Hey there, folks. You know what blows, and not in a good way? Being afraid to speak in class. It's dreadful, and can have longterm effects. So it is with great empathy--far too much empathy, sadly--that we bring to you yesterday's article in the New York Times concerning a stuttering college student whose professor asked him to shut up. (Richard Perez-Pena's "Stutterer Speaks Up in Class; His Professor Says Keep Quiet"). more ›

Hot on the heels of news that San Francisco USD will be laying off 139 educators at the end of the school year, comes a report from Sacramento that over two dozen teachers were arrested at the Capitol last night after they refused to leave the building as part of a demonstration against education cuts in the state budget. California Teacher's Association President David Sanchez, who led the group, told the press he was willing to be arrested, "to let the public understand the seriousness, the state of emergency that California public schools are under right now." more ›

Another blow for public education unfurled in the East Bay last night. The Oakland School Board approved 500 layoffs notices for Oakland teachers. Said notices will go to 231 elementary school teachers, 41 English teachers, 45 social science teachers, 28 sixth-grade teachers, 25 P.E. teachers, 13 social workers, and the entire adult education staff. more ›

Dying to know more about Pink Friday -- today's statewide rally where teachers protest impending layoffs and budget cuts while sporting varying shades of light rogue -- we were delighted to find this message directing us to the official Pink Friday site. Yay. more ›

With over 26,000 teachers getting pink slips in the mail, the California Teachers Association has organized Pink Friday, "a day of action to protest mass layoffs and drastic cuts to public education." But I don't teach algebra to ungrateful brats all day long, so how can I help, you ask? Like this: 1) Wear pink on Friday, March 13 to show your support for public schools, students and educators; 2) organize or attend an event at a school near you; and 3) call or e-mail your Legislator and tell them that investing in public education is an investment California's future. In related news, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom released 25 percent (about $24 million) from the city's rainy day fund this week. If approved by the the Board of Supervisor, the cash flow would help save the jobs of over 300 teachers. more ›

535 San Francisco Unified School District teachers will receive layoff notices this morning due to state cuts in education funding. Today's pink slip handouts stem from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget '09, which will see San Francisco schools losing around $40 million. According to CBS 5, Mayor Newsom is doing what he can, even if it's a Band-Aid solution to a longterm problem. more ›