Workers in struggle at UCLA By MICHAEL SCHWARTZ LOS ANGELES-The class struggle is alive and well at UCLA. This is something that people in the LA area aren't used to. Most think UCLA is an institution of learning-a school that cares about the students as well as the professors, TAs, and the many others who … Continue reading Youth in Action
Category: Education & Schools
Teachers Rally in Sacramento for Better Funding for California Schools
By CAROLE SELIGMAN SAN FRANCISCO-Monday, May 8 was a great day to be a teacher in California! That was the day of a huge demonstration-over 8000 teachers-in the state capital, Sacramento. I and a fellow teacher at the South San Francisco elementary school where I teach third grade drove to Sacramento in two hours. There … Continue reading Teachers Rally in Sacramento for Better Funding for California Schools
Youth in Action
Students March with Striking Janitors By MICHAEL SCHWARTZ LOS ANGELES-In April, approximately 10,000 janitors in LA county were on strike. Youth for Socialist Action (YSA) has been as active as possible supporting the strike. YSA members marched with the janitors on several occasions. There were some amazing marches. It's so beautiful to watch workers realize … Continue reading Youth in Action
French Teachers, Parents, and Students in Schools Struggle
By JAN BIRCH PARIS-In France since the beginning of this year there have been a series of teachers strikes in primary, secondary, high schools, and vocational schools. The strikes have been marked by a number of unusual things. Unlike many teachers strikes that pit teachers against students and parents, these strikes, in many cases, have … Continue reading French Teachers, Parents, and Students in Schools Struggle
Fightback: We are Born Naked & Hungry; Then it Gets Worse!
by Sylvia Weinstein In the good ol' USA it can certainly get worse. Seventy-three young men who are too young in age to vote, smoke, or drink are on death row awaiting execution. Three young men who had committed crimes before they were 18 years old have already been executed. The United States is the … Continue reading Fightback: We are Born Naked & Hungry; Then it Gets Worse!
Youth in Action
The Aftermath of Proposition 21 By JAVIER ARMAS A series of ballot propositions have been passed recently in California that severely attack the democratic rights of youth, people of color, and the working class in general. The worst one yet, concerning the rights of minors, was approved by voters in early March by 65 percent. … Continue reading Youth in Action
Fightback: Who Cares for Children?
by Sylvia Weinstein Articles have begun appearing in the press recently about the children of former welfare mothers who are getting sub-standard child care. Tom Zoellner of the San Francisco Chronicle writes, "Mediocre child care is harming the basic development of about 1 million American toddlers whose mothers have left welfare rolls to go back … Continue reading Fightback: Who Cares for Children?
Youth in Action
By ADAM RITSCHER Decatur, Ill., the recent scene of bitter labor struggles by striking and locked-out workers at the Staley, Caterpillar, and Bridgestone Firestone plants, last month also saw the angry raised fists of hundreds of Black and white high school students protesting the unjust expulsion of seven Black students. The seven students, who … Continue reading Youth in Action
Will Segregation Return to Boston’s Schools?
By ART LECLAIR BOSTON-In the early 1970s, after years of struggle against seemingly insurmountable odds, a group of minority parents in Boston brought suit against the Boston Public Schools. They argued that their children were being denied their right to a decent education because of their race. This gutsy bunch of parents from the … Continue reading Will Segregation Return to Boston’s Schools?
Will Segregation Return to Boston’s Schools?
By ART LECLAIR BOSTON-In the early 1970s, after years of struggle against seemingly insurmountable odds, a group of minority parents in Boston brought suit against the Boston Public Schools. They argued that their children were being denied their right to a decent education because of their race. This gutsy bunch of parents from the … Continue reading Will Segregation Return to Boston’s Schools?
Youth in Action: YSA Active on LA Campuses
With the ushering in of a new school year, the Los Angeles YSA has a optimistic outlook on our tasks and perspectives for the upcoming months. We plan educational forums on a variety of issues such as affirmative action, the Cuban Revolution, and the Black Panthers. We will be active with the Affirmative Action Coalition, … Continue reading Youth in Action: YSA Active on LA Campuses
Youth in Action: Meet Us at the Socialist Educational Conference!
By ADAM RITSCHER "I'm interested in attending Socialist Action Summer School, and joining a group of young activists." These words from a young woman college student in San Francisco exemplify the type of response members of Youth for Socialist Action have been getting in trying to sign up youth for the summer school. … Continue reading Youth in Action: Meet Us at the Socialist Educational Conference!
YOUTH IN ACTION: Solidarity with Mexican Students!
Solidarity with Mexican Students! By DEREK SEIDMAN (Los Angeles YSA) In an amazing display of strength and resistance, Mexican students at the National Autonomous University (UNAM) have continued to keep the largest university in Latin America closed down for over three months, striking against a government onslaught to substantially raise the tuition costs, … Continue reading YOUTH IN ACTION: Solidarity with Mexican Students!
