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Show School Problem Crises: Teacher Walkout, Demonstrations Called Vacant Classrooms Welcome Students Utah's simmering school crisis moved into the action stage Monday as teachers began a two-day walkout to press their demands for more money for education of the state's 270,000 pupils. GOV. GEORGE DEWEY Clyde's refusal last week to call a special session of the state legislature to consider more school money triggered trigg-ered the Utah Education Association's (UEA) call Saturday for a strike Monday and today of its 10,000 members. Most school boards throughout the state ordered schools opened in the face of the threatened threat-ened action, but the openings were considered only a formality. Two districts, Granite and Box Elder, obtained restraining orders enjoining teachers to be In the classrooms Monday morning. Despite the restraining order only a few :eachers showed up for classes in the Granite Gran-ite district The State Board of Education requires that districts hold 180 days of school each year. Indefinite extension of the present walkouts this requirement, so the days that are lost during dur-ing the recess will have to be made up. JOHN C. EVANS Jr, UEA executive secretary, sec-retary, said that most teachers would honor the UEA walkout. UEA proposals include an Allocation of state funds depends on meeting and a refusal to sign contracts for next year until demands are met. Students reported for school as usual but were, met with parents and assemblies to maintain main-tain supervision. In some schools, old movies were shown to occupy the time. Pickets To Back-up Teacher's Recess By DAN CUNNINGHAM Chronicle Staff Writer Citizens' groups plan to demonstrate Tuesday Tues-day at the State Capitol Building in support of the current teachers' "recess." DEMONSTRATORS are definitely coming from Ogden, Brigham City and Salt Lake. Other areas are expected to be represented. Also planning to picket are University students. Students wishing to join the demonstration demon-stration may meet hourly from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Union fish pond to be picked up by a shuttle service. The Idea was sponsaneous," said Michael W. McKain, Salt Lake Coordinator for the demonstration. "We just plan to help the idea along. "The citizens' groups," he continued, "want to encourage teachers to take a strong stand favoring quality education in Utah. We are ready and willing to support past, present and future actions the teachers undertake. "HOWEVER, citizens will demonstrate only if teachers attend the Tuesday mass meetings and continue their strong stand. "But teachers should not be called on to stand up alone. Citizens have an equal if not greater responsibility in the education of their children. "In the public limelight, K would be easy for the teachers to back down for fear of becoming be-coming unpopular. "Last August the only state group to come to the support of Utah teachers was the PTA, and this was only on the state level. Local PTA's avoided a strong stand. And even the state leaders' support was conditional. "TEACHERS signed contracts in August on agreement with Clyde that a commission would be established to examine school proalems. It was further agreed thnt the commission would submit sub-mit recommendations before the end of the school year for Clyde's Cly-de's serious consideration. "Clyde has dismissed the recommendations. rec-ommendations. Therefore, the Utah teacher is In the same position he was in last summer. In effect, due to a breech of agreement by Clyde, the contracts con-tracts could be held void. 'Teachers should not honor contracts Tuesday. They were signed under false pretenses." Dr. Paul J. Hansen, head of the department of education at the University, has asked members mem-bers df his staff to make no commitments on the school crisis. cris-is. A group of West High School students protested Monday on the steps of the State Capitol against the Governor's action. They carried placards and chanted chant-ed "Yea Yea UEA, we're behind be-hind you all the way." Gov. Clyde called the demonstrators "clear-eyed, fine-looking, alert youngsters in whom the future of this country resides." He pointed out to them that Utah is "second to none in practically all categories, of any state In the union." As the father of pre-school children, and a believer in "qual. ity education," McKain said, '1 want this settled before my children get into school." SPEAKING for Governor Dewey Clyde, John Talmage said In a telephone interview, "The Governor has dicouraged the demonstrations." ..ed. "Governor Clyde is stand-., ing groups can do any good for either side. "Let' I stay hom and solv this rationally," Talmaga added." add-ed." Governor Clyde Is standing stand-ing behind school boards In Um program they adopted to airy out the provtsiona of the law." University coordinators for Tuesday's demonstration Include the following officers of the Uoah chapter of th Americana for Democratic Action: Paul O. Benson, president; C. Anderson Coppin, Personal liberties lib-erties Commirtae chairman; and Raymond B. Pedderson, chairman chair-man of the EstabltAment. |
