Parents and students working to save a school in Portland, Oregon
This post is on behalf of the girls at Harriet Tubman Leadership Academy for Young Women, a pubic school in Portland, Oregon. The Portland Public School Board closed their school in the most egregious manner and the girls and parents are fighting to keep their school open.
As the author of this post explains:
When Tubman was closed, the superintendent offered to let it survive as a charter school — giving the parents only 3 weeks to write a charter. Charter schools in Portland receive just over half of the per pupil expenditure as a traditional or focus school. Charter parents spend all their time fundraising to meet basic expenses. Tubman parents and staff didn’t want a charter school, but were considering it as the only option offered to keep the school alive.
Whether you agree with the single gender philosophy or not, this school was fulfilling a need. The learning environment was safe and welcoming to girls who were good in math and science. They are the most precious group of girls. They are sharp and well-spoken. They know what they want. The school board was only looking at dollars in deciding to close their school. The girls always talk about the school like it is a living, breathing thing — not just a building — which I find deeply moving.
Save Our Schools — one school at a time
By Deb Mayer
This is the real life story about The Death and Life of One Great American School — to borrow a phrase from
As the author of this post explains:
When Tubman was closed, the superintendent offered to let it survive as a charter school — giving the parents only 3 weeks to write a charter. Charter schools in Portland receive just over half of the per pupil expenditure as a traditional or focus school. Charter parents spend all their time fundraising to meet basic expenses. Tubman parents and staff didn’t want a charter school, but were considering it as the only option offered to keep the school alive.
Whether you agree with the single gender philosophy or not, this school was fulfilling a need. The learning environment was safe and welcoming to girls who were good in math and science. They are the most precious group of girls. They are sharp and well-spoken. They know what they want. The school board was only looking at dollars in deciding to close their school. The girls always talk about the school like it is a living, breathing thing — not just a building — which I find deeply moving.
Save Our Schools — one school at a time
By Deb Mayer
This is the real life story about The Death and Life of One Great American School — to borrow a phrase from