300 Students Walk Out in Support of Teachers
More than 300 students walked out of their classes at West High School in Torrance Friday in what students called a show of support for their teachers, who have been without a union contract since June.
“We feel real bad that our teachers are working without contracts,” said Scott Travis, 17, of Torrance, a senior who said he walked out of his philosophy class. “There are trash men that make more than teachers do.”
The walkout, which began at 10:30 a.m., ended after the lunch period. Several students said they acted without encouragement from their teachers.
A district spokesman said it is “sad that students are kind of pulled into a job action. The Board of Education really wants to settle this amicably.”
The Torrance Teachers Assn., which represents 900 teachers and other employees, has requested an 8% pay increase. The district is offering 1%.
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