Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Protest at Tweed Today: Parents, Teachers at Historic East Harlem School to Protest Principal’s Attack on Progressive Education

Chancellor Faria has told the media she has instructed the superintendent and senior superintendent to meet with parents. None of the 65% who signed the petition have had the opportunity to do so. So [today] we are going to Tweed to make our voices heard....
There is not better example of the debilitating partnership between  deB/Farinia and the UFT/Unity leadership where a horror story of a principal is allowed to destroy 40 years of progressive education in almost an instant. But we know that Farina is all about top-down and anti-progressive education, which by its very nature is inclusive of teacher voices. But then again Unity/UFT itself precludes teacher voices.

The UFT district and borough reps have either been useless or lined up with the DOE when it comes to fighting principals.


Farina and the UFT continue to protect bad principals. We knew Farina was lying when she made that statement at the April PEP, which I videotaped: https://vimeo.com/164113948


CPE1 Calls for Principal Monika Garg Removal at PEP April from MORE-UFT/GEM on Vimeo.


CPE 1 Parents, Teachers to Rally at Tweed to Demand Principal's Removal


For Immediate Release: 

Contact:
Kenya Dilday

 Kaliris Salas Ramirez
 Jennifer Roesch

  More information at www.savecpe1.org

Parents, Teachers at Historic East Harlem School to Protest Principal’s Attack on Progressive Education 

Community to Demand Chancellor Remove Principal Who Said Progressive Education Doesn’t Work for Students of Color, Led Drive to Oust Longtime Teachers 
EAST HARLEMParents, teachers and students will rally outside DOE Headquarters Tuesday to demand Chancellor Carmen Faria remove the principal of CPE 1, who has orchestrated a year-long attack on the East Harlem elementary schools storied, progressive culture. 

The protesters will call on the chancellor to accede to the demands of an overwhelming majority of the school community and remove Principal Monica Garg, who has antagonized long-time teachers via investigations and other measures and told parents that progressive education doesnt work for students of color, among other actions. 

Sixty-five percent of parents at CPE1 and more than 2,500 supporters, including the schools founder, Deborah Meier, have requested that Mayor Bill DeBlasio and Chancellor Faria: 

1. Remove the current principal, Monika Garg
2. Ensure the meaningful participation of the CPE1 community in choosing a strong, suitable principal.
3. Form an independent district to ensure relevant support of alternative schools 


The protest comes on the heels of a Panel on Educational Policy hearing last month at which parents delivered the petition to Chancellor Faria and testified about the need for change at the school. Chancellor Faria has told the media she has instructed the superintendent and senior superintendent to meet with parents. None of the 65% who signed the petition have had the opportunity to do so. So we are going to Tweed to make our voices heard. 
Who: Parents, teachers and students from CPE 1; East Harlem District Leader Johnny Rivera, United Federation of Teachers Candidate for President Jia Lee What: Protest to demand removal of school’s principal. Excellent visuals include young children with protest signs, street theater, and large crowd chanting and marching.
When: Tuesday, May 17 at 4:30 pm
Where: DOE Headquarters at Tweed Courthouse 52 Chambers Street 


We demand leadership change at CPE1. We demand that the citys administration remove a principal who has demonstrated a lack of competence as an administrator, and most grievously, a shocking lack of concern for the welfare of the children the DOE and parents have placed in her charge. 

The website, savecpe1.org, offers an extensive timeline detailing the pattern of administrative mistreatment over time. It also provides just a few samples of more than 20 testimonials from families about what a Central Park East 1 education has meant for them and their children. It explains Central Park East 1’s unique curriculum and pedagogy as well as its success - as measured by the Department of Education’s own metrics. 

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