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In statewide effort, UC Riverside demonstrators were large, loud and also, peaceful

Crowds of demonstrators at UC Riverside were spirited and peaceful during the March 4 Day of Action for Education, a statewide effort to raise awareness about the need for more state support for schools.

The Inland area group included hundreds of UCR students, staff and faculty members, many wearing red t-shirts or red armbands. They were joined by labor organizers and other local college students. The crowd ranged from a few hundred to a peak of perhaps 1,000 people.

Picketers, speakers, drummers, singers and even dancers chanted, exhorted and performed during the day at events that started at the carillon tower at 11 a.m. and moved to the ARTSblock in downtown Riverside.

Student organizers repeatedly called for an orderly, nonviolent protest, and even had their own security detail to make sure that marchers stayed safe.

At one point, Chancellor Timothy P. White was invited to address the group. “I stand with you. I stand with our faculty. I stand with our workers. I stand with our administration. We are working night and day to turn things around,” he said.

He asked the crowd to turn north to Sacramento and yell, ‘Fund education.’”

They did. “Say it again.”

They did. “One more time.”

The crowd yelled again. “The success we have today will help those still to come. I’m proud of you. I’m proud of you. I’m proud of you.”

In a letter to campus the following day, he wrote, “I saw many picket signs at the rally - some serious, some crude, and some with erroneous facts. I was moved by one of the signs, which poignantly stated, ‘I'm here for my little sister.’ Our students realize this isn't all about them, but rather the generations yet to come through the great halls of UCR to take their place as our future leaders.”

Among other speakers that day, Stephanie Kay, a lecturer in the Writing Program, said fee increases amount to privatizing the UC system.

“We must fight for our rights. Make noise. Don’t be passive.”

She encouraged students to write and get their parents to write letters to UCR administrators and legislators.

Students talked about the impact of working three jobs and losing sleep in order to pay for college. A librarian said he is a product of the UC system and has worked here for 10 years urged the students to ask for restoration of library hours that have been cut. “You want more hours, you ask for it. Don’t forget, we want to see you in there.”

The California Department of Education is turning up the heat on failing schools. Officials announced Monday that seven San Bernardino schools are among the worst 5 percent in the state.

Six Title 1 funded SB elementary schools and Pacific High School made the list of California’s lowest performing schools.

A new state law requires those schools to shut down, fire their administrators or become charter schools.

The legislation backed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was adopted to make California a contender for up to $700 million as part of President Barack Obama’s Race to the Top education initiative and other federal grants.

California was disqualified Thursday from competing for the first round of Race to the Top funding.

Federal officials claim state reforms made did not go far enough.

A.B Miller High in Fontana Unified and Wilmer Carter High in Rialto are among troubled schools on the list of lowest-performing schools that don’t receive Title 1 funding.

Officials will ask the federal Department of Education for a waiver to allow the state to form a list of the low performing schools, regardless of Title 1 funding.

Educators and some union leaders believe that could relieve some pressure on low performing schools in Rialto, Fontana, Colton and the High Desert. San Bernardino is behind only Los Angeles Unified and San Francisco Unified in the number of schools on the list.

San Bernardino City Unified School officials say they were expecting some City schools to be on the list.

“We just didn’t know how many of our schools would be on it,” said spokesman Linda Bardere. “Of course, one is too any.”

By the time marchers arrived in downtown Riverside, police presence was high but because the demonstrators were orderly, there were no arrests. By 5:30 p.m. the group was down to a core of about 30 people, dancing to the beat of drums outside the UCR/California Museum of Photography.