The Progressive: When Students Go On Strike For Their Schools

[Omaha Steve]

Sarah Jaffe
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http://www.progressive.org/news/2015/01/187952/when-students-go-strike-their-teachers

By Sarah Jaffe on January 02, 2015

The teachers’ union in Philadelphia lost the legal right to strike when the state took over the city’s public schools more than a decade ago. Then, last October, the Philadelphia School Reform Commission unilaterally voided the teachers’ contracts in the name of budget cuts. The students, in a move that is becoming emblematic of the new wave of organizing spreading across the country, went on strike because the teachers could not. Outside of the High School for Creative and Performing Arts in Philly, around 175 students danced and sang, holding signs that declared that education is a right—and that their teachers deserve health care.

Not too far away, in Newark, New Jersey, this September Newark Student Union activists took two days of action. They held blockades in front of three local high schools in the morning to encourage other students to join them marched to downtown Newark, where the Board of Education is located.

On the first day, they held a “know your rights” training.

On the second day, they shut down a major intersection. For nine hours.

FULL story at link.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. "Young wolves, show us your teeth." John Steinbeck K&R

[JanMichael]

2. In 1985 the students at my HS marched from the school to the board office (small town).

We did that the support the teachers who were being threatened with pay cuts just because the board wanted to break the union.

We won that time. It was fabulous.

It is awesome to see that continuing.

[JanMichael]

3. A kick for the students and school staff. nt.