Strikers Speak With Harvard

Four striking teachers from Belmont, Mass., met with a University official yesterday to complain that Harvard professors with children in Belmont schools have crossed picket lines to help keep schools open.

The teachers charged that the professors were using the Harvard name to imply that high-quality education was taking place during the strike. The teachers refused to identify themselves for fear of reprisals from the school district.

The four teachers met with Jackie A. O'Neill, staff director for the president and provost, who said the professors volunteering in the schools are not sanctioned by the University.

"I told them that these are individuals who are acting as individuals and not representing the University community at large," O'Neill said yesterday.

The estimated number of Harvard professors who have volunteered at the schools during the strike range from two to a dozen.

The striking teachers were pleased with the results of their meeting with O'Neill, one of the four said.

"We had a very positive, very helpful meeting," the teacher said. "We had an opportunity to express our concerns."

The strike in the Belmont school district began January 6. Points of contention are higher salaries and language modifications in teacher contracts, including a no-recrisals clause for teachers involved in the strike.

The strike is close to ending, according to one of the four teachers.

"We had been told by our negotiating team that as of last night, they were very close to a settlement," the teacher said.

The only major conflict left is the no-reprisal clause, which the teachers want but the school committee is hesitant to grant.

Other striking teachers came to Harvard later in the day planning to picket because of professors' crossing of the picket line.

"Why we came to picket today is that the impression is being created that education is going on and that everything is terrific," said Cathy M. Larkin, an art teacher. "They're using the Harvard name to imply that high quality education is going on."

But the three or four other picketers quickly lowered their signs after they talked to the four anonymous teachers and learned that Harvard did not sanction the professors' actions.

One of the four unnamed teachers said the movie "The Blues Brothers" was shown as part of the day's work at one school earlier this month.

One would-be picketer said he is glad Harvard is not associated with the professors who have crossed the picket lines.

"We're very happy that it's being addressed," said David B. Axelrad, a sixth grade teacher in the Belmont district. "We just wanted the Harvard community to know that Harvard University's name was being thrown around."

The Belmont superintendent's office had no official statement on the progress of the strike as of yesterday evening.

Seventy-two percent of Belmont's students attended school yesterday, according to the latest figures released by Belmont Public Schools

The striking teachers were pleased with the results of their meeting with O'Neill, one of the four said.

"We had a very positive, very helpful meeting," the teacher said. "We had an opportunity to express our concerns."

The strike in the Belmont school district began January 6. Points of contention are higher salaries and language modifications in teacher contracts, including a no-recrisals clause for teachers involved in the strike.

The strike is close to ending, according to one of the four teachers.

"We had been told by our negotiating team that as of last night, they were very close to a settlement," the teacher said.

The only major conflict left is the no-reprisal clause, which the teachers want but the school committee is hesitant to grant.

Other striking teachers came to Harvard later in the day planning to picket because of professors' crossing of the picket line.

"Why we came to picket today is that the impression is being created that education is going on and that everything is terrific," said Cathy M. Larkin, an art teacher. "They're using the Harvard name to imply that high quality education is going on."

But the three or four other picketers quickly lowered their signs after they talked to the four anonymous teachers and learned that Harvard did not sanction the professors' actions.

One of the four unnamed teachers said the movie "The Blues Brothers" was shown as part of the day's work at one school earlier this month.

One would-be picketer said he is glad Harvard is not associated with the professors who have crossed the picket lines.

"We're very happy that it's being addressed," said David B. Axelrad, a sixth grade teacher in the Belmont district. "We just wanted the Harvard community to know that Harvard University's name was being thrown around."

The Belmont superintendent's office had no official statement on the progress of the strike as of yesterday evening.

Seventy-two percent of Belmont's students attended school yesterday, according to the latest figures released by Belmont Public Schools