Network for Public Education Deplores Mass Closings in Chicago
The Network for Public Education has released a statement condemning the Rahm Emanuel administration for the outrageous school closings in Chicago.
Parents, teachers, administrators, and concerned citizens must speak up and act out against this horrendous and arrogant action by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Parents, teachers, administrators, and concerned citizens must speak up and act out against this horrendous and arrogant action by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Mass Protest Rally in Chicago
The Chicago Teachers Union is planning a mass protest rally on Wednesday. The schools closings in Chicago are the largest in American history. Never has any district closed so many schools at the same time. Only since the passage of George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind and Arne Duncan’s Race to the Top has the public been told that school closings are “reform.” They are not. They are an abandonment of responsibility by those at the top.
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Stephanie Gadlin
March 25, 2013 312/329-6250
StephanieGadlin@ctulocal1.com
As Thousands Plan to Rally against School Closings downtown this Wednesday, the Board of Education erects barricades
CHICAGO—Apparently officials at the Board of Education (BOE) are getting the message: The parents, educators and clergy of more than 30,000 Chicago Public School (CPS) students do not want their schools closed.
Today, BOE security began erecting metal barricades around the building as thousands of people plan to rally this Wednesday in protest of CPS’ plan to shutter 50 schools and disrupt 50 others. Some have noted this is the largest school closing campaign in the history of the United States.
CPS officials and the mayor continue to spew confusing propaganda as justification for closing schools. School bureaucrats claim there is a $1 billion deficit while simultaneously promising incentives to 50 or more schools that will serve as receiving campuses for students displaced by school actions.
Using the district’s own financial metrics, these incentives such as new air-conditioning, libraries, counselors and social workers will cost over $700 million.
On Saturday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel tried to confuse the public even further by stating school closures would somehow benefit students academically. While admitting the city has failed its fiduciary responsibly to provide all of its students with an adequate education, the mayor stopped short of acknowledging the huge racial implications of these closures.
Thousands of parents have accused the schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett and the mayor of lying about a pretend “underutilization crisis” in order to open more charter operations and privatize public education in the city. Most of the schools targeted for closure are in the African American community.
In the meantime, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) will join with other labor organizations, parent groups, churches and community-based organization in a mass march and rally on Wednesday, March 27 at 4 p.m.
People will gather at Daley Plaza at rush hour before heading to City Hall and BOE headquarters at 121 S. LaSalle Street.
Participants will include CTU Local 1 President Karen Lewis, SEIU Local 1 President Tom Balanoff, Unite HERE Local 1 President Henry Tamarin, parents, clergy, students, rank-and-file teachers, paraprofessionals, school clinicians, lunchroom and custodial workers, community activists, and others.
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The Chicago Teachers Union represents 30,000 teachers and educational support personnel working in the Chicago Public Schools and, by extension, the students and families they serve. CTU, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Federation of Teachers, is the third largest teachers local in the country and the largest local union in Illinois. For more information visit CTU’s website at http://www.ctunet.com
SG:oteg-743-t
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Stephanie Gadlin
March 25, 2013 312/329-6250
StephanieGadlin@ctulocal1.com
As Thousands Plan to Rally against School Closings downtown this Wednesday, the Board of Education erects barricades
CHICAGO—Apparently officials at the Board of Education (BOE) are getting the message: The parents, educators and clergy of more than 30,000 Chicago Public School (CPS) students do not want their schools closed.
Today, BOE security began erecting metal barricades around the building as thousands of people plan to rally this Wednesday in protest of CPS’ plan to shutter 50 schools and disrupt 50 others. Some have noted this is the largest school closing campaign in the history of the United States.
CPS officials and the mayor continue to spew confusing propaganda as justification for closing schools. School bureaucrats claim there is a $1 billion deficit while simultaneously promising incentives to 50 or more schools that will serve as receiving campuses for students displaced by school actions.
Using the district’s own financial metrics, these incentives such as new air-conditioning, libraries, counselors and social workers will cost over $700 million.
On Saturday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel tried to confuse the public even further by stating school closures would somehow benefit students academically. While admitting the city has failed its fiduciary responsibly to provide all of its students with an adequate education, the mayor stopped short of acknowledging the huge racial implications of these closures.
