Strike Continues

The HUSD Teacher Strike has become much larger than I expected. It’s nearly 11pm and there’s been no indication of a resolution, so tomorrow will be Day 6. It’s indicative of the arrogance and inconsideration of the administrators toward their teachers and students, I believe. There was a lengthy teacher strike in Oakland just a couple of years ago and this is the third one in Hayward since I was a middle school student back in ‘91. This kind of shit doesn’t happen in San Ramon/Pleasanton/Walnut Creek but not just because they are richer areas — I believe there’s a genuine disrespect and even contempt toward the most important units…again, those teachers and students. I didn’t feel this way before the strike. There are so many rumors perpetrated by the district as well as the teacher’s union that I filtered everything so that I would not be swayed. But facts are facts! I thought that the superintendent was a professional and a leader and someone concerned primarily with the welfare of the K-12 kids in our city. But the massive 16.84% pay raise, coupled with the supe’s vacation in the middle of negotiations and deception –students received misleading phone calls suggesting that their grades would be lowered if they did not attend school during the strike — demonstrate that the kids and staff come second to personal finance. It’s impossible to succeed as a public official with that mindset.

Dr. Dale Vigil won’t be the first Hayward superintendent to leave in disgrace, but I certainly hope he’s the last. There have been five different supes in the HUSD since I graduated from high school in 1997 and that shouldn’t be the type of job that has a revolving door. Just like a school needs it teachers and principals to remain and become experienced and familiar with the particular school, the district leadership should remain and create some constancy in the district. I wish that the applicants for these jobs would apply because of a sincere passion for education (rather than the $229,500 salary) and I wish that the school board would scrutinize these administrators and choose people that are prepared to pour in some honest, hardworking years. It’s not too much to ask. Anyway, here is video from today’s rally. My little camera doesn’t do it justice; it was phenomenal.

Teachers en masse. A lovely scene.

A pretty accurate drawing of our superintendent.

Mary Walsh fills in the HHS teachers while the strike-time security looks on in the distance.

A party crasher.

The woman we dubbed “Maleficent” a.k.a. a scab at Tyrrell Elementary.  Why is she wearing latex gloves??  Also, she left the school in a gray car, then parked it a block away and switched into a white car to drive away.  Strange.