Badass Moms Association
BACKGROUND: A group of mothers found each other this past year while facing school closings, budget cuts, charter school expansions, teacher layoffs and high-stake testing in Chicago Public Schools. We are from all over the city of Chicago and came together with one common goal.
TO SAVE OUR CHILDREN and OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
We named ourselves Badass Moms (BAM), and hosted the first ever Neighborhood School Fair in Chicago. On November 16, 2013, over 80 public neighborhood schools and community organizations came together to showcase strong communities and neighborhood public schools. (See link below)
http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20131117/chicago/badass-moms-organize-fair-touting-neighborhood-school-extracurriculars
WHAT WE BELIEVE: Connected by our strong belief in our communities, public education and our children. We believe our neighborhood public schools are the foundation of our communities. We know from our involvement that our neighborhood public schools are full of exciting programs, amazing students and strong parents. We want to celebrate our neighborhood public schools' accomplishments and diversity.
WHAT WE KNOW: There are mothers all over the country who believe as we believe. Counter to what Arne Duncan believes, more than just "white suburban moms" care about what is happening to our schools. Urban moms care too! Mothers of all races and communities, standing together strengthening public education.
GOALS: This group is to promote public education and our children while encouraging each other as mothers in the fight for education justice. BAM aim to reduce or eliminate the use of high-stakes testing, increase teacher autonomy in the classroom and work to include parent, student and teacher voices in legislative decision-making processes that affect children.
MEMBERS CAN BE BANNED FOR: Supporting corporate deform entities (TFA, StudentsFirst, Pearson, Bill Gates, etc.); supporting Common Core State Standards; excessive arguing or disrespecting decisions made by the mods/admins/founders; making comments that conflict with the mission of Badass Moms Association. We oppose the Common Core State Standards, Teach for America and expansion Charter Schools.
ACTIONS: BAT will engage in organized group actions such as phone calls, emails, or letter writing.
"If it comes to a battle between the billionaires and the moms over the future of public education, I am betting on the moms!" Mark Naison, Founder of Badass Teachers
