Showing posts with label featured. Show all posts
Showing posts with label featured. Show all posts
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Video: Highlights From 2010 TSJ Curriculum Fair

November 14, 2011 0 comments


Much thanks to Riza Falks for editing this awesome video of highlights from last year's curriculum fair. Take a peek for a preview of what the Curriculum Fair is like.

Videography by Cortez Davidaz & friends
Still Photography by Melanie Folgar
Editing by Riza Falk (rizafalk.com)
Music from a Mix by Brotha Onaci (soularadiance.wordpress.com)

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Announcing Workshops for 2011 TSJ Curriculum Fair

November 12, 2011 1 comments

Workshops for the Curriculum Fair are now finalized. Here is the list:

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD AND REGISTER ONLINE (you do not need to register for workshops but you DO need to register for the CF to save you and the rest of us "at the door madness").

We have workshops for and by K-5 teachers, middle/HS teachers, counselors, popular educators, artists, parents, youth, union organizers, adult educators, bilingual educators, queer activists, anti-PIC activists, anti-school-militarization activists, youth workers, and MORE!

Curriculum Fair Workshops-12:15-1:30
Tactics for High School Counselors to Restrict Military Recruiters
Brian Galaviz
El Cuarto Año High School
Community-Led School Transformation: The Bronzeville Global Achievers Village
Jeanette Taylor-Smith, April Stogner, Tracie Scott, Jean Williams
Kenwood Oakland Community Organization
Your Social Life: Intergenerational Workshop on Cyber-bullying & Digital Abuse
Tiffany Witkowski, Tiara Epps, Salome Chasnoff
Beyond Media
Teaching about the "Occupy Movement" and the Current Crises in Grades K-5
Belén Donahue, Israel Hernandez, Monique Redeaux, Stephanie Schneider
Teachers for Social Justice
Living in the Second America: An Interdisciplinary Unit Exploring Youth Violence
Sara Atkins, Melissa Marquardt, Hari Vasu-Devan, Karen Zaccor
Uplift High School
Politics and Culture in the Classroom: Using 'Critical Incidents' as a Springboard for Critical Pedagogy
Kate Stemper, Jonah Bondurant, Emma Meade
Popular Education in ESL/ELL Inquiry to Action Group
Classroom Strategies for Teaching Mathematics and Statistics for Social Justice
Ronald Towns
Christian Fenger Academy High School (Chicago Public Schools)

Curriculum Fair Workshops-2:30-3:45
Honduras-Teachers Defend Public Education in the Midst of a Coup
Norma Yanina Parada
National Front of Popular Resistance to the Honduran coup & Honduran Teachers Unions
Off-Limits? Investigating the Role of Sexuality in the Classroom
Rachel Harper, Meggie Harvey, Ali Jennings, Nicole Darcangelo, Boyd Bellinger
ChiQueer: Queer Issues in Education Inquiry to Action Group
Popular Education In Cuba
Alberto Gonzalez, Evarina Deulofeo
MLK Center, Cuba
Discussing the Prison Industrial Complex With Youth
Billy Dee, Mariame Kaba, Lewis Wallace
Chicago PIC Teaching Collective (Project NIA)
Critical Bilingualism in Grades K-5
Allie Epstein, Rita Sacay
Teachers for Social Justice
Teaching with the Work of Howard Zinn: Voices of a People's History Past and Present.
Mariah Neuroth, Kevin Coval
Voices of a People's History
Changing the Narrative: Using Visual-based Storytelling to Uplift Unheard Voices
The Bees - (Molly, Nikki, Tyler)
The Beehive Design Collective


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Keynote Speakers Announced for 2011 TSJ Curriculum Fair!

November 6, 2011 0 comments

We are excited to announce the speakers for the keynote program at the 2011 Teaching for Social Justice Curriculum Fair!

Mercedes Martinez Padilla is President of the Toa Baja local of the Federación de Maestros de Puerto Rico/Teachers Federation of Puerto Rico. Mercedes has been active in the union’s 2008 strike and in protests, marches, and rallies led by the union against government plans to privatize public education and the Teacher’s Retirement System in Puerto Rico. Mercedes brings lessons of the union’s struggle against neoliberal education policies and to defend better working conditions for teachers and a better public education system.

