January 14, 2019, after a ruling by the court stating that the teachers and staff of the Los Angeles Unified School District may begin their strike beginning on Monday, educators all over Los Angeles prepare themselves to launch their protest against large class sizes, low pay, and little benefits.

The Los Angeles Unified School District is the second largest school district in the nation behind the New York City Department of Education, with over 600,000 students. Class sizes range from the low thirties to the high forties, with many teachers and staff members arguing that this does not allow teachers to give each student the attention they deserve, restricting their ability to learn. Larger class sizes mean that teachers have to lead their instruction in a way that blankets the learning styles of dozens of students, without being able to teach their classes in a way that helps with the unique learning styles of individual students.

Students of LAUSD must also attend school without being given resources such as school nurses, social workers, and library staff. This places them at risk of serious injury, both physically and mentally, with some students not being able to see social workers that could help them through therapy and mental health services. Without such staff, students with mental illnesses are not being given the help they need, increasing the risk of suicidal and violent behavior.

LAUSD staff has heard the argument from their district that there is not enough money to cover costs for smaller class sizes and more staff. The district claims that to provide these services, other services would be cut. However, teachers are fighting back, demanding to learn how there is not enough money in Los Angeles and in California, the fifth largest economy in the world, to provide students with necessary resources to help them succeed.

Teachers are retaliating against their school superintendent, Austin Beutner, who has no prior experience in education, but rather as a businessman. They have chosen to vacate their classes in hopes that their absence will convince the school board to give each school the necessary resources to provide each student the help they need.

For now, the district hopes to fill the vacancies with substitute teachers, and many students are joining their teachers out on the streets with signs of their own. How long the strike will last is unknown, but it is expected to take as long as needed for the school board to respond.