By Jalil Muntaqim
Recent articles attacking public education is consistent with the rise of right-wing conservatism and their efforts to deny Critical Race Theory, a critical look at curriculums that for centuries has been Eurocentric in design and obfuscated (rendered obscne) the culture and contribution of non-white nationalities and ethnic groups .
Here in Rochester, the progressive and activist community has long fought for substantial institutional change in both curriculum and pragmatic academic practices. This include demanding the Full Implementation of the Culturally-Responsive Sustaining Education Framework, the Code of Conduct, the RASE Report, Solutions Not Suspensions, Stop Closing Schools (increasing class sizes) to name a few, that seems to fall on the deaf ears of RCSD administrators. During last year’s budget public hearings, young people were consistent in their demand for better quality nutritional meals at their schools. Given the depth and breadth of poverty and hunger in Rochester, the Teens’ demand should have been a major focus of all progressives and activists wanting institutional reform for RCSD. There has been a half-dozen reports and recommendations on the ailment and malfeasances plaguing RCSD with negligible responses or efforts to improve conditions following reported recommendations.
So, what’s next? What do the progressive and school reform activist community need to do to ensure our collective voices are heard? Here I am making a bold and audacious ask of all of you, those of you who’ve written letters, made phone calls, sent out emails, had One on One’s with RCSD representatives, posted Op-Eds, and lined-up to speak at RCSD public hearings, I am petitioning all of you to join in a series of demonstrations, putting boots on the ground – as Dr. King instructed he wanted to be remembered as a “Drum Major for Justice” – to become a Drum Major for the Mobilization for Public Education. This is a Call to Action that we all should be remembered for:
Please join us for the next two Mobilization for Public Education demonstrations on:
May 5th, 5:00PM at RCSD Central Office (131 W. Broad Street) before the 5:30PM BOE Deliberation Session on the Budget Meeting:
May 9th, 5:00PM at RCSD Central Office (131 W. Broad Street) before the 5:30PM BOE Summary of Final Board Concerns Meeting.
These Mobilization for Public Education demonstrations are expected to make visible the plight of RCSD in a public arena in opposition to their continued failure to be transparent and accountable. The Mobilization for Public Education will highlight the above goals and objectives, demanding the Board of Education, especially Leslie Meyers-Small and Shelly Jawlow adhere to the demands of the parents, students, faith-based institutions and community organizations. These will be the first in a series of steps to turn Mobilization into a Movement for institutional change and manifesting a new paradigm for education in Rochester, the City of Frederick Douglass.
Jalil Muntaqim is Special Projects Coordinator, Citizen Action of New York, Rochester Chapter