LOS ANGELES – Wednesday was a normal school day in Los Angeles as teachers ended their strike.

Tuesday was a day of celebration as thousands of teachers learned of a tentative agreement to end their 6-day walk-out, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“You just taught the best lesson of your life,” union President Alex Caputo-Pearl told a sea of supporters in union-red T-shirts gathered in Grand Park.

Caputo-Pearl had just emerged from a City Hall news conference in which his handshake with L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner was warmer than many expected.

The union leader hailed the strike as a success and a national model, as did L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, who mediated the talks that led to a deal. Even Beutner, who had tried to stop the strike, said the job action had put an important focus on public education, beginning a community conversation.

“Public education is now the topic in every household in our community,” he said. “Let’s capitalize on that. Let’s fix it.”

Story Date: January 27, 2019