Hundreds of Oakland Teachers Support General Strike in Oakland Today

Teachers are joining the rest of the 99%ers who are demanding a return to democracy in the U. S. From the AP:

The Associated Press

Posted: 11/02/2011 11:31:21 AM PDT

Updated: 11/02/2011 11:31:23 AM PDT

OAKLAND, Calif.—Oakland school officials say about 360 teachers didn't show up for work, as thousands of people joined anti-Wall Street protests throughout the city. 

Oakland Unified School District spokesman Troy Flint says roughly 18 percent of the district's 2,000 teachers were absent, as compared to the 1-percent rate on a typical Wednesday.

Several teachers' unions have expressed support for the Occupy Oakland movement, which made international headlines after an Iraq War veteran participating in the demonstrations was injured in last week's clashes between protestors and police.

Flint says the district got substitute teachers for most classrooms, and where that wasn't possible, children were sent to other classrooms.

The district doesn't collect daily student attendance figures, but Flint says nothing suggests there are widespread absences.