Katherine Rivera Cardec is a teacher in Guaynabo and a member of the Federacion de Maestros de Puerto Rico/Teachers Federation of Puerto Rico. Since 2010, she has been the secretary of her local union. She participated actively in the 2008 teacher's strike. 

Norma Yanina Parada is a leader in the Tegucigalpa teachers’ movement and a member of two of the most active national teachers’ organizations in Honduras. Yanina was one of 305 teachers suspended by the Lobo government in the spring of 2011 because of their participation in massive protests against the government’s actions against teachers and public schools. In May 2011 she helped launch a 30 day hunger strike to protest the suspension of 5000 teachers and in support of the demands of teachers, students and families regarding public education. She has been active in the National Front of Popular Resistance (FNRP) since it was formed shortly after the coup of June 28, 2009.

Jitu Brown is Education Organizer for the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization. Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Jitu has organized in the Kenwood Oakland neighborhood for over 17 years bringing community voices to the table on school issues and helping to stop school closings in the area. Working locally and thinking globally, Jitu has taken youth leaders from KOCO to the United Nations, the Passamaquoddy Native American reservation in Maine and the UN Conference on Racism in South Africa. Jitu has been a leader in coalitions of parents, teachers and youth who have fought school closings, turnarounds, and privatization of public education in Chicago. Read the Full Story

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11th Annual Teaching for Social Justice Curriculum Fair!

October 31, 2011 0 comments

We are very excited that Saturday, November 19, 2011 will be the 11th Annual Teaching for Social Justice Curriculum Fair, co-sponsored by Rethinking Schools. This year's theme is "Defend and Transform Public Education!"

In "science fair" format, and completely grassroots volunteer-organized, the Curriculum Fair will provide over 800 educators, activists, parents, youth & community members with a space to share curricula, resources, and inspiration. We'll be making friends & building relationships, exploring ideas & projects, connecting our histories & struggles. All in a spirit of social justice and education for liberation.

Online registration is open: Please register here now and spread the word!

*UPDATE* The deadline for Curriculum Exhibits has been extended to November 7th! Submit online here!

(Download flyer PDF in English)(En Español)

Stay tuned for more information on program keynote speakers, performers, workshops and more!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 201110:00AM - 5:00PM
Doors open at 9:30am
Orozco School
1940 W. 18TH Street (map & directions)
Chicago, IL Read the Full Story

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10th Annual Teaching for Social Justice Curriculum Fair!

November 17, 2010

(En Español)
We are very excited that this November 20, 2010 will be the 10th Annual Teaching for Social Justice Curriculum Fair,  co-sponsored by Rethinking Schools. This year's theme is "Another Education is Possible, Another World is Necessary!"

In "science fair" format, and completely grassroots volunteer-organized, the Curriculum Fair will provide over 600 educators, activists, parents, youth & community members with a space to share curricula, resources, and inspiration. We'll be making friends & building relationships, exploring ideas & projects, connecting our histories & struggles. All in a spirit of social justice and education for liberation.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010
10:00AM - 5:00PM
Doors open at 9:30am
Orozco School 
1940 W. 18TH Street (map & directions)
Chicago, IL
(download Program PDF)(es Español)
(download Press Advisory)

*Pre-Registration Online is Closed. Feel free to register in person!
 
  • OPENING PROGRAM: (10am-noon) Always diverse, poignant, and inspiring, take a peek at this year's 2010 Opening Program Keynote Speakers & Performers.
  • CURRICULUM FAIR: (all day) K-12 Teachers will be on hand at the Curriculum Fair with poster-board visuals to discuss their favorite curriculum. Check out the Full List of 2010 Curriculum Exhibitor Topics.
  • RESOURCE TABLES: (all day) Local & national organizations will have tables to share relevant resources & books. Check out the full list of 2010 Resource Tables.
  • WORKSHOPS: (2 Sessions, beginning at noon) Community leaders will be facilitating dialogue through a number of workshops on vital educational & justice-related issues. Check out descriptions for the 14 2010 Workshops.
Also at the Curriculum Fair...

