Rick Meyer: Why I am Coming to Occupy DOE 2.0 – The Battle for Public Schools
by admin
Imagine this! Thousands of teachers, children, and other supporters of public education are at the plaza in front of the Department of Education in Washington DC. In the center of the crowd is a table. It is our table. It is the table around which we sit in order to make policy decisions about the futures of our teachers, students, schools, and communities. Silence spreads throughout the larger crowd so that all may hear what is discussed at the table; those seated at the table are teachers, students, community members, and more.
“This is our table,” says a ten year old who has traveled to Washington DC for the first time in her life. “This is the table where I am heard, my friends are heard, and the voices of my community are heard.” The crowd surrounding the table erupts into applause, whistling, and shouts of support. “In my school,” she continues, “the teachers listen to us and develop curriculum that reflects who I am, where I come from, and what I want to know. In my school, families are welcome, my family’s language is welcome, and our beliefs are honored.” Once again the crowd rejoices in a voice from the table that tells the truth. Other voices are heard, too. Passionate, caring, and informed voices of parents, teachers, teacher educators, and the many diverse communities that constitute the richness and uniqueness of every classroom and school.
Now imagine a member of the crowd, who happened to turn towards the building
