Local News in Brief : Teacher Ends Fast Over Pay Dispute

A first-grade teacher who had been fasting since last month because of the slow pace of talks on teacher pay increases ended her protest Tuesday on the advice of her doctors.

Annya Bell, who teaches at Forty-Second Street School in South-Central Los Angeles, said she ended her liquid-only fast because she must build up her strength for the eye surgery she has scheduled for next month.

A pacifist and student of Mahatma Gandhi, Bell said she lost 19 pounds during the 41-day protest. Bell’s action was not endorsed by the Los Angeles Teachers Assn. or by district management.

A self-described “dreamer,” Bell said her fast failed to accomplish its primary objective--a new contract for teachers. But she said, “I feel I did something to unite teachers.”