Thursday, January 5, 2012

Teachers For Social Justice: Mic Check: Teachers, Parents, Community Take Over Board of Ed Meeting Today

Teachers For Social Justice: Mic Check: Teachers, Parents, Community Take Over Board of Ed Meeting Today:

Mic Check: Teachers, Parents, Community Take Over Board of Ed Meeting Today

Today (Dec 14), parents, teachers, community members, and the CTU Community Board (Coalition of the CTU and community groups, including TSJ), w/ support from Occupy Chicago, shut down the Board of Education meeting. A big shout out to TSJ members who attended the vigil in front the Board on Dec. 13, slept out on the sidewalk in front of CPS Headquarters in the rain, brought the campers food and coffee, showed up before 6 Am with more coffee and spirit, and attended the Board meeting.
At the meeting itself, the people did a mic-check on the Board and shut down the meeting (seehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoIsdXkVzVg). Then, we held our own public participation session. This is a new day. People had enough, finally.
Quoting from a message from the CTU:
"Congratulations to each of you for your work which culminated in today's historic walk-out of the Board of Ed members and CPS officials. They cannot ignore us any longer. Because of our unified efforts we have successfully amplified the voices of justice-parents, teachers, students, and

2012 Inquiry to Action Groups (ItAGs) Announced!

TSJ is excited to announce our 3rd annual round ofInquiry to Action Groups (ItAGs)

ItAGs gather educators, activists and their allies to study a topic and collectively create an action around that area of study, making it a true community of praxis. The topics and themes are always consistent with TSJ's principles. ItAGs support, study, and take action on issues of education and social justice.

On January 21st at 5 PM, join us for the ItAG Kickoff Event (Location TBA) to meet the facilitators and fellow participants and build a community of people committed to social justice in education.

The ItAGs will meet for two hours once a week for 6 weeks and conclude with a Finale Event March 17 at 5 PM, where all the ItAGs will reconvene to share their work.

We ask that all people registering for an ItAG commit to trying to attend all meetings. The ItAGs are structured