  • LUNCH: Lunch is provided for all, to sustain us as we move through our day. Donations from local restaurants and chefs will provide us with various options, including vegetarian & vegan.
  • EXHIBIT & INTERACTIVE ARTS. Movement artists will be on hand to inspire & amaze through social justice-themed paintings & banners, and will be inviting you to create with them.
  • CHILDCARE: We'll be offering childcare from 10am-5pm with thanks to the Chicago Childcare Collective. Registration through Online Registration.
  • HEALING SPACE: TSJ is collaborating with Sage Community Health Collective to provide a Healing Space for fair goers. There will be session signups for massage and acupuncture, as well as an ongoing quiet place where all you hardworking teachers can get away from the day's stress & relax.
  • TRANSLATION: For the first time, we've committed to expanding language access at the fair to spanish speakers. The opening program will be translated simultaneously and workshops will include translators upon request. 
  • TSJ GEAR: One of our favorite things to do in prep for the fair is to get teachers together and create our own art. This year we've got some hot new t-shirt, totebag & button designs- come by the TSJ table to pick up yours!
After the Fair
   
AFTER-EVENT! "Liberation Lounge on Marshall". The unnofficial after-party, where TSJ members invite you to a night of arts, dancing & drinks. Details on Facebook. Featuring: 
Update: (download Program PDF)(es Español) 
 
Update: (download Press Advisory)


Update: Our Setup/Cleanup committee has committed to recycling paper & plastic this year and TSJ is striving to have a plastic-water bottle free event. Please bring a bottle of your own.

Update: We have also committed to having gender-neutral bathrooms, which will be clearly marked at the fair. 

Update: Please support La Casita Community Library - Bring a Spanish-language children's book (3rd - 7th grade level most needed) to donate! Drop them by the La Casita Young Librarian's table where Whittier students will update you on their struggle for a library and community space.

We hope you'll help us shape this space to be accessible for people with disabilities, accommodating to those with language & dietary needs, and safe for all people to be their full selves.

A note on registration: we missed emails from Online Registrants before Nov. 2. If you registered online before then, we most likely have your info and can send you the program if you drop us your email. Either way, there is plenty of space and we'll look forward to seeing you on Saturday.

There is no registration cost, though we request a $5-10 donation (includes lunch) if you can give. This is an all-volunteer event and all volunteering, monetary donation & in-kind support is appreciated so we can cover costs. The Childcare Space & Healing Space will accept tips as well. Thanks!


Why a Curriculum Fair? 
Following on the US Social Forum in Detroit in June, the national upswing in education organizing, the victory in Milwaukee against Mayoral takeover of their public schools, and the recent tremendous victory by CORE for Chicago Teachers Union leadership, we recognize the need more than ever to build the momentum of the Education for Liberation movement.

For 10 formative years of the Curriculum Fair, we have come together based on our commitment to education for social justice. Along with educators countrywide, we are working toward classrooms and schools that are anti-racist, multicultural / multilingual, and grounded in the experiences of our students. We believe Another Education is Possible and understand that we must take on discussions of school policy in order to create more just and humane schools, but we're also connected to a national & international network of educator activists and recognize together more and more that Another World is Necessary.
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Chicago Teachers Union Celebrates 'Stunning Legal Victory' Against CPS Over Layoffs

October 6, 2010 0 comments

FOX Chicago News
Chicago - A federal judge ruled Monday that the Chicago Public School system does not have the right to fire teachers without regard to seniority or tenure, handing a victory to the Chicago Teachers Union.

Before the start of the school year, 750 teachers were let go because of budget deficits.

Monday, a court ruling sided with CTU over the firings. Judge David Coar ruled that the district has 30 days to work with the union on a process that would set up so called "recall rules".

The teachers believe the ruling will get them back at work.

Read the full article. 

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NOT Waiting for Superman - Take Action!

October 2, 2010 0 comments

Reposted from Rethinking Schools.

NOTWaitingforSuperman.org is live!

We've got news, articles, and resources, as well as discussion boards to keep the dialogue active. Please invite colleagues and friends to the site and join the fight.

 
Read on for ways to get informed, create dialogue & take action.
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CORE Wins Leadership of Chicago Teachers Union!

