2009 18:27
Wow! That is a serious cut. And to think that a couple of years ago California was recruiting teachers from throughout the US. It was great for the students and parents to show their support.
Posted by marta | March 21, 2009 9:39 AM
Posted on March 21, 2009 09:39