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P/CLOUDY Temp: 43 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Tuesday, April 1, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend March 22, 2003 Medford School District teachers took their turn protesting at Vogel Plaza in downtown Medford mid-day Friday. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Teach your children, well ... With Medford schools closed by budget cuts, educators rally and hope lesson is learned By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune More than 25 residents attended a Friday rally at Vogel Plaza, waving signs and banners as noontime motorists drove by. But instead of supporting or condemning war, participants on Friday chose a different subject — stable funding for education. "I would rather be teaching today, but this is the next best thing," said Marilyn Fishwick, a first-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School. "I’m here to just try and get the awareness out that schools have been cut to the bare bones." State revenue shortfalls have forced school districts across Oregon to slash days in order to balance their budgets. Districts save money on cut days by not paying the salaries of school employees. The Medford school district, which eliminated 10 school days, was closed Thursday and Friday. "I’ve got 28 second-graders and I want to be helping them today," said T.J. Murphy, a Griffin Creek Elementary School teacher. Friday’s rally was organized by teachers from the Medford Education Association (MEA) who decided to do something constructive on their day off. "This is an absolute tragedy," said June Buck, president of the MEA and a sixth-grade teacher at Kennedy Elementary. "We have to be a voice to our legislators that this has to be fixed." Teachers held signs reading, "stop school cuts," "value education" and "fund schools now." "Every day we’re not in school teaching it’s a sad day for us," said Debi O’Malley, a second-grade teacher at Howard Elementary. "Schools are supposed to be open. That’s something we can’t take for granted. Kids should be in school." "We’re saying ‘Come on, Legislature, let’s get some funding for our schools,’ " added Pat Eder, a second-grade teacher at Griffin Creek Elementary. "Today is meant to show the community that we should be teaching." Every Jackson County school district except Prospect has cut days, but Friday’s event was attended only by Medford teachers. Buck promised larger rallies will be held, and added that she hopes to involve other school districts. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S