June 13, 2010 0 comments

In a decisive victory, the Caucus of Rank and File Educators won leadership of the Chicago Teachers Union!

Check out these three videos of CTU Delegates after this historic win, including President-Elect Karen Lewis' acceptance speech. Nathan Goldbaum CTU delegate Jackson Potter CTU delegate Karen Lewis CTU acceptance speech  

On June 11, 2010, 20,406 members of the Chicago Teachers Union voted in a run-off election for the leadership of the CTU. Headed by Karen Lewis, a chemistry teacher at King College Prep, the Caucus of Rank-and-file Educators was declared the winner by the American Arbitration Association on June 12, 2010. The results were CORE at 12,080 votes and UPC, headed by Marilyn Stewart at 8,326. CORE swept all elected offices in the run-off. 

"Today marks the beginning of the end of scapegoating educators for all the social ills that our children, families and schools struggle against every day. Today marks the beginning of a fight for true transparency in our educational policy -- how to accurately measure learning and teaching, how to truly improve our schools, and how to evaluate the wisdom behind our spending priorities." Read the Full Story

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Save Our Schools Rally - A Huge Turnout!

May 26, 2010 1 comments

On May 25, TSJ joined several thousand fired-up teachers, parents, students, and school staff, in a huge show of outreach at CPS's proposed budget cuts.

Marching from CPS headquarters to City Hall, we took to the streets with demands: * Save our Schools! * Chop from the Top! * Stop investing in Private Schools! * The Money is There- Give the TIF $ back to the People!

Clark Street was clogged with buses unloading marchers (by our count about 40 buses). As part of the Grassroots Education Movement (GEM), TSJ and other GEM partners (KOCO, Blocks Together, Pilsen Alliance, among others present) joined the current leadership of the Chicago Teachers Union and CORE (Caucus of Rank and File Educators) which initiated the rally in the union and is in a run-off for the leadership. This powerful outpouring signaled the power of unity between teachers and community that we will need we will need to defeat the drastic budget cuts hitting school districts around the country as politicians, corporations and banks try to dump their financial crisis on our backs.

The rally gave us a taste of the power of the teachers union, a sleeping giant, which if fully awakened as a social justice union in principled alliance with children and communities, has the strength to bring the city and the school district to listen to the people' demands. This is why it is strategically important to support CORE for the CTU runoff election on June 11!
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CORE is in the Chicago Teachers Union Hunt

May 24, 2010 0 comments

In Chicago Teachers Union elections last week, the Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators (CORE) garnered enough votes to take it to a run off, falling just 1.9 points behind the incumbents. Taking in account all of the opposition groups, 2/3 of CTU voters sent a message calling for change and CORE, a social justice caucus within the union, has a chance of winning.

TSJ has officially endorsed CORE in the elections and we're encouraging all to respond to the call to help.

CORE is having a dinner & planning meeting this Monday, open to all those want to find out how they can support in the June 11th Runoff Election.

Monday, May 24th 2010 4:00-6:00 PM
Letter Carriers Hall
3850 South Wabash
Food will be provided.

Check out info on the Run Off & Elections at:
http://coreteachers.com



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Save Our Schols Rally this Tuesday!

May 20, 2010 0 comments

Join Educators, Union members, Parents,
Community Leaders and Students to protest the
Board's devastation of Chicago's public schools.
CPS is planning to
* Increase class sizes to 37 students
* Cut after-school programming
* Fire thousands of teachers
* Eliminate full day kindergarten
UNITE!
Rally - Tuesday May 25
4-6 p.m.
Starting at the Chicago Teacher's Union: 125 S. Clark Street
Marching to City Hall
Chop from the Top - Eliminate Board Waste
Stop investing in Private Schools - Freeze Charter Schools and Turnarounds
The Money is There. Give the TIF $ back to the people.
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TSJ Officially Endorses CORE for CTU Leadership

May 16, 2010 1 comments

TSJ Members and Friends,

The upcoming election for the leadership of the CTU (Chicago Teachers Union), on May 21, is extremely significant given the current political and economic situation facing Chicago.
On the basis of our political principles and 12-year history of fighting for justice and equity in education (and society), Teachers for Social Justice officially endorses CORE (Caucus of Rank-and-file Educators) for CTU leadership.

