FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 13, 2018
More information contact:
NYS Allies for Public Education (NYSAPE)
Link to Press Release
NYSAPE Calls on Education and Policy Leaders to Break Their Silence; Stand Up for Educational and Racial Justice in Our Public Schools
NYSAPE calls on the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), New York
State United Teachers (NYSUT), NYC Department of Education, NYSED, the
professional associations representing school administrators, members of
the NYS Legislature, and Governor Cuomo to stand with teachers,
students, and parents in denouncing all acts of racism, including the
recent racist events at NYC schools MS 118 and MS 224, and to call for
an immediate commitment to training for ALL current teachers,
pre-service teachers, and school administrators in anti-bias,
anti-racist, and culturally responsive teaching.
Jamaal Bowman, principal of CASA Middle School said, “I am horrified and outraged by the recent racist acts committed by a
teacher at MS 118 and
principal at MS 224.
I look forward to hearing comments from the UFT, CSA, and NYC DOE, as
their silence at the moment is deafening and heartbreaking. As an
educator for over 17 years, a principal for 9 years, and a black man my
entire life, these recent incidents provide evidence that America’s
history of overt racism and oppression continues to manifest itself as
covert hatred and implicit bias in our schools.”
Jia Lee, NYC public school teacher and member of Movement of Rank
and File Educators (MORE) added, “Teachers across the city participated
in a nationally coordinated Black Lives Matter Week of Action from
February 5-11. One of our central demands is to institute Black history
and ethnic studies in our curriculum. Teachers, such as Mercedes
Liriano, need to have the autonomy to teach culturally relevant
curriculum for our students. If my union’s (the UFT) leadership would
have supported this demand, teachers would be much further along in
making racially conscious and just pedagogy accessible to our students.”
“While our so-called leaders play politics, every day children suffer
devastating emotional injury in our classrooms and schools. Sometimes
they literally die. It is time for parents, educators, students, and
allies to hold our leaders accountable and demand that they denounce and
destroy the infrastructure of racism within our schools,” said Marla
Kilfoyle, Executive Director of The Badass Teachers Association.
Bianca Tanis, Ulster County public school parent, educator and
founding member of NYSAPE said, “Too many students of color are dealing
with an oppressive public education system in which they are subjected
to under-resourced and segregated schools, over-crowded classrooms,
disproportionate suspension rates, and curriculum and instruction that
centers whiteness and upholds racist narratives. This is an educational
crisis and those who remain silent are complicit.”
“As the parent of a biracial daughter, I know that when the majority
of students are black and brown, but the teaching and principal force
fail to reflect this demographic, these are hardly isolated situations.
Teachers who, in the best interests of their students, go the extra mile
to bring in more than standard scripted lessons should be supported,
not stifled or shut down. Moreover, we should be looking beyond these
separate incidents to the larger issues of systemic racism in our
schools: students and schools of color are disproportionately crushed by
“test and punish,” “drill and kill” practices that strip them of a rich
curriculum, set them up for failure, and pave the way for charter
schools to take over their schools,” said Janine Sopp, NYC Opt Out
founding member and public school parent.
Eileen Graham, Rochester public school parent and founder of Black
Student Leadership said, “What happened in the Bronx happens
consistently throughout the state, including Rochester, and it is
shameful. We must use our voice, influence and power to deal directly
with individuals who attempt to carry on the legacy of bigotry, hatred,
and disrespect, and we must continue to be intentional in our fight for
black and brown children who have been historically disenfranchised. As a
parent, I know that it is important to educate and empower our children
through culturally enriching and diverse curriculum. The people demand
that our leaders support the needs of our children.”
“As a mother who has long been involved in both education policy and
community politics, I am becoming increasingly alarmed at the lack of
responsible and diverse cultural and ethnic pedagogy in our public
schools. It is especially disheartening in a climate where our most
vulnerable children are constantly being bombarded with examples of
normalized racism and an education system that is riddled with policies
perpetuating the school-to-prison pipeline. There is absolutely no
excuse for anything other than to stand up for our children, especially
students in targeted populations. It's time to reclaim our children's
time and revamp our education policies and practices!” said Johanna
Garcia, NYC public school parent and President of Community Education
Council of District 6, Manhattan.
“Unlike our counterparts in suburbia, who can apply pressure to, or
directly vote out, school board members who ignore their wishes, we
parents in New York City are grievously disenfranchised by the system of
mayoral control. The anti-democratic suppression of our voices as we
advocate for the rights and needs of our children has gone on for far
too long, with low-income communities of color left most powerless of
all. If we want things to change, we need to return control of our
classrooms to those with a stake in the system,” said Kemala Karmen, NYC
public school parent and founding member of NYC Opt Out.
Jeanette Deutermann, parent and founder of Long Island Opt Out
concludes, “Across the State, supporters of equitable and just public
education applaud and stand in solidarity with the courageous teachers,
students, and parents who have raised their voices to demand educational
and racial justice. We expect our education leaders to do the same.”
NYSAPE is a grassroots coalition with over 50 parent and educator groups across the state.
