A picture is worth a thousand words. Stay tuned for the October 29 hearing where Chancellor Michelle Rhee is scheduled to appear before the DC City Council of the whole. Stay tuned for more as protests of the October 29 hearing are planned by parents, teachers and community residents.
October 29, 2009 @ 10:00 am
Committee of the Whole Round Table
The District of Columbia Public Schools 2009-10 Equalization Process
Budget Reductions and Reduction in Force (RIF)
Location: John Wilson Building, Room 500
Posted by The Washington Teacher, featuring Candi Peterson- blogger in residence. Graphics by Celeste Jones.
We should plan a protest of Rif'd teachers during that hearing. Can you post the date and time of the hearing?
ReplyDeleteChairman Gray:
ReplyDeleteTake the words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King into this hearing on Ms. Rhee's jobs massacre.
Less than 24 hours before he was assassinated he told a crowd in Memphis, "I can remember -- I can remember when Negroes were just going around as Ralph (Abernathy) has said, so often, scratching where they didn't itch, and laughing when they were not tickled. But that day is all over. We mean business now, and we are determined to gain our rightful place in God's world.
And that's all this whole thing is about. We aren't engaged in any negative protest and in any negative arguments with anybody. We are saying that we are determined to be men. We are determined to be people. We are saying -- We are saying that we are God's children. And that we are God's children, we don't have to live like we are forced to live.
Now, what does all of this mean in this great period of history? It means that we've got to stay together. We've got to stay together and maintain unity. You know, whenever Pharaoh wanted to prolong the period of slavery in Egypt, he had a favorite, favorite formula for doing it. What was that? He kept the slaves fighting among themselves. But whenever the slaves get together, something happens in Pharaoh's court, and he cannot hold the slaves in slavery. When the slaves get together, that's the beginning of getting out of slavery. Now let us maintain unity."
So what can/will Gray do if Rhee no-shows?
ReplyDeleteI really love the picture that represents rhee with devil horns. So appropriate!!!
ReplyDeleteHello Dear Candi: This is just a suggestion-Is it possible to change the title instead of Chairman Gray vs Chancellor Rhee. what Rhee did to get rid of dedicated and committed veteran teachers because of their age, race, and years of service should be the concerns of all the District of Columbia council members.
ReplyDeleteI love the image of a fire-breathing, horned rhee. Too funny!
ReplyDeleteFor those DCPS teachers terminated in June 2009, my heart goes out to you. However, you should call you Washington Teacher's Union field representative as it seems that at least 25 of those 90 day plan teachers were reinstated according to Bill Turque of the Washington Post. See below
ReplyDeletehttp://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2009/10/some_dc_teachers_go_back_to_wo.html
DC Wire (Washington Post) Bill Turque
Some D.C. Teachers Go Back To Work
In the next few days, District lawyers are expected to respond to the Washington Teachers' Union lawsuit, explaining why DCPS was within its rights to lay off 266 teachers and staff. At the same time, the school system has quietly reinstated 25 teachers terminated last summer under the so-called "90-day plan."
You guys are making a serious mistake if you continue to make this a racial issue.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what Gray will do if Rhee is a no-show. It will be interesting to say the least. Stay tuned as this saga unfolds. Unfortunately the world is watching as DC does absolutely nothing. ;--(
ReplyDeleteMaybe now is the time for people to impress upon Gray what he needs to do to be a viable candidate for Mayor -- i.e. show he can take control of government.
ReplyDeleteWe're finally at a place where Fenty looks beatable, but our Anybody But Fenty rhetoric doesn't set us up for a better successor (see, e.g., Peebles as the sort of candidate who is emerging). Time to raise the standards and here's a great proving ground.
I can't agree with you more GLENN!! This is not a racial issue and please people don't make it one! We are all fighting, black and white, to get our jobs back! I want to feel united as one!
ReplyDeleteGlenn, for some people this has been a racial issue since Rhee came. Some people asked, "What does a Korean woman know about educating Black children?" just weeks after Rhee came here.
ReplyDeleteI guess eventually people realized how prejudiced that sounded because I stopped hearing those comments.
However, just becuase people stopped making the comments aloud doesn't mean they no longer feel some racial sentiments about her.
Maybe that's why some people focus on the race issue.
Hmmm.. "Just me Talking"??? What does one need to know to educate BLACK children??? I bet the same things they need to know to educate White, Korean, Latino, etc... children! Come on people... there is no special formula to educate black children...WHY?? WHY?? WHY?? Don't keep separating us... All children deserve a good education, the same education. This is not a racial issue! I was hoping with a black president, black mayor, etc...this crazy crap would stop. What will it take? White, Latinos, Asians, old, young, fat and skinny were all Riffed! What will it take to stop the racial crap! You never hear Asian's say "It is because we are yellow!" Why? Because it is nonsense!
ReplyDeleteThis is for the last anonymous @ 2:38 am - If anyone full of crap and nonsense, its U. The truth is hard to take and understand by you. Everything I have read here makes sense and they are putting out your dirty laundry, so stop crying.
ReplyDeleteI will not waste my time tuning in. I can tell you what will occur. One group who know they have no chance in being anything but a council member will not show up at all for the hearing. Then there is the group of want to be mayor who will listen and talk and strut but take no action. Why because they are afraid of how the public will view them.
ReplyDeleteNone of are contenders for mayor is my opinion. The continued embarrassment of DCPS locally as well as internationally will dictate who will be re-elected for another term.
My opinion again, I want Linda Cropp! Let's vote the miserable lot of them out of office!!!!!!!
No one seems to be accountable for anything but excuses. The lot of you are poor role models for our children. They have enough of this in their lives already.
Be accountable. Opposition is welcomed. It allows us to make better or the best decisions possible.
Do not let fear of the unknown stop you from making the best decision possible.
I will not waste my time tuning in. I can tell you what will occur. One group who know they have no chance in being anything but a council member will not show up at all for the hearing. Then there is the group of want to be mayor who will listen and talk and strut but take no action. Why because they are afraid of how the public will view them.
ReplyDeleteNone of are contenders for mayor is my opinion. The continued embarrassment of DCPS locally as well as internationally will dictate who will be re-elected for another term.
My opinion again, I want Linda Cropp! Let's vote the miserable lot of them out of office!!!!!!!
No one seems to be accountable for anything but excuses. The lot of you are poor role models for our children. They have enough of this in their lives already.
Be accountable. Opposition is welcomed. It allows us to make better or the best decisions possible.
Do not let fear of the unknown stop you from making the best decision possible.