School Closing Rally
By SHANIA MORRIS
Lately, there has been talk all over the news about the school closings. The School Reform Commission started out with a list of 40 schools being closed. Then there were 27. However, 4 were saved and now there are 23. This high number still left students unsatisfied. Not just students, but teachers, staff, parents, and community members.
On the 7th of March, all members of the school community gathered in the hallway and outside of the school district building. Folks were angry, frustrated, upset, hurt, and so many other emotions ran wild. Extreme dedication and the belief that they could bring about a change fueled their energy. The protesters remained in high spirits as they pushed forward with this act of civil disobedience. The students felt well supported by their teachers, who joined them in the rally. Teachers too felt supported by the community. On this day, there was one voice shared, we were a single unit, telling the school district that we were not having it. We won’t allow them to continue to destroy our future.
Several youth groups from Philly lead the protest. They started a chant that echoed through the hallways, and it repeated: “Ayo my people. Yeah!…We got a story. Yeah!…We’ll tell the whole damn world this is student territory.” Students were out their seats, on their seats, and jumping around the hall purposely disturbing the peace for attention. The restless students continued to chant as a unison. That day we served our purpose and if the (SRC) didn’t listen to what we had to say, then this is only the beginning.
Some teachers from the Academy At Palumbo attended the rally at the School District of Philadelphia building. I had the privilege of talking to one of them to see what their experience was like. I asked what the energy was like and he said “It was a protest, so the energy was high. I could see some people were angry and disgruntled.” He went on to state of the rally, “ It was effective in the way that it makes the SRC stop and think a little bit. Like if no one was to show up they would probably think that what they are doing is okay… I think what’s nice about the rally is that when many teachers show up, it makes you feel appreciated. They care about their jobs and people are willing to stand together and try to right a wrong so you don’t feel alone.” The occupying of 440 N Broad Street, shows politicians that we care about our education here in the City of Brotherly Love.
The Griffin Gazette 