Friday, January 21: FIGHTBACK FRIDAY - Join other schools as they rally

With school closing and charter takeover hearings and PEP votes coming up over the next 2 months, and with Cathie Black in charger, things are heating up. I'm just trying to keep up with it all, not even having time to write about what is happening. GEM is deeply involved as are other groups and independents. This is not about saving one school from closing or having a charter shoved down its throats, but about building a mass movement that can become strong enough one day to actually stop all of the crap. But there's a hell of a lot of work to do to make that happen.

-Please Share With Those Who Care-

To Particpate/Endorse (groups, schools, PTAs, CECs, chapters, individuals): email capeducation@gmail.com

Fight Back Friday

Stand Up For Public Education!

                                    School Based Actions to Fight the Attacks on Public Education                                               

Friday, January 21^st Join Public Schools Across the City to Advocate for Real Reforms that Will Transform our Public

Schools.

Press Conference @ 4:30 on the Steps of Tweed

Wear Black and Take OUR Schools Back!

Stop the Attacks on Public Education:

·         Stop Closing Schools, Fix Them.
·         Stop Charter School Co-Locations.
·         Stop School-Based Budget Cuts.
·         Stop Increases in Class Sizes.
·         Stop the Overemphasis on Standardized Assessment:  More Teaching, Less Testing.
·         Stop Teacher Data Reports Based on Narrow Tests and Faulty Data.
·         Stop Ignoring the Voices of Parents, Educators, and Students:  More Parent, Educator and Student Empowerment, Not Less.
·         Stop the Dictatorial Governance of Our School System:  Mayoral Control is Out of Control!
·         No Layoffs of Teachers or School Personnel:  Reduce the Bureaucracy and Fire the Middle Managers Instead!

Choose one or more issues that are important to your school community and take action:

·         Wear black and/or black arm bands
·         Hold a rally before or after school
·         Craft a form letter or petition on an issue important to your school
·         Pass out literature and education material before and after school

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If you, your school, or your school community plan to participate in Fight Back Friday, let us know @ capeducation@gmail.com so that we can include you on our list of participants/endorsers and interactive map as well as provide you with a Fight Back Friday Toolkit!  The Toolkit will include literature and educational material, media information, stickers, and sample materials to assist in your school organizing efforts. Visit our Blog @ www.fightbackfridays.blogspot.com, visit and post to our Facebook page @ fightbackfridays, and post and send in your school’s perspectives, testimonials, videos and pictures of Fight Back Actions. 

****Fight Back Friday will culminate with a press conference on the steps of Tweed @ 4:30.  If your group or a member of your school community (especially if you are a school facing closing or co-location) would like to speak, contact us and we will do our best to accommodate you.  Let’s stand up for public education together, and make our voices heard!****

Sponsored by:  Grassroots Education Movement: www.grassrootseducationmovement.blogspot.com, gemnyc@gmail.com


Don't forget the City-Wide Rally to Fight School Closings and Charter Takeovers on January 27th @ City Hall Plaza.  To Endorse email gbran289@aol.com.
 


Join The Real Reformers at the Upcoming Panel for Educational Policy Meetings (all at Brooklyn Technical High School @ 5:30):

January 19th:  Greet Cathleen Black and tell her and the PEP to Defend Public Education and end the historic inequity in funding, particularly for schools that serve Black and Latino children.

February 1st:  Support schools facing closing and co-location.  Join us in telling the PEP that Co-Locations only divide and hurt our public school communities.

February 3rd:  Support schools facing closings.  Join us in telling the PEP that the current school closing policy is misguided and destructive, they should be supporting and fixing our schools, not closing them.

March 1st **(note changed from 2/15)**:   Support schools facing co-locations and Join us in declaring our schools are not for sale; say NO to the privatization agenda.


                Real Reform:  Transforming Public Education, School Governance, and Teacher Unions

Real Reform #1:  Smaller Class Sizes

Real Reform #2:  Excellent Community Public Schools for ALL Children

   Real Reform #3:  More Teaching – Less Testing

Real Reform #4:  Parent and Teacher Empowerment and Leadership

Real Reform #5:  Equitable Funding for ALL Schools

Real Reform #6:  Anti-Racist Education Policies

Real Reform #7:  Culturally Relevant Curriculum

Real Reform #8:  Expand Pre Kindergarten and Early Intervention Programs

Real Reform #9:  Qualified and Experienced Educators and Educational Leaders

Real Reform #10:  Democratic and Social Justice Unionism