Oakland Teacher Replies to Tribune Editorial

Your December 16 editorial opens by asking "Why do some Oakland teacher union leaders and members have to stoop to boorish behavior to draw attention to their demands?" We should ask you, "What do we have to do to get fair coverage of our demands and of the overall attack on public education in Oakland?"

In violation of state education code, libraries have been eliminated at many Oakland public schools. Buildings are overcrowded, halls dirty, bathrooms unsanitary--and Ward has laid off a large part of custodians, janitors and maintenance workers. My school has not had a functioning copy machine this school year, has been without a library for 18 months, and no longer offers music or art. Ward is destroying our schools and our children's future.

Yet the Tribune consistently publishes OUSD's glowing reports of higher test scores and increased attendance. In fact, enrollment has declined by over 10,000 students (more than 20 percent!) under Ward. This makes the district's test score comparisons meaningless and their attendance figures a bad joke. Your biased coverage says you're either in on the joke or you're simply dupes. Which is it?

Ward's contract "offer"--capping health benefits, keeping wages 2.5% lower than they were three years ago, insisting on the right to transfer teachers without cause, refusing to guarantee specialty classes in art and music in inner city elementary schools--will, if it goes through, result in hundreds of veteran teachers leaving Oakland. Rather than criticizing our manners, you should be championing our cause. Or at least stop shilling for Ward.

Jack Gerson
Teacher and OEA building rep
Leadership Prep H.S., Castlemont