Have I got a deal for you. Today is a special day for the Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action Today is our 2nd one-day fundraiser, our money cascade, about which you can read at our Cause page
Your contributions to us are now tax-deductible, and we take PayPal.
And boy do we have lots of news.
You can read about our many endorsers, which is constantly expanding, and which now includes statewide teachers unions in Wisconsin, North Carolina, Colorado and Florida; many local teachers unions including Chicago; the National Council of Teachers of English; Matt Damon and his mom noted educator Nancy Carlsson-Paige. Read the list. It is impressive. Yes, I am listed, as are other members of the executive committee.
But yesterday we got some very interesting news, which I will share below the fold, even as I request you to support us, even with a nominal contribution. I willalsoexplain why we need your financial assistance.
we have four key points:
1. Equitable funding for all public school communities
2. End to high stakes testing for student, teacher, and school evaluation
3. Curriculum developed for and by local school communities
4. Teacher and community leadership in forming public education policies
We have the support of parents groups, like Parents Across America.
This has been organized from the ground up, truly a grassroots effort, even as we seek and welcome the support of established organizations.
Yesterday we received some exciting news, as you can see here: The faculty of the School of Education, Health and Human Services at Hofstra University (Long Island, New York) endorsed the Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action. We were informed the faculty vote was unanimous and they hope to organize a large group from Hofstra.
We have also established an interesting relationship. Look ahead to later this week, Thursday May 12 on Plessey & Ferguson, and the New Freedom Riders. We have just established a partnership with the Plessey AND Ferguson Foundation for Education and Reconciliation. P & F are organizing a 2011 Freedom Riders 50th anniversary journey, beginning in NOLA and ending in D.C. at the time of the SOS March, with rallies along the way.
We have an ever increasing number of local organizations, and we are exploring how people can participate even if they cannot come to Washington DC.
Why we need your financial assistance - and remember, we are now a 501C3 organization, so contributions to us are tax deductible.
We have expenses for the conference space at American University.
We have to make commitments to the Park Service for access for the Parade space and rally.
The executive committee are all volunteers. We have an experienced DC- based organizer whom we must pay, and we will add additional paid staff as we expand.
In the meantime, we want to be sure that we can keep our effort going.
We hope you will join us in making a contribution of whatever you can on behalf of this important event.
The Department of Education is worried. If you read my diary last night on my open letter to the Secretary of Education, Dear Secretary Duncan, I reference open letters by two others, Teacher Sabrina and Anthony Cody. They are also on the executive committee, as is well-known teacher-blogger and former Michigan Teacher of the Year Nancy Flanagan. We are teachers who have been able to get our voices heard, at least occasionally. We are trying to have voices of more teachers heard, and voices of parents as well. We know we have the attention of the Department of Education. We are starting to get the attention of some important political groups - there is exciting news in the works. And we are catching the interest of some important figures on Capitol Hill.
Remember - the so-called "reformers" are backed by the Billionaire Boys Club - the likes of hedge fund operators like Whitney Tilsen, foundations from Eli Broad and Bill Gates and the DeVos family and the Koch brothers and the Walton family.
We depend upon the support of ordinary folks. There are more of us than there are of them, and if we come together, we can save public schools for all of us.
Please help us. Join our cause. Support us financially if you can - that is our focus today. Consider coming to Washington and joining us in July.
Thanks in advance for all you will do.
Peace.