I support the teachers, but I think this is a bad move to defy the judge. I am beginning to wonder if we can't sign a one year contract or something and then work on it as things move on. It would be nice to see the entire contract not just parts of it.

I am proud to have these teachers in charge of my children. They continue to fight for what they believe in regardless of how people treat them or comments that are floating out there that are horribly insulting towards them.

Way to go Teachers.

im in complete support of them. before this is over they need to revisit what the ones at the top are making and see if they can squeeze a few bucks out there because as it goes if they screw the teachers those people will get a big fat bonus.

As someone who remembers the 1994 Bremerton strike - GO KENT!

Fight for what you know is right, huge classrooms are at the point where one is just a babysitter and crowd control, not an educator.

Very bad move. These teachers are breaking the law and defying a judge. Any legitimate arguments they have are weakened with this move in this economy. What a poor example for students.

The next time a student dis-obeys them in class or at school they have no ground to stand on -- they have a defied a legally binding court order from a judge in the state of Washington. They themselves are law breakers now... shame on them. I support what they want and need BUT the ends do NOT justify the means. It is never OK to break the law. If it is, then they need to explain how they justify it to the kids.

All personnel that do not report to work as ordered by the court should be FIRED according to due process by the Kent school district and prosecuted by the authorities.

The Kent teacher's union has impeached any and all credibility they may have been hoping to keep by voting to defy a judge's order. They are supposed to serve as examples to our children. Who among us supports defying valid legal judgments in lieu of working within the existing system? Daydreams of "Fight the Power!" aside, why would children accept a teacher's authority in the future? If the child believes he is right, why should he be held to the rules by teachers when they have deemed themselves above the rules?

Kent teachers deserve everything they are asking for and MORE!! Underpaid and overworked!!! Don't stop now. It's a good lesson for the kids to also learn to fight for what they believe is right and to not give up!!

Throw the teachers in Jail. What a fine example these teachers are showing their students by not following a judges order. Then see if the union will bail them out of jail.

Throw the teachers in Jail. What a fine example these teachers are showing their students by not following a judges order. Then see if the union will bail them out of jail.

I was disappointed that the teachers initially struck instead of continuing to bargain the weekend before classes were due to start. However, I now sense that the district is waging a PR war and dragging their feet in bargaining. I sense that the district's near term goal is getting vengeance against the union rather than coming to an agreement.

I am so very proud the Kent teachers have decided to remain on strike to maintain their support for the best environment for their students. I have been an elementary teacher for 43 years, so I know the importance of class size. Those of you who do not feel class size is an important issue, why don't you add 5 to 10 children to your family and see what you would encounter.

In case you do not remember, teachers have constitutional rights as well. Just because a judge makes the decision, it does not mean it is correct. If any judge would have to spend just one week teaching a class with a large number of students, they would have such a difficult time surviving they would quickly realize that smaller class sizes are extremely important. After all, citizens have the constitutional right to challenge a decision when they feel it is not fair and just; don't forget teachers are citizens. Speaking of who is unfair, I would have to say the school board and school administration are circumventing constitutional rights. Rather than place the students first when attempting to solve a problem, they just go to the courts to protect and maintain their power. I do not understand why teachers are not allowed to go to court and have the judge tell the administration and school board they have to continue negotiating.

Kent teachers you are doing what all teachers should be doing in this country, standing up for what you believe is right; especially when your are right. I respect you a great deal. Of course you are criticized and ridiculed, but just remember it is the problem of the people criticizing not yours.

Hang in there, even though opponents will holler, shout, scream, and call you names; just remember they are what they call you.

These "teachers" just betrayed their country just as much as soldiers taking the Constitution into their own hands, and that's best case scenario.

This is wrong and they know it.

I hope Kent goes full out in retaliation, up to & including firing these criminals. Go ahead... they're defying a judicial order.

i think kent teachers should stop what they are doing and listen to the law other than breaking it

It seems a bit odd that going on strike could be declared illegal. The right to organize and go on strike is fundamental to maintenance of reasonable working conditions. I hope other school districts strike in support of Kent. What's happening in the schools has reached crisis proportions.

Will anyone stand up and recognise that this Judge has no legal grounds to force anyone back to work? Zero. Public employees or not.

