Job action as a lesson

Re “Teach, don’t walk,� editorial, June 5

Although I’m pleased to see The Times recognize the dedication and hard work of Los Angeles Unified School District teachers, I’m dismayed that you’ve lost sight of the big picture by not endorsing our one-hour protest today. Pretty words and platitudes will not send the message that the governor and the Legislature need to hear about the state budget crisis.

L.A. teachers and health and human services professionals should be praised for their willingness to put it on the line for our students and the communities in which they live. We’re willing to take this bold step because teachers, perhaps more than anyone, know that if these budget cuts go through, they will devastate public education in California. We can’t -- and won’t -- let that happen.

A.J. Duffy

President, United

Teachers Los Angeles

Los Angeles

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Thank you for your editorial regarding today’s planned teacher walkout. Thoughtful articles such as yours bring our issues before a larger audience, which is the point of the walkout. You argue that we teachers will rob students of valuable learning time and that we may be sending the message that it’s OK to skip school. I disagree.

Our job as educators is to teach facts. But more important, we teach civic responsibility and social values. I have had meaningful discussions with my students about the challenges that face students who attend public schools. I hope they will see by my example the power for change that a determined person or group of people can wield.

Marion Levine

Los Angeles