Save the Date! Details are still developing, but watch the site for updates.
10:00 – 6:00 BATs March on D.C.
Rally to Save Education
June 26th @ The Gates Foundation
5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
The struggle between corporate ‘reform’ groups taking public schools hostage vs. educators & parents who know what kids need to thrive is at its zenith. Teachers and school staff have systematically been left out of MOST policy changes occurring at every level. We are inching our way each year to a caste system of schools; private schools, charters, and affluent communities supplementing basic education of their own kids….. Meanwhile all public school kids (especially in poor communities) are suffering from standardization of curriculum, new teachers certified only if they’ve married CCSS and of course hundreds of hours of tests that DO NOT improve authentic learning outcomes. Often our best teachers are punished for choosing to work with students of color, at-risk kids, English language learners, and every other young person who wasn’t born into an affluent family in a high income zip code.
WA has the 47th worst class sizes in the nation, a supreme court who has ruled TWICE that our legislatures is in violation of our state constitution for NOT funding education, and hundreds of ‘reforms’ that are hurting kids.
Teachers work too long and too hard to be the type of advocates they need to be in these times. Our unions are strong (compared to other states) but we are up against the endlessly deep pockets of ALEC, the Koch Bros., AFP, WPC, Freedom Foundation, the Walton Foundation, charter school corporations, Stand for Children, Michelle Rhee, Arne Duncan and many others who seek to make our kids’ school experience reduced to test scores. PARENTS and TEACHERS HAVE FINALLY HAD ENOUGH. The time is now to take action.
However you are willing to join with us as we fight this tragic iteration of corporate takeover, please do so.
The intent of this BATS protest is to shine a very big light on what is happening in schools. The Gates Foundation is our backdrop (I’m more than happy to expound on WHY we’ve chosen GF, just ask).
June 26th, starting around 5:00 PM we will be marching from Seattle Center, will close part or all of 5th avenue and gather on the corner of Mercer and 5th for speakers to energize the crowd. Our demands will be made at that time.
There will be a handful of speakers of national fame-including Anthony Cody, a flash mob, an amazing chorus, a short march and an opportunity to learn what our demands are to reinstate public education as the largest pillar to a free society that it should be. Join us!
