so the AZ school system is now run by the children... is that it???
Posted on 04/08/2006 6:02:41 AM PDT by Borax Queen
Plans made for teacher absences during big immigration protests - An entire school will relocate for a day and classes at other campuses may be combined Monday to cope with teachers calling in sick, school officials said Friday as they prepared for large-scale protests against immigration reform.
And as the immigration debate showed no signs of leaving their doorstep, officials in the city's largest school district addressed concerns about a speech given Monday at Tucson High Magnet School in which a speaker said, "Republicans hate Latinos."
Tucson Unified School District officials are taking their hardest stance against the walkouts to this point. Safford Magnet School, 200 E. 13th St., will be shut down because it is near Armory Park, the protesters' destination, Superintendent Roger Pfeuffer said at a press conference Friday. Students in grades K-5 will attend class at Carrillo Magnet School, 440 S. Main Ave., and those in grades 6-8 will go to Rincon High School, 421 N. Arcadia Blvd., where some will be taking the AIMS test.
And unlike last week, when thousands of students marched Downtown and schools sent buses to return them to school, TUSD and Amphitheater Public Schools have said they will not do that this time. However, TUSD officials said students can return to school on their own and be accepted back.
A new development is the potential that teachers may join the marches. Roughly 450 teachers, of 3,700 TUSD-wide, have requested the day off.
Pfeuffer said the district has found substitutes for 90 percent of those teachers, but in some cases students may have to share teachers. While the numbers requesting days off in TUSD and Sunnyside Unified School District aren't much larger than on an average Monday, both districts are bracing for additional teachers calling in sick.
At TUSD's press conference, Pfeuffer also answered questions on comments made Monday at Tucson High by labor activist Dolores Huerta, in which she said she wanted to start a postcard campaign with the theme "Republicans hate Latinos." During the speech, she also congratulated students for walking out earlier and advertised Monday as the big day for walkouts, a stark contrast to TUSD's message not to ditch.
"This is an issue that has many, many viewpoints," Pfeuffer said. "It is not our responsibility to advocate for any one viewpoint or to necessarily censor any one viewpoint. Our purpose and our commitment when these things began was to create forums for students to discuss this issue and information for them to use in those discussions. This was one of those things we provided."
But the comments have TUSD preparing a response to state Rep. Jonathan Paton, a Republican, who wrote a letter questioning the speech, Pfeuffer said. Paton's office said he was traveling Friday afternoon, and he did not immediately return phone calls from the Star.
The incident is just the latest to occur since the national immigration issue landed in the laps of school officials, who have struggled to not take sides.
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, a Republican, said he would like to see the district invite someone with an opposing view, such as his deputy superintendent, Margaret Garcia-Dugan.
"She would talk about why Republicans are the best party for Latinos," he said. "I'm a Republican. And, by far, the strongest support for me in my last statewide election were parents of Latino students who wanted their children to learn English."
But TUSD officials, including those who attended the speech, said Huerta's message was educational, not political, and her comments about Republicans are being taken out of context.
"I think it's crucial to pass the message to all the students to educate themselves and others on the substance of each legislative proposal," said TUSD governing board member Alex Rodriguez, who had heard a recording of the speech. "At least having listened to the comments, I think that was one of the clear messages that came out — learn facts, learn the proposals and you are better off for having done so."
Still, officials said the incident shouldn't overshadow efforts they've made to objectively present a political hot potato. Pfeuffer said Huerta's speech was scheduled long before the walkouts started.
Now, the district's efforts focus on keeping operations running smoothly Monday, with stricter plans in place to deal with potential walkouts.
Students who leave campus will have an unexcused absence, which could result in missing out on graduating. Students cannot make up work if they miss class. And parents have again been urged to tell their children to stay in school. To what extent parents will do that remains to be seen.
Tucson High parents Dennis and Vanessa Garrison — who admit they aren't passionate on the issue one way or another — say they don't mind if their son Greg, a freshman, walks out as he did last week.
"I would like him to know why he's walking and not just because he wants to get out of school," said Vanessa, 50 and a TUSD employee.
Husband Dennis, a partner at a local manufacturing firm, said of the marches: "Yes, it's disruptive to the school system. But if they strongly believe in their issue," he won't oppose it.
To learn more -
To hear the TUSD superintendent present his plans to deal with possible walkouts, go to www.tusd.k12.az.us and click on "News Conference."
"The commies and socialist are behind these protest."
