Welcome to the Save Our Schools Conference Day I: Highlights of the Keynote speech by Jonathan Kozol

It is an exciting time to be a public school teacher!  If you are at the SOS Conference come say “hi,” if you are tuning in from elsewhere, please comment on posts and ask questions I can relay to others here.

Rick Meyer opened the Save Our Schools Conference with this statement.  “We don’t need another book, we need activism.”  Meyer also noted that Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will be present at the SOS March on Saturday.

Jonathon Kozol (standing ovation welcome from audience):

“We are gathered here to say these laws (RttT, NCLB) need to be abolished”

“Savage Inequalities are worse today than they were twenty years ago.”

“Unabated and increasing racial segregation”

“If the people who designed [high-stakes testing], wanted to create a reign of terror, they’ve been successful.”

“In spite of the juggernaut of propaganda, there is a rising tide of activism among teachers and students in the US.”

Save Our Schools March coming up soon!

Hello July; Here we come D.C. –

The Save Our Schools March is right around the corner, and the schedule looks amazing!  Educators from around the country will descend upon our capitol from July 28th-July 31st, in an effort to reclaim our status as the professionals in the public school classroom.  Ralliers are demanding an end to high-stakes testing, equitable funding for all schools, and  local decision-making when it comes to curriculum.

The event includes a conference on Thurs and Friday, July 28th and 29th, a March starting at the Ellipse on Saturday, July 30th at noon, and an Follow-up Congress on Sunday morning.  Planned speakers include Jonathon Kozol, Diane Ravitch, Deborah Meier, Pedro Noguera, Susan Ohanian, Stephen Krashen, and yes, even Matt Damon.

Are you attending?  What are you looking forward to?  What would you like to see come out of this?

You can register for the events here, if you haven’t already.

(On a side note, if anyone wants to car-pool from Chicago-land, please email me directly.)