Tim Kaine, AFT President Randi Weingarten Join National Day of Action for Public Education

PHILADELPHIA—Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine today joined American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan, Pennsylvania State Education Association President Jerry Oleksiak, parent activist Sheila Armstrong, and eighth-grade honor roll student Kyla Seawright, along with elected officials, parents, students, teachers and other school staff at Spring Garden School as part of a national day of action calling for investment in public education.

WATCH SEN. KAINE’S REMARKS HERE.

Across the country, 100,000 people are expected to participate in actions at more than 2,000 schools in more than 200 communities.

“Every day, educators, school staff, parents and communities come together at schools like Spring Garden to give kids a fair shot to pursue their dreams, but we can’t do it with spit and glue,” said Weingarten. “Unfortunately, far too many schools still don’t have the resources to give kids that chance.

“Public education is the path to opportunity, the road to economic and racial justice—but only if all kids can access that road. It’s 2016—we shouldn’t have schools with outdated textbooks, mold on the walls and lead in the pipes. Our schools should have gardens, robotics classes, music and art, sports and so much more. This is about making sure we’re investing in schools, not disinvesting; keeping schools open and supporting them, not closing them. Trump’s plan is the opposite of that: He wants to strip billions of dollars from our public schools to create private school vouchers, a reckless plan that would leave 56,000 schools across the country worse off, endangering 21 million kids,” said Weingarten.

Few cities have seen more damage from state disinvestment than what Philadelphia suffered under former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett. Philadelphia children have faced school cutbacks and closings rather than receiving the resources that would help provide them the skills and knowledge they need to be prepared for life, college and career. Even as funding improves under Gov. Tom Wolf, many schools haven’t fully recovered, and some lack enough teachers, guidance counselors, nurses, art and music, and even things as basic as textbooks and paper. And Philadelphia’s educators have gone without a contract for more than 1,000 days.

Across the country, actions are focused on supporting public schools, with this agenda for change:

• Support schools, don’t close them.
• Create high-quality public schools in every community, with services to nurture the whole child and powerful learning to inspire and engage all students.
• Foster a school culture of trust and mutual respect that includes positive discipline and restorative justice practices.
• Focus on collaboration, not competition, where educators are equipped with the knowledge and tools to help students thrive.

The actions were coordinated by the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools, a coalition of more than 100 community and labor organizations. In addition to the broad national focus, there is a local focus in many communities: School “walk-ins” in Chicago will call for full funding of public schools to support wraparound services, smaller class size and special education. The focus in Baltimore is on supporting and expanding community schools and wraparound services for disadvantaged students. In Los Angeles, educators and community groups have planned events citywide to build a shared vision for community schools and to urge passage of a ballot proposition that would prevent a repeat of recession-era education cuts.  

“We have to ensure we have a fair, fully funded system so that our schools have all of the supplies and resources that our kids need,” said Armstrong. “Whether you have children or not, it is everyone’s moral imperative to come together to build strong schools and strong communities.”

That is what today’s day of action is all about. All children, regardless of demography or geography, deserve an education that prepares them not only to dream their dreams, but to achieve them.