D.C. Teachers to Protest Michelle “Teacher Terminator” Rhee
D.C. teachers are preparing a protest for Thursday over the impending teacher layoffs announced last week by Chancellor Michelle Rhee.
An announcement posted on The Washington Teacher's blog:
Rank and file educators will gather outside of the DCPS central office on Thursday, September 24, starting at 4:00 p.m. to protest teacher layoffs. We request that other laid off and terminated government employees, parents, students, city workers, residents, community activists, local leaders and the media join us in taking a stand for our teachers, students, and schools. We are baffled that Chancellor Rhee hired over nine hundred new teachers this summer, and that only one month into the school year announced that — due to a budget shortfall — she will make imminent teacher layoffs prior to the start of the fiscal year. Please join the rank and file this Thursday as we protest Rhee: The Teacher Terminator.
The site reports that "most of the lay offs will impact DC teachers and other school based staff including instructional coaches, custodians and even some principals and vice principals, etc."
In a Huffington Post piece on Friday called "Mass Teacher Layoffs One Hell of a Power Play by Michelle Rhee," teacher Dan Brown offers thoughts on how Rhee's "latest gambit might be her wildest. How can someone hire nearly 25% of their work force over the summer and then less than a month into the school year throw up her hands and move to lay so many off? Here's how."
Comments? Ideas? I'm at eniedowski@washingtoncitypaper.com, and on Twitter.
11:31 am
Dear Fellow Americans,
With a low literacy rate at the foundation of Afghanistan’s terrorism, I feel like Americans should be greatly alarmed by the fact that our public school system is struggling to survive in these harsh economic times. Yes, we’re a world leader, but this is largely due to our citizens being educated. I wish our leaders would realize the #1 deterrent of such violence already exists within our borders and our country’s budget…ADEQUATELY fund our public schools!
Thinking that an increase in Internet activity will capture the attention of our leaders and cause them to SUFFICIENTLY fund our public schools, I ask all interested parties to please become a fan of “E Cubed Alliance” on Facebook.
E CUBED ALLIANCE – EXPECTING EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
When our leaders make public education a priority, when America’s respect of public education returns, and when EVERYONE is focused on strengthening our public schools, GREAT things will happen for our America. This is why we Americans MUST unite on this!
Because our country’s future welfare greatly depends on what we do today, I’m asking you to PLEASE help by becoming an online fan and sharing this message. My voice of one needs amplification from my fellow Americans.
THANKS!
Sincerely,
Jennifer A. Luznar :-)
CARPE DIEM!
E Cubed Alliance – Expecting Educational Excellence