I have a degree in Para-Education and we, as Educators, get into the this career, for the children not for our selfish desires. We as Educators are responsible to teach the children our share of right and wrong, how does this teach our children that we are to respect and follow the law if the very people we look to to teach our children, who teach by example whether the teachers know it or not, are showing our children that it is right to disrespect the law by doing what they, the teachers, want instead of following and obeying the law. In this economy the teachers should be aware that it is only a matter of time before the Superintendants realize that they can get two Para-Educators for the price of one Teacher. I have already heard of talk in the Clover Park School District in Lakewood, WA that if they get rid of one out of every three Teachers they can hire twice as many Para's to cover the increase in class size and save district monies in the process due to the federal government pays the districts for extra Para's in a class overflow situation. As Para-Educators we are trained to teach the children that are either disabled or Regular children that just learn in a different way. As Para's, we are trained to find the way that the child learns differently and to teach those children what the Teacher is trying to relay. This is usually more challenging because these are the children that usually end up getting left behind due to the Teacher not giving the children the extra attention, which is usually due to the class size. I have worked with Teachers that always seem to find a way give the extra attention and this is what teaching should be about, THE CHILDREN, and teaching them to respect our mentors and in this case the law which the Teacher are not doing.

I say if they don't want to work then fire them and hire Teachers that are about the children. How many of the Teachers on strike do think would apply for a job? Class size?, how well is no class size going to be better for the children than a class with overflow issues? How much further is this going to cause the children to fall behind? I am an Educator myself and don't understand how this creates a positive atmosphere, attitude or set an example that we as the mentors to the children can portray. I am ashamed as a fellow Educator for the Educators involved and feel very sorry for the children whose education is the hostage in this situation.

I do not agree with what they are doing, our children are required to finish a certain amount of credit hours per school year and they are cutting into that and they will not be able to make it up. I hope that they can see that they are promoting that breaking laws and rules is okay if it is justified. I hope that the judge gives them what they deserve whether that is a jail sentence, or a fine, a criminal is still a criminal and last week the judge made it known that a continued strike would constitute an illegal act of pure non-sense. They want more money , well don't we all and we cannot just go on strike to make that point we just have to take it as it is until the economy changes and hopefully we will be at the receiving end when things do start heading in the right direction. Thank you

All personnel that do not report to work as ordered by the court should be FIRED. This is a criminal act, put them in Jail and replace them with teachers who want to work.

My admissions to Stanford University Class of 2013 would not have been possible if it weren't for the Kent teachers. Having been to 5 of the KSD schools, small class sizes and higher wages are a must. The district seems to be evading all proposition while teachers are to be blamed for asking better results.

They are not defying court order - they are taking a stand for what they believe. Most people haven't fully understood their US history - Remember MLK?

Li Stanford Class of 2013

My mother taught in the Kent school dist for over 20 years and Kent was notorious for not negotiating with their teachers. The Teachers would start in Jan and keep trying to get the district to the table to open dialog, the district would ignore until right before school would start and then reject the offer. Don't blame the teachers, don't blame the economy, blame the over paid district officials. Ask them to lead by example, tell them to consider the children. Teachers are not babysitters, they are not there for the parents convenience so they don't have to pay day care. THEY ARE THERE TO TRY TO EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN.

9 months ago my company froze salaries and wages for the year. Shortly after they extracted more for medical. Then they froze 401k. Later in the year they again modified benefits (further cutting of course). Then, a month ago I was laid off like 216,000 other Americans.

Tax revenues are down 15-20%...we are in a recession, why again should a 5% raise be part of the equation?

Show some compassion to the rest of us in this economy and get back to work...and be thankful you have a recession proof job...please

I support the teachers. Being from the time of overcrowding in school it was really hard to get teachers to help you and sharing desks at time and teachers seemed frustrated about things at times. So if a strike is what it takes then more power to them.

We won't show a speech by the President of the US (elected by the people) challenging the kids to work hard and stay in school....and we have 1,300 teachers defying a judge, standing up in front of cameras saying jail isn't so bad.

PEOPLE.... what the hec our we teaching our kids!

I 150% agree with what the teachers are doing. They deserve every bit of what they ask and then some. And to those who say they are criminals, and unjustified, and setting a bad example: Have you forgotten what it means to be an American? A Patriot? This country was founded on rebellion, and we, as citizens, have a duty to question what we believe is unjust and unfair. If you don't believe me then read what the Declaration of Independence states. The government is not always right and just in its decrees. Sometimes unjust laws are passed, and must be broken to ensure the freedom of the people. These teachers should be reminding you what it is to be an American.