Which is exactly why the school administrators won't do jack. Birds of a feather.
And -- we taxpayers pay the teachers who call in sick, we pay for the substitute teachers, we pay for the buses to bus these idiots back, we pay for the police who keep them safe while they demonstrate - and protect the businesses, and we pay the ADA to the school district for daily attendance, even tho the students leave after they check in.
Remember the Alamo.
Oh, REALLY. "Republicans hate Latinos" is educational, not political, and taken out of context. Ok, how 'bout the AZ Red Star publishing a transcript of the entire speech to prove that? Too difficult?
Just another tidbit to remember, folks. If this article is true, the said TUSD school officials are either liars, really stupid, or delusional, and they're "educating" your kids.
The financial interests of holders of tax-exempt municipal bonds, transportation, and school bonding issues are jeopardized when municipalities engage in fiduciary negligence, use government monies inappropriately (to aid and abet illegal activity), and ignore law-breaking within their borders. EMAIL your concerns to enforcment@SEC,gov.
If the bonding agents for tax-exempt municipal transportation and highways, municipal school bonding, utilities bonding, and the like, are ignoring illgal activities, the SEC should be advised of your concerns. EMAIL enforcement@SEC.gov.
Most bonding agents conducting municipal business are registered broker-dealers and members of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). NASD and SIPC should also be contacted regarding your concerns about aiding and abetting illegal activity.
Law-enforcement authorities should be alerted to these blatant cases of wrongdoing by tax-funded government officials on the public payroll. Demand law-enforcement organizations determine the culpability of schools and teachers, and their complicity in failing to enforce laws governing illegal activities , and the use of government funds in the process of aiding and abetting these alien invaders.
For example, banks ignoring illegals using fraudulent documentation to obtain mortgages, are engaged in fiduciary negligence, and are jeopardizing the financial interests of bank shareholders, depositors, and patrons. This could also be considered aiding and abetting illegal activity, and should be prosecuted. EMAIL enforcement@SEC.gov
State and municipal government agencies allowing illegals to vote, get welfare, health care, drivers licenses, visas, etc, Social Security, Workmen's Comp, etc, using phony documentation are also breaking laws.
IMO, this is the way out of the illegal jungle, to get these tax-sucking illegals out of our country, subito, without costing us a cent.
Aren't schools supposed to be where kids learn and teachers teach?
I was told by a Phoenix police officer yesterday that they are expecting at least 55,000 of these "demonstrators" being bussed up from Tuscon alone.
Teachers calling sick my arse!
The arrogance of these mental midgets---- lettuce pickers and hamburger flippers. These imbeciles actually believe wavng the Mexican flag in our faces helps their case.
Some lowlife drug lord actually told these morons that Americans are a bunch of suckers who cannot see past the smoke and mirrors, and that we would sit still for their abhorent immigration bill.
The druggies are hiding behind the backsides of vote-hungry US elected officials bandying about the bill that treats these lawbreakers better than law-abiding US citizens.
No one is impressed by this cadre of spineless marionettes dancing limply on the strings of corruption, manipulated by the unseen alien horde puppetmasters lurking behind the scenes, ready to pounce on US assets.
It sounds like this restaurant owner wants it both ways.
Fat chance.
Any employer or school district that tolerates any walk-out can expect further walk-outs and disruption. If they try to get tough later on, it will be more problematic then if they crack down now.
Good idea. Let us know how it turns out. We can make a difference at grass roots. As Liz says, Freeper Activism!
There is no way the marxist controllers of the illegal situation are ever going to let illegals vote R (and yes, they can and do vote, no one can stop them apparently).
The Repubs should face the fact, and stop pandering to this "voting bloc".
Fix the borders, stop the invasion!
so the AZ school system is now run by the children... is that it???
Does this mean that our streets are going to look like a gigantic Home Depot parking lot again? I'm relly getting sick of this
It sure doesn't seem like anyone is in charge. The legislators ran away, the (some) teachers are joining in the protests, businesses have to shut down for one reason or another...
Last American out, turn off the lights?
and grab the Flag...
Uhhh... they already do, at least where I live.
We're probably like King Canute, trying to hold back the tide- but we have to try.
Just curious - did Jeb say that recently, devolve?
Proud and happy to be a citizen of the new Aztlan. At least I'm no longer subject to the cringing, craven Arizona Legislature.
Oh, well . . . (Waves little Aztlan flag listlessly.)
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