On Wednesday morning over 49,000 students and more than 4,500 educators did not step foot in a classroom. Instead, teachers circled their school blocks picketing for capped class sizes, pay raises, mental health supports, and more.
On Vermont Street, by the Hillsdale Shopping Center, Rieke Elementry and Ida B. Wells High School teachers dressed in all blue looking for the support of passing cars.
Students and community members showed their support by donating snacks and holding signs in solidarity. In addition, IBW’s School Psychologist, Emilee Refvem, brought baby goats from Portland Goat Party for emotional support.
IBW’s Printmaking teacher, Katie Sullivan, brought boxes of t-shirts and print-making supplies for people to create their own prints and t-shirts to promote teacher support.
As things came to a close at the morning picket, teachers broke for lunch before reuniting at Roosevelt High School at 12:15, joining teachers from across the district. Thousands of community members, students, and teachers filled the front field of the school to hear various speakers.
The crowd stood in the rain holding signs, expressing their demands.
Jacque Dixon, the Vice President of the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) started off the event by uniting the crowd in chants and introducing the PAT President.
Next to take the microphone was Angela Bonilla, the PAT President. Bonilla explained the demands proposed by the bargaining team to the district since January and the historic importance behind strike holds as it is the first one in Portland Public Schools.
Bonilla said, “We demand that they believe the educators they employ when we tell them that they need to give our kids the schools that they deserve.”
Later during the picket, Cecily Myart-Cruz, President of the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA), energetically engaged the crowd and expressed the support of 37,000 Los Angeles teachers.
“That bargaining platform is righteous in your demands about what your communities need and what your babies need,” Myart-Cruz said. “Because we know that our working conditions are the students’ learning and living conditions.”
The last person to speak was the President of the National Education Association, Becky Pringle. She expressed that the PAT had national support for their strike.
“You deserve a professional pay that reflects the important role you play in this society,” Pringle said. “That is what this strike is about, the belief that every student, not one, not some, but every single student deserves a high-quality education.”
PPS classrooms will remain closed tomorrow, Nov. 2, as teachers continue striking. In the morning, teachers will picket at their school of employment from 8:15 to 10:15. Thursday’s afternoon picket will be outside of the district office at 12 p.m.. Students and members of the community are encouraged to show up and support the teachers.
