March against budget cuts Teachers, students and union members rally for education funding
STEVE HILL / TIMES STAFF
Community College of San Francisco English teacher and president of AFT 2121 Alisa Messer gives a shout out to members of the Federation of Teachers at the One Mile March for Fairness in downtown San Jose on April 13. The march was organized by the California Teachers Union to bring attention to budget cuts that affect education as well as proposed cuts to pensions and salaries of city of San Jose employees. California, we are slowly mov- that when people’s voices are fully funded by tax dollars.” lars and with many college stuBY JERICA LOWMAN ing students into obscurity.” heard, the people up there (city Different unions came to dents having to now pay more TIMES STAFF The mile-long march to city hall) hear them.” support the teachers and stu- for units, this goes right along After the mile march, there dents in their movement. The with the budget cut crisis. Teachers, students, and union hall was enthusiastic and shouts “They’re asking you to live on workers from around Califor- of encouragement could be was a rally in the plaza with dif- unions included The United nia gathered at Plaza de Ce- heard throughout downtown, ferent speakers from unions and Food and Commercial Work- eight dollars an hour and pay 46 sar Chavez Park in the middle including, “When teachers schools districts. Teachers and ers, which, according to their dollars per unit for classes,” said of downtown San Jose and and students are under attack, students from not only colleges, website, is union consisting of Khalid White, African Amerimarched to city hall to speak out what do we do? Stand up, fight but elementary schools, junior 1.3 million members standing can History instructor. “That’s highs and high schools gathered together to improve the lives and six hours of working for a miniagainst budget cuts on Friday, back!” “The goal of this march was to listen. livelihoods of workers, families, mum wage job for only one unit, April 13. “The key message that we and communities. not even a full class! It doesn’t “We hope to bring more at- to tell Chuck Reed that worker’s One topic during the speeches make sense.” tention in the idea that we have pensions should not be attacked were trying to get across was the Students were inspired by to invest into education, we and not be compromised,” education is not a privilege, but was about the petition going have to bring education into the said Barbara Hanfling, Ex- a right,” said Neil Silverman, a around colleges to raise the min- the march, stood by teachreach of the masses,” said David ecutive Director of the Faculty teacher at Independence High imum wage in San Jose to 10 ers and union workers the Yancey, history instructor. “In Association. “I always believe School. “Education should be dollars an hour from eight dolSee March page 3
Playing with Jaguars
KinderCaminata brings kids to campus
BY LINH NGUYEN TIMES STAFF
STEPHANIE SMITH / TIMES STAFF
Robert Redmond, kindergarten student from Painter Elementary, pulls the school mascot’s tail during their tour of San Jose City College on April 19.
More than 750 students from Alum Rock School District took a tour around San Jose City College for its seventh annual KinderCaminata visit on April 19. SJCC students and teachers set up booths outside the Student Center and inside the gym to introduce their programs to the little guests. Jennifer Neil, director of student life, said this year, besides other academic departments, there are more presentations by Valley Transit Authority, San Jose Water Company, the county federal bank and San Jose library joining the kindergarten day.
The kids were introduced to the Emergency Medical Services group and police officers and talked about their dreams of being a policeman or paramedic. SJCC’s sports teams also spent time playing games with those little athletics on the fields. “I see this as an opportunity for those kids to look at different careers and what they want to do in their life at a very young age. You can create a fantasy seed that will grow into a big beautiful tree,” said Rich Saito, San Jose police officer. The day provided fun for the parents as well. Anamilet Pelarosa, mother of one of the students said, “My son is so excited. I’ve never seen him be this happy.”
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