By now, you’ve probably heard about a proposed NC Teacher Walkout this November 4. What started as a Facebook event has, almost overnight, gotten attention from media outlets and public school teachers across our state. While my friends at Organize 2020 and I were not involved in the conception of this event, we are encouraged to learn of these caring and committed NC educators who understand that direct action is necessary to fight for the needs of our kids. Their work has increased awareness about the ruinous consequences of the 2013 education budget that was passed this summer by our legislators in the NC General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Pat McCrory. Instead of investing in our children, the Governor and General Assembly have placed NC’s school children more than $2,600 below the national average; we now rank 48th in per student spending on education. Our states politicians have left us few options to improve the quality of our schools, but we believe that, in lieu of a work stoppage, our immediate task should be organizing our buildings and communities to engage with and win the broadest possible support from educators, parents, students, and allies. Therefore, instead of “walking out” of our schools, we at Organize 2020 propose that NC’s public school educators and local communities hold a November 4 “Walk-In.” Our goal is to organize every concerned North Carolinian in support of our students and public schools. Help us begin that work on the morning of November 4, when we will stand together in solemn silence, wearing red, at a location where parents can easily see us as they drop their children off at school. After some time has passed, we will silently enter the building together and begin our normal work day. However, at the end of the day, parents, community leaders, students, and educators will meet again to discuss, “What makes us proud of our school/system?” “What concerns do we have about our school/system?” “What do we want our school/system to look like?” “What are our next steps?” We also hope that all of your participants will sign our petition regarding per student education funding. At a time when the General Assembly has abandoned public school children, we are choosing to stand up for them. Join us in that effort. Our children need you. Materials to help you plan this event with your faculty will soon be available on our website but can be downloaded now from our Facebook group: https://facebook/groups/122739291258408
Posted on: Wed, 16 Oct 2013 04:04:22 +0000
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