The Militant - November 28, 2005 -- High school students in L.A. walk out

Vol. 69/No. 46 November 28, 2005

High school students in L.A. walk out

BY SETH DELLINGER
AND JULIAN SANTANA
LOS ANGELES—“There aren’t enough chairs. For the first week of class I had to stand. Classes are an hour and a half, so a lot of us would sit on the ground,” said Edgar Escobedo, a senior at South Gate High School. He was describing why nearly 500 students walked out of classes, protesting overcrowded conditions that make learning nearly impossible. They demanded more teachers and textbooks.

On November 3, students sat in on the athletic field. Parents joined them in a march the next day. Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) officials said they will address the students’ demands. Meanwhile, many have been labeled “truants” for missing classes, noted freshman Tony Larrave.

“I don’t even have a gym locker,” which is common, Larrave said. “I get tired carrying all of my books around. A lot of us just leave our books at home.” There are only four class periods a day, he added. “I don’t get any science or history.

LAUSD official Olga Quinones said the crisis is due to the enrollment of “333 students who were not anticipated.”

The walkout has had an effect. According to the November 8 daily Hoy, seven new teachers have been hired and some textbooks have arrived. “We did it!” said Arnold Gonzalez, a junior who helped build the protest. “Teachers have been asking us what books we need. Our music class had only eight guitars for 40 students, but now they’ll get more. For the first time I have a computer class and I have a computer!”

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