by Kehinde Salter, Fremont Tiger Ambush
Oakland – Jan. 15, 2019, PRLog – On Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, teachers from Fremont High School, along with teachers all across Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), will be holding another “sick-out.” Just like the last sick-out, this will look like multiple teachers from multiple schools calling in “sick” on Friday morning.
We the teachers demand that OUSD prioritize public education for all of our students in the district. Friday will be a small taste of what OUSD teachers on strike will look like at the end of this month or early next month, in February. Yes, OUSD teachers are strike ready! If the district cannot handle one day without teachers, imagine what a week or more will look like.
Why are teachers ready to strike? In spite of a $30 million surplus last year, the Oakland Unified School District is claiming it cannot afford to make improvements and invest in the success of OUSD students. We the teachers demand smaller class sizes, more student supports and a living wage.
Furthermore, since learning that the district is planning to close 24 schools over the next five years, we are demanding an end to that too. OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER.
Friday, educators, students and community members will rally at Oakland Technical High School, located at 4351 Broadway, Oakland CA 94611, from 8 to 9 a.m. From there we will march along Broadway and head to OUSD headquarters at 1000 Broadway, Oakland CA 94607 for a 10 a.m. rally.
Yes, OUSD teachers are strike ready! If the district cannot handle one day without teachers, imagine what a week or more will look like.
We the teachers will not rest, until our students get the best.
About Fremont Tiger Ambush
Fremont Tiger Ambush is a group of teachers from Fremont High School who are committed to creating productive educational environments for students in the Oakland Unified School District, as well as sustainable work conditions for teachers. We stand in solidarity with other OUSD teachers who believe and are working towards the same.
For more information and to get involved, contact Mrs. Kehinde Salter, teacher, at ***@gmail.com or stoppingoursilence@gmail.com.
In this video, Kehinde Salter and her twin sister Taiwo Kujichagulia-Seitu thoroughly discuss the issues and the context, including how the OUSD is facilitating, not restricting, the growth of the school-to-prison pipeline and how privatization is behind the proposal to close 24 Oakland schools.
