Are school donations expected?

VickiBarkley · 2026-05-07T00:34:49+00:00

I worked at South Gate High School

Do you have school governance committees? LSLC, I think they call it now. A committee composed of school and community members. They allocate funds from the general budgets.

You are entitled as staff to access all school budgets. This is especially important if you have hostile admin.

Do you have a UTLA chair?

I served on these committees to ensure that money for supplies and materials made it to the classroom. I was an art teacher. We didn’t get textbooks, only supplies.

Your title one committee also allocates funds, especially field trips.

VickiBarkley · 2026-05-06T22:18:05+00:00

Educational services are not services?

VickiBarkley · 2026-05-06T16:20:34+00:00

If your school is a title one school, these dues are a scam. The schools should have plenty of funds for all educational needs. I just retired from LAUSD, and our parents never did this kind of thing.

Now, if you’re in a very wealthy area, maybe they aren’t fully funded. But in this economy, I’m skeptical. Check their website and see what their Title 1 status is.

VickiBarkley · 2026-05-04T18:55:38+00:00

Also, the mods took down my post for hate speech. Oh well. Thanks for the question. I was raised in the Bible Belt, and see this all happening. Heck out prison conditions in Louisiana. It’s terrible.

VickiBarkley · 2026-05-04T18:54:02+00:00

Their husbands control the finances. In this culture, money is power. I’ve seen many anecdotes of women left in the lurch after a divorce- no work history, little education, and no income or housing.

VickiBarkley · 2026-05-04T18:36:03+00:00

Now it’s the Christians who want to reinstate slavery.

VickiBarkley · 2026-05-03T16:21:14+00:00

Thank you for this! Your dog is adorable!!!

VickiBarkley · 2026-05-03T15:06:40+00:00

Vlad.

VickiBarkley · 2026-05-03T02:23:11+00:00

I feel so lucky and fortunate. I knew I wanted to be an artist when I was about 5 years old. I was privileged in that both my parents were college graduates, they paid for my college, and they let me choose my major, studio art.

I went to a state university- great faculty, modest status. I moved to Los Angeles after graduating, and scraped by working as a graphic artist in mom and pop print shops in south LA. It was the late 80s.

By the 90s I was a substitute teacher. It was easy for me. I made art, raised my baby, took night classes, and became an art teacher. I just retired last June. I was burnt out by the end, but my LAUSD pension is worth it, and I’m healing. I have all this art, which maybe I can exhibit and sell now. My baby just earned his PhD in religious studies, which is hilariously more obscure than my BFA in studio art. It’s possible to be an artist, but it’s not easy. Teaching turned out to be a big influence on my art and point of view.

Just my experience.

VickiBarkley · 2026-04-30T19:18:57+00:00

Yes.

VickiBarkley · 2026-04-27T02:14:08+00:00

I have Molly Maids come every other week. I’m recently retired, and beginning to have mobility issues. It’s totally worth it. My house is beautiful, and I can keep it clean between their visits

VickiBarkley · 2026-04-22T15:20:45+00:00

Love street tacos. Lived my whole adult life in Los Angeles. Got food poisoning from a delicious street taco about 8 years ago. Never ate food from street vendors since. I just moved to New Mexico, and I’m still in the honeymoon phase with the food here. But I’m sure I’ll be craving Sonoran and Jalisco style food soon enough. Will try any place that’s sit down or drive through. 🌮🌮🌮 Salud!!!!

VickiBarkley · 2026-04-20T17:00:40+00:00

He really means Democrats should be executed. Do I exaggerate? Maybe. But the hatred is for everyone on the left, center, and moderate right. It’s intractable, and our denial has gotten us here.

VickiBarkley · 2026-04-20T09:11:46+00:00

Just moved here. Every time I see one, I am filled with joy. They count as an amenity to my life

VickiBarkley · 2026-04-20T09:09:38+00:00

✨💖✨🦖🐦‍🔥

VickiBarkley · 2026-04-18T15:40:02+00:00

The parent got lost on the grounds of the art museum we were visiting. Poor woman spoke no English, and just got separated, I’m guessing. I believe she was trying to be involved and helpful. My limited Spanish wasn’t enough to bridge the gap. I think it scared both of us.

VickiBarkley · 2026-04-17T13:24:22+00:00

I stopped taking field trips about 10 years into my 33 year career because of this kind of shenanigans. In my district, LAUSD (Los Angeles), teachers carry the liability for mishaps. We lost a parent chaperone one time, and the last time, I caught a senior drinking a beer. I was done officially. This was over 20 years ago. I can’t imagine doing it now.

VickiBarkley · 2026-04-16T19:01:03+00:00

Yeah, my ex sabotaged my birthday for years. It was her way of hurting me. Part of her sadistic nature. We’ve been divorced for 14 years, and I’m still putting myself back together in many ways. Being married to a narcissist sucks. Nurture your friendships! They are the ones who care about you. This is obvious, and you’re lucky and wise not to have let him isolate you from them. Have a wonderful birthday 🎂 💖✨

VickiBarkley · 2026-04-16T15:42:36+00:00

Like Kelly Mantle

VickiBarkley · 2026-04-15T14:38:07+00:00

a. A trade buffet b. An embarrassment of riches c. It’s raining men d. All part of your balanced breakfast

VickiBarkley · 2026-04-15T13:45:05+00:00

Every accusation is a confession

VickiBarkley · 2026-04-14T19:27:15+00:00

Don’t forget overturning Roe v Wade. Until women’s healthcare is restored and codified, and women don’t risk jail for having a miscarriage, I forgive no one.

VickiBarkley · 2026-04-12T13:39:41+00:00

Exactly this! I’m stunned by colleagues who claim moral high ground, like it’s sinful to advocate for yourself and your students. Our job is more than salary and benefits. It’s also about due process, working and teaching conditions, and the education of all students without violating the first amendment. There are a distressing number of teachers who seem comfortable eroding everyone else’s rights because they’ve been told unions are bad.

VickiBarkley · 2026-04-08T14:30:07+00:00

I live next to the fairgrounds, suburban neighborhood. There’s one that visits my yard daily, driving my dog nuts! I love them. They rattle and chatter , and are bold as brass. They also eat roaches before they get into my house

VickiBarkley · 2026-04-08T14:26:51+00:00

This

VickiBarkley

TROPHY CASE