We believe CORE has the best chance to lead the CTU forward towards being a democratic, social justice union, in solidarity with communities and community organization, that will fight for the interests of Chicago students, parents, and, of course, teachers. We know and respect many in CORE leadership because many came out of TSJ and are still members/friends and participate in TSJ events.

We urge all TSJers to vote for the CTU in the election (if you are a union member) and to otherwise help in EVERY way you can to support CORE. CORE is holding a May 8 "training event" for outreach to schools (flyer attached) for all who want to volunteer to support their election drive. See http://coreteachers.com/election/ for more details, their specific platform, and candidates. They will also be doing some phone banking, so stay tuned!
In solidarity and struggle,
Teachers for Social Justice Active Core

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Summary of Research Studies on Renaissance 2010

February 24, 2010 0 comments

Research findings: A growing body of research indicates Chicago’s Renaissance 2010 plan to close, phase out, consolidate, or turn around schools and turn them over to private charter school operators or selective enrollment schools does not benefit low-income students of color.

  • Students have been transferred from one low-scoring school to another; overall the moves did not significantly affect student achievement.
  • Renassaince 2010 leads to exclusion of vulnerable students, increased school violence, disruption of teaching and learning, disruption and demoralization of receiving schools, destabilization of students and communities, and displacement of teachers.
  • CPS charter high schools are not performing significantly better than CPS neighborhood high schools, while enrolling less special-need, ELL, and low-income students.
  • Students and communities disproportionately affected are low-income African American and Latino.
  • School closings are concentrated in gentrified and gentrifying areas.
  • Case studies of schools proposed to close for under-enrollment indicate that CPS uses flawed enrollment data.
  • There has been little genuine participation of parents, teachers, students, or communities in decisions affecting them.
  • R2010 schools’ governing bodies are not open to public scrutiny.
  • Charter schools nationally tend to be more racially segregated than regular public schools.
Recommendation: Freeze Renaissance 2010 and implement a school/community-centered school transformation process.
 
Reports:

1. Students as Collateral Damage? Preliminary Study of Renaissance 2010 School Closings in the Midsouth.
P. Lipman, A. Person, Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, February 2007. http://www.uic.edu/educ/ceje/papers.html As a result of school closings and student transfers, teachers, administrators, and parents in Midsouth receiving schools reported: a) lack of necessary resources, staff, and professional support; b) disruptive and demoralizing climate; c) negative effects on teaching and learning; d) problems with safety and discipline; e) schools were “set up for failure” due to a history of declining resources and lack of support from CPS. 
 
2. Public Accountability and Renaissance 2010. Parents United for Responsible Education, 2008. http://pureparents.org/data/files/FOIAreport11-16-08.pdf Two-thirds of R2010 schools failed to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests for basic information about their governing bodies in 2008. Information from the schools that did respond showed that only 5% of their governing body members were parents. 
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CURRICULUM: Something is Wrong: Exploring the Roots of Youth Violence

February 1, 2010 0 comments

Project NIA, the Chicago Freedom School and Teachers for Social Justice have partnered along with other volunteers to develop a curriculum guide in order to contribute to the ongoing efforts by young people and their adult allies to analyze the root causes of youth violence and to create local solutions.

At a time when frustration is running high and many are expressing a sense of powerlessness in the face of pervasive violence, this curriculum guide is an offering intended to make a positive contribution to the dialogue about violence in the lives of young people.

Download the Curriculum

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New Campaign: Towards an Elected Representative School Board

January 7, 2010

After 15 years of privatization, school closings, high stakes tests, and control of teachers,  we have a critical opportunity to challenge mayoral control of education in Chicago.  Education activists, community organizations, and the CTU are taking the moment of the local elections to launch a campaign for an Elected Representative School Board (ERSB)-"representative" of the 92% students of color and 86% low-income CPS student body. Although the campaign is just beginning, it has been percolating for years. This message describes some of the current state of public education in Chicago: the attacks, the pushback, and some public forums around the mayoral election. Stay tuned for more information on the ERSB Campaign. 


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