Thousands of parents have accused the schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett and the mayor of lying about a pretend “underutilization crisis” in order to open more charter operations and privatize public education in the city. Most of the schools targeted for closure are in the African American community.
In the meantime, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) will join with other labor organizations, parent groups, churches and community-based organization in a mass march and rally on Wednesday, March 27 at 4 p.m.
People will gather at Daley Plaza at rush hour before heading to City Hall and BOE headquarters at 121 S. LaSalle Street.
Participants will include CTU Local 1 President Karen Lewis, SEIU Local 1 President Tom Balanoff, Unite HERE Local 1 President Henry Tamarin, parents, clergy, students, rank-and-file teachers, paraprofessionals, school clinicians, lunchroom and custodial workers, community activists, and others.
###
The Chicago Teachers Union represents 30,000 teachers and educational support personnel working in the Chicago Public Schools and, by extension, the students and families they serve. CTU, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Federation of Teachers, is the third largest teachers local in the country and the largest local union in Illinois. For more information visit CTU’s website at http://www.ctunet.com
SG:oteg-743-t
An Astonishing Revelation
I earlier posted about the decision by Governor Christie to take control of the public schools of Camden, New Jersey. The state has controlled three other districts without “fixing” them. What will be different now? Or in those three other districts still under state control.
This teacher in Florida knows what should be done:
“I did my student teaching at woodrow wilson high school in camden, nj. those kids don’t need “a government” to
This teacher in Florida knows what should be done:
“I did my student teaching at woodrow wilson high school in camden, nj. those kids don’t need “a government” to
The Chalkface Interviews Karen Lewis
This just in:
We had an amazing interview with Karen Lewis last night. Powerful. If you didn’t have a chance to listen here is the link.
Karen Lewis stops by to talk to Shaun and Tim. Why? Because we’re good looking of course.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/chalkface/2013/03/24/at-the-chalk-face-progressive-edreform-talk
Tim Slekar
We had an amazing interview with Karen Lewis last night. Powerful. If you didn’t have a chance to listen here is the link.
Karen Lewis stops by to talk to Shaun and Tim. Why? Because we’re good looking of course.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/chalkface/2013/03/24/at-the-chalk-face-progressive-edreform-talk
Tim Slekar
Do Schools Need Libraries?
Libraries and librarians are on the chopping block in some districts in Maryland.
This is personal for me.
I love libraries.
I always loved browsing the stacks and finding a new book, a new author, a new topic. For me, the library was a place of reverence, a place of quiet contemplation, a quiet place to read and think.
Yes, I know we have computers. But computers give you what you ask for. They may have all the information in
This is personal for me.
I love libraries.
I always loved browsing the stacks and finding a new book, a new author, a new topic. For me, the library was a place of reverence, a place of quiet contemplation, a quiet place to read and think.
Yes, I know we have computers. But computers give you what you ask for. They may have all the information in
What Harry Truman Learned in the Library
After I posted this morning about libraries, I received the following from Will Fitzhugh, who is publisher of The Concord Review. The Concord Review has been publishing exemplary history papers by high school students for many years. You never know what students will get interested in, what they will pursue on their own, what passion they will develop.
David McCullough, Truman
David McCullough, Truman
New York: Touchstone, 1992, p. 58
He grew dutifully, conspicuously studious, spending long afternoons in the town library,
Daily Kos: Diane Ravitch calls it "the most brilliant post of the day"
Daily Kos: Diane Ravitch calls it "the most brilliant post of the day": Diane Ravitch calls it "the most brilliant post of the day" by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] As she puts it in this brief post at her blog: In a blinding flash of insight, he sees the pattern on the rug of the corporate reform movement. She is referring to A Confederacy of Reformers by the brilliant Louisiana blogger Crazy Catfish. Trust me, he really nails the corporate "reform" movement in education in this post.Here is the conclusion: What I am seeing... more »
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-25-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Should the Common Core Standards Have Been Field Tested? by dianerav Marc Tucker and others scoffed when I said that the Common Core standards should have been field tested in a few districts and states before they were imposed on the 46 states. No one knows whether they will improve achievement. No one knows if they will widen or narrow the gaps between different groups. No one knows if the awkward mapping makes sense. No one knows if he standards are developm... more »