LAUSD strike, Day 2

As promised, we're bringing the teachers donuts every day. An army runs on its stomach.

I'm teaching the 10-yr-old about the history of the labor movement, so that's cool!

The Los Angeles Times coverage of the strike has been great so far. They're doing an amazing job of showing you the human face behind all of this. It's a trying time.

I cannot stress enough: CALL the LAUSD at 213-443-1300. Tell them how you feel about the strike, and urge them to bring this to a swift resolution. The teachers are DESERVING of your support. They're looking for a small, cost-of-living increase in wages, and ultimately better classrooms and schools for your kids through smaller class sizes and more support staff. NOTHING is more important than education as in investment in the future.

I spoke to the principal and the office staff at my 10-year-old's school yesterday. They looked…haggard. They were tired. They're administrators, not part of the teachers' union, and were doing their best to keep things running…with about 8% of usual staff. It's a terrible situation for all: The students are not served, the teachers are not served, and those left behind to run a shoestring operation are not served.

The administrative staff, though they chose their words carefully, were solidly on the side of the teachers. I asked them how the day was. "It wasn't the same without our teachers," one said. I asked what I could do. "You know [LAUSD Superintendent] Austin Beutner?" one joked. "Call him and tell him to end this. One staffer had an older child at another school. She didn't send her kid to school on day one. She knew it was effectively worthless.

Even two days of this is two days too long. The teachers' demands are simple, and justified. The Los Angeles Unified School District MUST end this strike with all deliberate speed, and grant the teachers what they need for themselves and their students.

Jim McLauchlin