Little Rock Educators Fighting for Equity, Local Control
Thousands of Arkansas educators, students and community members held candles and sang in front of historic Little Rock Central High School last week, protesting a plan by the governor-appointed State Board of Education that would re-segregate the city’s students.
“Every single one of us, students, parents and teachers, should feel valued, heard and respected,” said state Teacher of the Year Stacey McAdoo, a Little Rock Education Association (LREA) member, as she stood in front of a banner that read, “Separate Is Not Equal.” “Nothing should be done to us or about us without us. Our voices matter and so do the things we say. Let us remember that this is personal.”
Educators were heard. And then, it seems, they were punished for speaking up for their students.
On Thursday, the board first backed off on its plan, at least somewhat, and then voted to eliminate recognition of the union. The Arkansas Education Association quickly responded: “For 150 years, our union has fought for students, and as long as children are being educated in our state, that will not change. We have never asked for or needed the blessing of the Governor or the state board to care for our students, and we will continue to fight for them now and going forward.”
“LREA is not going anywhere,” vowed LREA President Teresa Knapp Gordon. “We will continue to fight for our students. We will continue to fight for our educators.”
The state took over Little Rock schools in 2015. The original plan, which was CONTINUE READING: Little Rock Educators Fighting for Equity, Local Control - NEA Today