Students said they sent text and MySpace messages to plan the walkout in support of their teachers

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.northjersey.com/education/Students_rally_behind_their_teachers.html

VIDEO: http://www.northjersey.com/multimedia/video/16123272.html

Saturday, March 1, 2008
Last Updated Saturday March 1, 2008, EST 7:58 AM
BY MICHAEL J. FEENEY AND ASHLEY KINDERGAN
STAFF WRITERS

GARFIELD -- District officials are still trying to figure out if, and how, they should discipline hundreds of students who stormed out of Garfield High School on Friday.

Students said they sent text and MySpace messages Thursday to plan the walkout in support of their teachers, who have been working without a contract since the end of the last school year.



"I felt it was really disrespectful of the Board of Education not to renew their contract," said Jimmy Szucs, 15, a sophomore.

The brief rally came a day after 350 teachers called out sick in an apparent protest over the contract negotiations. The district closed schools Thursday.

Students held signs that read, "No Contracts! No Teachers! No Students!" and "Settle Contracts."

About 15 minutes after the rally began, teachers came out to ask the students to go back inside and they complied. Some students admitted that they made a break for it, and played hooky for the rest of the day.


FULL story at link.

[LostinVA]

1. Good on them

[rateyes]

2. Good. nt

[mike_c]

3. labor solidarity starts early!

:toast: to those students!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. as a former teacher who walked many a picket line

this is heartening to read about.