Editorials
School Resegregation is on the Rise The gains of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s through the 1970s are collapsing at an ever increasing rate. The effects can be seen in housing, employment opportunities-and especially in education. Time magazine noted in 1996, "After two decades of progress toward integration, the separation of Black … Continue reading Editorials
Youth in Action: …It’s That Capitalistic System
... It's that capitalistic system Reshad Karboau, 15, is the author of the rap song presented below. He is a member of the San Francisco chapter of Youth for Socialist Action (YSA). It's that capitalistic system that never came in contact with reality So overpowering and towering Did that to everything Even the people … Continue reading Youth in Action: …It’s That Capitalistic System
Youth in Action: ‘Our War is Right Here at Home’
'Our War is Right Here at Home' Following are excerpts from a speech given by Paul M., 18, at an antiwar rally in Santa Rosa, Calif., on June 25. Paul is a member of the San Francisco chapter of Youth for Socialist Action (YSA). I am a high school student and I have here … Continue reading Youth in Action: ‘Our War is Right Here at Home’
Mumia’s address to Evergreen students: A LIFE LIVED, DELIBERATELY
Evergreen College students asked Mumia Abu-Jamal to address the theme, "A Life Lived, Deliberately." The following excerpts from Jamal's June 11 speech are indicative of his desire to present his revolutionary views without equivocation. Welcome, students of Evergreen, and thank you for this invitation. On the MOVE. Long live John Africa. I feel privileged … Continue reading Mumia’s address to Evergreen students: A LIFE LIVED, DELIBERATELY
Evergreen College Graduates Hear Mumia Abu-Jamal
Evergreen College Graduates Hear Mumia Abu-Jamal April 24, 1999: Close to 50,000 demonstrators marched in Philadelphia (above) and San Francisco to support Mumia. This fall, supporters must redouble efforts to save Mumia from execution. By JEFF MACKLER A number of the nation's major corporate media, including The New York … Continue reading Evergreen College Graduates Hear Mumia Abu-Jamal
Youth in Action
UC Berkeley Students Occupy Campus Building By ADAM RITSCHER On April 14, students at UC Berkeley responded to ominous moves against the Ethnic Studies program on the campus by occupying Barrows Hall. After a 10-hour occupation, during which banners were hung from the balconies and a crowd of students gathered in front of the building … Continue reading Youth in Action
New York City Schools Hold Mumia Teach-In
By MARILYN VOGT-DOWNEY NEW YORK-On Tuesday, May 11, 1999, more than 23 high schools participated in a teach-in on Mumia Abu-Jamal organized by faculty, students, and staff in the New York public schools. Inspired by the January 1999 teach-in organized by the Oakland Education Association in Oakland, Calif., schools, this teach-in included both school-day programs … Continue reading New York City Schools Hold Mumia Teach-In
Youth in Action
UC Graduate Students Win Union Recognition By DEREK SEIDMAN (UCLA YSA) The bureaucratic University of California (UC) administration clung to their rejection of recognizing SAGE/UAW's right to collective bargaining, but students and mass sentiment finally won out. On March 22, grad students at UCLA voted to unionize by a resounding 718 votes to 269. This … Continue reading Youth in Action
Youth in Action
S.F. State Teach-In Promotes Student/Faculty Unity By ADAMRITSCHER For several months now, the faculty at San Francisco State University has engaged in a contract struggle with the administration over such important issues as "merit" pay, the increasing use of part -time professors, working conditions, and the move to do away with tenure. While obviously all … Continue reading Youth in Action
California State University Faculty Votes to Authorize a Strike
By ANN ROBERTSON Teachers across the nation have their eyes on California State University (CSU) as the 20,000 faculty members, spread over 22 campuses, brace themselves for the fight of their careers. On March 28, the members of the California Faculty Association voted to authorize a strike if such action should become necessary. At stake … Continue reading California State University Faculty Votes to Authorize a Strike
Teachers in Mexico City Beat Back Gov’t Austerity Drive
By GERRY FOLEY Militant teacher trade-unionists in Mexico have just won a major victory against the government's attempts to break the labor movement's resistance to its austerity and privatization drive. Teachers have been a prime target of this assault, since the budget sent to the Mexican congress by President Ernesto Zedillo calls for cutting the … Continue reading Teachers in Mexico City Beat Back Gov’t Austerity Drive
California State University Faculty Resists Attacks
By ANN ROBERTSON An unexpected event happened in the California State University (CSU) system that might well have ramifications for higher public education across the nation. After a year of negotiations, the board of the faculty union, the California Faculty Association (CFA), sent a Tentative Agreement to the faculty for ratification-only to get it back … Continue reading California State University Faculty Resists Attacks