By the time you read this, I will be in the air, en route to Los Angeles.
Tomorrow I will join the picket line.
I’ve planned this trip for a long time, as a reward for finishing my book.
It is fortuitous that I will be in LA to stand alongside teachers and cheer them on.
I also plan to attend a fundraiser to help Jackie Goldberg as she runs for a seat on the LAUSD board.
More later.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Wow, that’s incredible Diane, you are a true hero. The LA teachers will be very appreciative.
Super wonderful…you will lift everyone’s spirits Hope you brought your raincoat. Maybe your ‘brain trust’ can get together for coffee. Take a look at CityWatchLA published yesterday…full of good articles on the strike, mine included, and one by Richard Wagoner.
Ditto, Joe
Have a great trip. Your place there is meaningful!
Thank you for your indefatigable devotion to public school education. You’re the best!
What a powerful message you’re sending to teachers as you join the picket line.
Fantastic, and a perfect boost for teachers there and the school board candidate. The second largest district should no become a captive of the Broadies and toadies.
You are such an inspiration. Be safe.
FANTASTIC! Wish I could be with you!!!
Wow Diane there is a saying practice what you preach. Well Diane, you are practicing what you are preaching. Be safe.
There is strength in unity. Your support will mean a lot to the teachers.
Godspeed!
Give ’em hell and truth in our names.
Thank you! Your presence is really appreciated, not least by this teacher in LA.
Thank you and all your colleagues for standing tall! What you are doing is resonating with and inspiring others throughout the nation and world (thinking of Pasi Sahlberg’s GERM).
Thank you, Carrie to you and to your colleagues. You teachers in LA are an inspiration to workers throughout the United States!
You go, Diane!
Send the billionaires back to Beverly Hills where they belong!
Good for you, Diane.
I am so glad the LA Teachers are speaking about a moratorium regarding opening more charter schools. You will be there at a perfect time. Yay.
Hooray hooray. I’ve been there every day. Your support is so welcomed!! This is a real battle for the future of public education.
We would gladly welcome you to come and join us at Cantara Street Elementary in Reseda.
Thank you. I will be at Hamilton High School tomorrow morning at 7:30 am.
I am in LA to take care of my son, who had hip surgery, so my availability depends on his health.
I am going to try to get someone to take over my chapter chair duties tomorrow for a while so I can join you on the picket line at Hamilton. This is historic! The protest today was good and loud. Today, I briefly spoke with Mayor Garcetti, who was very near the protest at the CCSA. (Long story short, he said he’s with us and told me Beutner needs to spend money to get money.) I would love to walk with my hero Diane tomorrow at Hamilton. That would make this week even more memorable than it already is. I will see what I can do.
I hope your son recovers well.
Once a mother, forever a mother! Lucky boy.
I’m also hoping for a speedy recovery for your son.
Not going to make it
Will miss you
Hope your son is healing well
Thank you, Dr. Ravitch. Your leadership for teachers, kids, and parents around the country is a continual inspiration.
This is amazing!!! LA is so lucky to have your support!! I will be with my children and teachers from Local District West at Webster Middle School. Maybe we will see you there!!!XO
Thanks for representing all of us there, Diane!
Diane,
It would be good if you could stay a couple days and speak at one of the main rallies held downtown.
Wednesday’s large, 10:00 AM rallies will be by Local District, with only 1/8 to 1/5 as many people attending when compared with Monday’s and Tuesday’s downtown actions (where there were 30K – 40K people present.)
Peace, and welcome to the show (if but temporarily).
Thanks, Steve, I’ll do whatever I can to help.
Diane…Alex announced only moments ago a huge rally on Friday at Grand Park…would be great if you can get there. Our sons seem to be catching up with us with hip surgeries, knee surgeries…bummer. Hi to him too.
