Protesting ... mostly in vain
by Bill Hangley, Jr.
A day that began with big crowds, high spirits, and defiant speeches ended with disappointment for most opponents of Philadelphia’s school closing plan.
“I’m totally numb,” said veteran activist “Mama” Gail Clouden as the crowd filed out of the auditorium at School District headquarters in the wake of a series of votes that closed 23 schools and spared just four. “This is unbelievable to me.”
“There’s a way to do this, and do it right, and they chose to do it wrong.” said Rev. Dr. Alyn Waller of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church. “This was not just emotional talk. We’ve given them facts, we’ve given them other proposals, and it is clear – they just did not consider them.”
Image:
Image Caption:
At Thursday's School Reform Commission meeting, the room was filled with critics of the District's massive closings plan
Photo Credits:
Harvey Finkle
SRC votes to close 23 schools, spares 4
by Benjamin Herold for NewsWorks, a Notebook news partner
After an excruciating day of protests and pleas for mercy, Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission voted Thursday night to close 23 city schools and merge or relocate five others.
Four schools – T.M. Peirce and Bayard Taylor elementary schools, Roosevelt Middle, and Paul Robeson High – were spared.
All told, the SRC approved a total of 28 recommendations put forth by Philadelphia Superintendent William Hite, including three program relocations and a merger of the city’s two high school military academies.
Weingarten arrested: take action to support Philadelphia schools
Photo via AFT.
Breaking news via AFT:
AFT president Randi Weingarten was among a group of protesters arrested in Philadelphia Thursday evening for engaging in civil disobedience to protest the city's proposed public school closures.
Mayor Nutter and the School Reform Commission want to close 29 of the city's public schools, a reckless strategy that won't help kids and won't save money. These harmful closures will only destabilize neighborhoods and destroy schools. Local teachers, parents and community members are standing together to demand a moratorium on harmful closures.
In unity,
Mark Bostic
AFT Northeast Regional Director
Mark Bostic
AFT Northeast Regional Director
