[Student Reporters] 'Pink-Slipped' Teachers

Various teachers have received pink slips this month at Cypress High School. For those who haven't caught on yet these pink slips of paper are the district's warning to teachers that they may be laid off in the imminent future due to the shortage in education funds. In fact this act has added the term "pink-slipped" to the daily colloquial.

The Orange County school district has given notice to 2706 employees to reduce their 271 million dollars in spending. This is an issue that many teachers staff members and students are very concerned with. In fact on March 13th Cypress High School's ASB wore pink shirts to show their support along with participation from the whole school.

Teachers are the victims of the budget cuts and many worry about their own position their close friends and co-workers. Mrs. Frank-Johnson a health and P.E. teacher at Cypress says "I don't like to see my friends in trouble. I feel bad about what's happening. I don't know how they are going to survive without jobs especially when they have a family to support and a mortgage to pay"

As students find that their very own teachers may not return the next year they cannot help but feel sympathy and voice their own opinions as well. "…she's one of the best AP teachers and a big benefit to our school. It's unfair that she might get laid off" says Riddhi Vora sophomore. "They shouldn't fire the new teachers. They need to fire the bad ones!"

Not only that but students are also beginning to see the impact of the recession more clearly on a daily basis. "I never really cared about the recession but now that teachers are being fired I'm beginning to realize how important it is" says Hannah Lee a freshman. Rumors of "pink-slipped" teachers spread quickly as teachers are spotted in despair and as co-workers continue wearing pink clothing to support their less fortunate friends.

Through these hard times Mrs. Frank-Johnson shares a piece of advice. "Be hopeful because there's still a chance that things will get better" After all last year the district notified 1900 both permanent and temporary teachers but only ended up cutting 100.