Great look at the organizing that’s backed up the strike action:
http://www.labornotes.org/2019/01/los-angeles-teachers-strike-defend-public-schools-privatizers
Dear Dr. Ravitch:
I hope that the LA teachers will appreciate and realize that your participation or attendance will depend on the availability of your family health in a hospital. However, LA teacher organizer will try their best to accommodate your speech in the opening or at your available time slot from hospital.
I am sure that all conscientious LA teachers and professors, whether they are from Public education at K-12 schools or at vocational institutions, colleges and university, will all attend this meaningful STRIKE for FREE and BEST PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION. This good cause is to show the world about the American true humanity spirit.
Also, all conscientious educators who are near to retirement, and were already retired, plus who are from private schools, please join with LA educators in order to present the concept of the true American UNITY in FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION to upcoming young American generations.
In short, I pray God to bless America with this successful strike for LA teachers in particular and for all conscientious American Teachers, in general. Also, I pray God that your son will be blessed with a successful hip surgery. I always respect and admire you for your dedication to American Public Education in particular and for global realization about the importance of PUBLIC EDUCATION in general.
Lots of respect and love to you,
May King
Dear teacher Christine Langhoff:
Thank you very much for the wonderful info from your provided link:
http://www.labornotes.org/2019/01/los-angeles-teachers-strike-defend-public-schools-privatizers
I have learned and read about LA, Boston, Texas, and Michigan where educators, parents and students have the strongest spirit in humanity regarding to PUBLIC EDUCATION from Dr. Ravitch’s Edu blog.
You and all conscientious veteran educators plus Dr. Ravitch in her Edu blog have tremendously cultivate parents and students about the importance of PUBLIC EDUCATION against BAD BLOOD SUCKING privatized institutions which LOOT TAX PAYERS MONEY.
Americans definitely must unite to fight for smaller classes, more nurses, librarians, and counselors, and “to defend the civic institution of public education” from privatization.
Parents of all middle classes and working classes must understand their rights to pay income taxes in order to have free and BEST public education for their children in K-12 system = smaller classes, more nurses, librarians, and counselors, and “to defend the civic institution of public education” from privatization.
Lots of respect and love to you,
May King.
Thank you, May. Yours words are always so powerful.
Dear teacher Christine Langhoff:
Thank you for your kind word and generous praising for me. I sincerely love and respect you, Dr. Ravitch, and all of conscientious veteran educators in this special Edu Blog.
I am learning very much from all of you, but I am very useless with intermittent memory and too long hours in bed. I laugh and cry for my helplessness at the same time these days.
Every two or three days, I use up all of my energy to read so little and only able to write a few sentences, then I feel sorry for myself who love and dream to wake up all greedy and cruel souls on Earth through my life experienced story. But I do not know when I can do it from intermittent memory, shaking hands and feet, unclear and sometimes mute in speech.
Thanks God that I still have crystal clear and sharp conscience. Most of all, my soul and my mind always head towards pure humanity spirit, NOT GULLIBLE wishy, washy to be compassionate for those FAKE HUMAN BEINGS WITH SAVAGE SOUL AND HEART.
Respectfully yours,
May King
Oh Captain, My Captain: Blessings to you, your son & LA teachers!! You go, Girl!
I yelled at the car radio this morning as NPR reported on the strike. It was all about the poor kids complaining about not learning anything during the strike, the remaining teachers now dealing with 150 students per class, the strike costs $15 million a day to the district. Nothing about anger, nothing about why the strike has come about only a generic statement “teachers want better pay, better teaching conditions”.
Somebody should really do a public record request for the emails between NPR execs and billionaire donors to NPR, and minutes (or perhaps recordings) for exec meetings.
No need – it’s the Walton and Gates.
I know the donors’ identity. I am just curious what they said to the execs, and what the execs told the reporters about screening the news.
Thank you for your support today.
The alarm that was raised all those years ago is what is fueling LA’s teachers to take action.
They, like their brethren everywhere, truly understand the stakes that in that nexus of how education policy, pedagogy and labor rights all are essential to a democracy that works for everyone–not just for the rich and privileged.
LA will roll out the red carpet.