I don't think the argument will stand that teachers are setting a bad example by defying the judges order in view of the districts and schools that defied the President's request just to greet and encourage the students. There's a saying, "it depends on whose ox is gored" that determines ones support or lack of. My position is that the teachers are not only striking for themselves, but the students as well. They should defy Andrea Darvas' orders because she does not have the teachers interest at heart.

What are these people complining about. You accept a job knowing what your getting into. This is a poor example of Union exploitation and makes all Unions look bad. Lazy, Crybaby, Bedwetters. Ed Ironworkers Local 86

This is a surprise why??? The Unions will do anything to break this country. What kind of example are these teachers setting? A bad example, it's the one I refused to allow with my kids. Throw a fit til you get what you want. Sorry doesn't work here. Who loses in something like this, it's the students. Of course in today's day and age, nothing surprises me anymore, we have become a Nation of law breakers and depends on who you are as to whether you get charged with a crime. Defy a court order to go back to work nothing will happen but if I were to defy a jury summons I get hauled to jail.

Sheesh, sure glad these wer not my teachers when I was a kid. I had one teacher that taught ALL 12 grades in a 2 room School House. I remember her like it was yesterday and that was back in the 1st & 2nd grade. She never once thought abt herself, she was all abt the children and giving us the best learning enviroment.

I believed that this country left slavery behind it. Since when do we as a society, accept or demand forcing people to work for our convenience?

- Roger

I am a single mother of 2 children who are students in Kent, WA. This strike is not only denying our children their right to an education but it is now teaching them to defy the law. I do not want my children being taught by these so called ROLE MODELS. I work in the legal field and have for 10 years and I work hard to instill right from wrong in my children just for the teachers to undo it by their examples. I teach them to stand up for what they believe in, BUT at the same time to RESPECT the rules and laws laid forth for protection.

I feel these teachers think they are irriplacable when in fact there are many who were laid off due to the economy who I am sure would love ANY job. I say fire them all and hire their replacements with the promised assistants for the larger class size.

I know they have a high class numbers but realistically RIGHT NOW, where do they expect the children to be placed. Until the district can juggle around students or build new schools I think the teachers need to shut up, get back to work and deal with the added assistants they were to get. And honestly how much of this is actually about their 3% pay raise? They knew what they signed up for when they chose to be a teacher, just like I did when I went into the legal field.

With people looking for work, send them packing.
Then get teachers that are willing to work.

They are always saying they are for the kids, all I see are people looking for more pay with all kinds of people out of work. Get real.

All the Kent teacher's need to be in jail and replaced! They are bad example for all people in the U.S. They are Child Abuser's.
What would happen if a parent took their child out of school for 16 day's because they did not like the class size...they would be put in jail, have their child taken away from them and fined fo everyday they were out of school.

The reason they are child abuser's is because they are depriving all these children of their Constitutional Rights to a education.

Then these children have to make up all these days during good weather for our area when they need to be outside and playing in the sunshine.

All of them need to be replaced there are a lot of layed off teacher's that would be able to take their place.

yes.. that's makes this country great.. need to take a stance.. and everytime the Negotiations at the last minute is the strategy used to force Labor into submission! See the writing and the history.. the School Companies (yep.. they're a bunch of Companies .. almost a Corporate business) can receive a Court injunction just like all businesses and people. Foxes.. but.. not so sly. More power to the Teachers.. though.. I would gladly like to see a National flat scale for all Public Servants.. including Teachers.

Better yet.. howz about the Parents take a mandatory sememster at the helm.. yep, put 2 Parents into 6 classes for the entire semester. I also Teach.. and found that 30 to 60 students in one class can be a challenge beyond reckoning.. (yes..I like to use spoken English when I email and post comments) Though, I teach overseas.. you can't imagine what Teaching is like unless you do it.. like most jobs.. seems easy.. IT'S FAR FROM EASY! To all Parents.. think it's tough to discipline your kid at home.. try 30 in one room for only 40 minutes! And.. these kids need to learn something in the process which the Lessons will be monitored and examined hence, quizzes, tests, and Exams! What do you think? Oh.. I have over 400 students each week.. of the only 21 class this term. Previously.. I had over 1,120 students each week in 36 classes in one week. Grueling? You bet.. but, the rewards of Teaching are most unique and, perhaps not found in most other professions. I love it.. but, can you do it for even one semester? I seriously doubt it.

yes i am. i wasnt at first but when i seen it air lastnight on ur news yes i do support em 100 percent.