Alleged Police Brutality of McKinley High Students On Black Friday

Today at McKinley after layoff notices were dispensed to teachers, counselors and other staff, it was reported that DC police officers committed acts of brutality against high school students for protesting layoffs. One young female student described at length incidents in which police covered their badges, rough housed students, pushed a student to the ground injuring her face on the concrete and using pepper spray against another. Unfortunately the details of this student report was not shown on all local news stations but was reported on channel 7. One McKinley high school student has been incarcerated as a result and remains in jail along with a parent who came to defend students right to assemble. Students and teachers reported that no security was present today at McKinley or Woodson Senior High.

To date it seems that school counselors have been hardest hit. In addition, four members of our Washington Teachers' Union Executive board have all been laid off including a school counselor who recently donned the Wash. Post metro at our rank and file rally on September 24. Two school counselors from Mckinley Technology high school were let go while another one of the school counselors reportedly left today leaving a school counselor for approximately 700 students. In addition, an attendance clerk and the school registrar were let go as well.

It has also been reported that nine staff members from Roosevelt Senior High were laid off with seven of them being teachers and most of them were African American women with 15 years of experience as reported by WTU Building Rep. Tom O'Rourke. A school counselor from Ann Beers elementary was let go after 21 years of service. A school counselor from Spingarn high school with 20 years of experience was let go. Fourteen staff members were let go from Woodson Senior High and 10 of these staff members were teachers. Many of the calls I received were from mid level teachers with 20 plus years of experience or more, disproportionately of color and disproportionately 40 and over.

What a sad day in the neighborhood for us all and what a sad day to work for DCPS.

Posted by The washington Teacher featuring Candi Peterson, bloger in residence,
Video courtesy of wjla.com