Today I received text messages and emails about the protest at Spingarn high school. Spingarn high school students protested early this morning and walked the long track down to the Wilson building to meet with elected leaders. On the opposite side of town, McKinley Senior high students staged a 'sit-in' in Room 150 while Principal David Pinder lost control of his students for a third day in a row. I have posted an anonymous email that I received about the Spingarn protest as well as pictures of both demonstrations.
"Candi – I was at Spingarn this morning, along with Robert Brannum, Nathan Saunders and Rev Hagler. There were about 100 students demonstrating in front of the building. They were chanting Save our teachers,” “No teachers, no school” and “Fire Chancellor Rhee.” They were excited but orderly. They sometimes crept out onto the street, but moved back when asked. Whenever a car going by honked in support, the kids went nuts. Here’s what some of their signs said:
- Bring our teachers back
- Our education is on the line
- 50 plus has been good for us
- A senior this year, a DC voter next year
About 9:45, the students went down to Benning Road where they could be seen by more people. They walked down Benning Road until it turned into H Street where they headed straight towards the District Building. Students were escorted the entire way by numerous members of the DC metropolitan police force. While I left before the students went into the District building, I couldn't help but think what a wonderful testimony to DC teachers."
Posted by The Washington Teacher, featuring Candi Peterson, blogger in residence
Profiles in Courage: Spingarn High Protests & McKinley High Sits-in Over DC Teacher Layoffs
Alleged Police Brutality of McKinley High Students On Black Friday
Today at McKinley after layoff notices were dispensed to teachers, counselors and other staff, it was reported that DC police officers committed acts of brutality against high school students for protesting layoffs. One young female student described at length incidents in which police covered their badges, rough housed students, pushed a student to the ground injuring her face on the concrete and using pepper spray against another. Unfortunately the details of this student report was not shown on all local news stations but was reported on channel 7. One McKinley high school student has been incarcerated as a result and remains in jail along with a parent who came to defend students right to assemble. Students and teachers reported that no security was present today at McKinley or Woodson Senior High.
To date it seems that school counselors have been hardest hit. In addition, four members of our Washington Teachers' Union Executive board have all been laid off including a school counselor who recently donned the Wash. Post metro at our rank and file rally on September 24. Two school counselors from Mckinley Technology high school were let go while another one of the school counselors reportedly left today leaving a school counselor for approximately 700 students. In addition, an attendance clerk and the school registrar were let go as well.
It has also been reported that nine staff members from Roosevelt Senior High were laid off with seven of them being teachers and most of them were African American women with 15 years of experience as reported by WTU Building Rep. Tom O'Rourke. A school counselor from Ann Beers elementary was let go after 21 years of service. A school counselor from Spingarn high school with 20 years of experience was let go. Fourteen staff members were let go from Woodson Senior High and 10 of these staff members were teachers. Many of the calls I received were from mid level teachers with 20 plus years of experience or more, disproportionately of color and disproportionately 40 and over.
What a sad day in the neighborhood for us all and what a sad day to work for DCPS.
Posted by The washington Teacher featuring Candi Peterson, bloger in residence,
Video courtesy of wjla.com