Parents 4 Teachers says, “Call Brizard.”

Hi Fred,

My name is Erica–I’m a CPS parent (going on 14 years in the system!), an avid reader of your blog, and really ticked off at what passes for education debate in the country, state, city these days.

For the last year, I’ve been complaining (to anyone who would listen) that parents need to get organized and stand up to the teacher bashing that is so fashionable these days. The way I see it, as long as the 99 percent and their mouthpieces can blame teachers for what ails education, we’re never going make the real changes we need to improve our schools. 

So I and a few friends decided to stop complaining and get to work. We’ve formed a new (very new) and still small group–Parents 4 Teachers–to try to take on this issue. It just happened that we got going right at the same time CPS launched its assault on west and south side schools so we’ve jumped in to that fight. Our goal is to help mobilize parents and others outside of the affected communities to speak out against the board’s plans. Our first “action” is a call in campaign to the board for next Tuesday, Jan. 31, and every subsequent Tuesday after that until the board’s Feb. 22 meeting. We’re asking folks to call Brizard’s office, at 773-553-1500 and to state the school their children attend. We were hoping you might promote the action on your blog. We’ve sent the email below to dozens of community and school organizations. I’m sure it’s too long for one of your posts–I’m just forwarding FYI.

Thanks and keep up the good work.

Erica

Dear Parents and Community Members,

 

As concerned parents we ask that you call Mr. Brizard, Chicago Board of Education CEO, on Tuesday, January 31, and urge him to immediately withdraw plans to close 6 schools and turn around 10 others. It will send a strong message if CPS receives many calls on the same day. Also, please call each Tuesday–February 7, 14, and 21—prior to the February 22 Board meeting when they will vote on the proposed actions. Please forward this email to others, share on facebook, and spread the word!

School closings and turnarounds are harmful to children, their families, and their communities. These 15-year old policies have failed. When schools are closed students have to walk or be transported out of their neighborhoods. This results in an increase in violence and disruption of students’ education. Students lose up to six months of academic achievement for each school change. At turnaround schools administrators and teachers are fired. This disrupts the continuity of students’ relationships and academic instruction in a traumatic way. The affected schools are in low-income African-American and Latino communities. Would the mayor and Board members inflict these policies on their children?   

 

Call Mr. Brizard at 773-553-1500. Parents, please identify your child’s school when you call.

 

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Tell him…

 

Mr. Brizard, I urge you to immediately withdraw plans to close 6 schools and turn around 10 others. Closing schools and turning them around did not work in the past and will not work now. These 15-year old policies increase violence, disrupt students’ education, and have not led to higher academic achievement. That students will attend better schools has proven to be a false promise. CPS should make every neighborhood school a great school.

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Closing schools and turning them around blames teachers, administrators, students, and families. But the root causes of the problems are (1) the effects of racism and poverty (2) CPS’s refusal to invest sufficiently in high poverty schools (3) policies like high stakes tests and large class size.

 

Privatization continues. CPS proposes that six of the 10 turnaround schools be run by Academy for Urban School Leadership–a private corporation. AUSL’s record shows it has not improved schools, even as they have been paid millions–at taxpayer expense. Chicago Board of Ed Chair David Vitale and CPS Chief Administrative Officer Tim Cawley are former AUSL employees. In whose interests do these public servants serve?

Please email us at parentsfourteachers@gmail.com to let us know CPS heard your voice. We’d like to keep track of how many calls they receive. Parents 4 Teachers is a new group of parents who have come together to stand up for teachers and defend public education.

Thank you very much,

Parents 4 Teachers

Defending Public Education

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