It’s not always easy to keep in mind, but the rights you may take for granted today were won on picket lines, in courtrooms, and in hard-fought political campaigns decades ago.
1988 – Teachers, tired of the Legislature’s raiding school funding during every economic downturn fought to pass Proposition 98, the landmark state law guaranteeing about 40 percent of the state’s general fund for schools and community colleges.
1940’s – The teachers union was the only major organization in California to protest against the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.
1915 – CTA led efforts to outlaw child labor in California.
1911 – Free textbooks for students.
1867 – Public funding was secured for schools that educated nonwhite students.
1866 – CTA won a major legislative victory with a law providing free public schools to California children.
1863 – CTA was founded during the Civil War.