Today on AirTalk we'll take a look at the Manhattan Beach School District teacher protest and how that is affecting graduating seniors, the suspension and expulsion rate in California schools compared to the rest of the country and what may be the cause of that, TGI-Filmweek with our panel of critics and why the movie box office in the summer has been in steep decline in the past decade. Plus, the latest news.
Manhattan Beach teachers in a standoff with district
There’s an educational fight brewing in Manhattan Beach, and public school students are getting caught in the middle. The Manhattan Beach Unified School District is sitting on a $16 million reserve, but teachers aren’t too happy about it.
Why? Because they haven’t received a raise or cost of living increase in five years, and it’s been ten years since their pay has been matched to inflation. As a result, the Manhattan Beach Unified Teachers Association has directed its 300 members to stop heading up clubs or activities, close their classrooms before and after school hours, forgo volunteering in extracurricular capacities, and to turn down student requests for letters of recommendation.
That last directive is causing quite a stir, as graduating seniors now feel they are locked in between a fight they don’t fully understand. District administrators cite that they can’t commit to any raises without knowing what the budget situation will be beyond the year, and have only offered a 3 percent raise in pay to school employees. Teachers say this is not enough, and even though they feel for the students affected, their goal is to wake up parents and force them to look at the numbers and choose a side. However, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel - according to both district officials and union reps, a tentative agreement has been reached and will lead to a resolution soon.
Will the teachers get their way, or is there a compromise in the works? Are you a student or teacher in the school system there? Are you an angry parent, or do you sympathize with the teachers? Will this issue be resolved before college application deadlines pass?
Read more: Manhattan Beach students caught in middle of teacher pay dispute
Guest:
Tami Abdollah, education reporter, KPCC
Are schools doling out too many suspensions and expulsions?
Among the many calls for school reform, comes one that aims to change school discipline.
On Monday, a panel convened by the California Endowment will review how and when students are kicked out of classrooms, arguing that the state hands out more suspensions and expulsions than diplomas. And, that students of color are far more likely to face harsh punishments than their white peers.
When do the most severe measures become a matter of course? Is extreme disciplinary action necessary to maintain order and a sense of real consequence? What’s the best way to do that?
Guests:
Laura Faer, Education Rights Director, Public Counsel Law Center
Bernard James, Professor of Constitutional Law and specialist in education law at Pepperdine University; author of the School Safety Law Blog
FilmWeek: The Words, Lawless, The Eye of the Storm, Hello I Must Be Going and more
Larry is joined by KPCC film critics Andy Klein and Wade Major to discuss this week’s new films, including The Words, Lawless, The Eye of the Storm, Hello I Must Be Going and more. TGI-FilmWeek!
Guests:
Andy Klein, film critic for KPCC and the L.A. Times Community Papers chain
Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and boxoffice.com
Trailer for The Words
Summer movie tickets decline by 100 million since last decade
Maybe people are just staying in more, but something is to blame for the downward trend in movie attendance over the past ten years.
It could be the rise in technology that allows audiences to watch brand new movies from the comfort of their own homes, or it may be the fact that ticket prices continue to increase and place undue strain on the pocket book. But it’s also attributable in part to the fact that there were only a few true blockbusters this summer, and a vast majority of duds.
With the studio’s financial base underperforming, as well as an increased focus from domestic to foreign markets, what does this mean for the future of the film industry? Will studios double down on the big budget, 3-D releases? Or will they try to move back to the days of making more films that appeal to everyone? Or do ticket prices just need to decrease period? Why have you been staying away from the movie theaters so far this year? Or have you been a dutiful moviegoer throughout this summer months? After all, they do have air conditioning.
Guests:
Andy Klein, film critic for KPCC and the L.A. Times Community Papers chain
Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and boxoffice.com