A small group of activists is conducting a sit-in in Governor Tom Corbett’s office in Harrisburg to demand a restoration of $1 billion in budget cuts to public schools.
Those of us who remember the 1960s recall that this tactic was frequently used by civil rights groups and anti-war activists to draw attention to their cause. It was effective in encouraging others to become involved and active.
Press Release
For Immediate Release
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Ron Whitehorne, 215-779-2672, ronw292@gmail.com
Jesse Kudler, 617-974-3684, jesse@fightforphilly.org
Happening now: Education activists sitting in at Gov. Corbett’s office until statewide education cuts are reversed through fair revenue plan
Parents, students, teachers, and activists demand full and equal funding for schools and fair revenue from taxing fracking, expanding Medicaid, freezing business tax cuts
Harrisburg, PA – Statewide education advocates escalated their fight for full funding for education Thursday evening, announcing a sit-in at the governor’s office until he supports undoing $1 billion in cuts to education statewide and raising revenue through fair measures. Parents and activists from across the state are staying at the Capitol every day until the governor signs a budget that restores funds for education and human services by making businesses and the gas industry pay their fair share.
Activists from across the state announced their plans at a 4pm press conference in the Capitol Rotunda. “The governor’s priorities are the problem. The budget is not the problem,” said Susan Spicka, a public school parent and Education Matters in the Cumberland Valley community liaison. “Last week, my daughter turned to me and asked me what would be cut next.”
“Our babies are dying because we don’t have enough nurses,” said “Irene Habermann, Gamaliel National Education Chair, Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN) Education Chair.
Kia Hinton, a Philadelphia public school parent and Board Chair of Action United, announced the sit-in at the governor’s office. “I’m joining the sit-in because I want lawmakers to look at our faces and remember the students and parents across the state when they vote on the budget,” she said. “Our education system is on the brink after devastating cuts, and our children deserve better. We’re not going to accept cuts anymore. We’re going to the Capitol to demand better from this governor.”
Protesters are calling for a budget that fully funds education and health and human services. They are demanding the governor and legislature expand Medicaid with earmarked federal dollars, enact a tax on fracking of the Marcellus Shale, and freeze business tax cuts. They are also calling on the governor to drop his demand for cuts to pensions for school employees and state workers before he will proceed on other budget items. Attacking hard-working PA families once again will do nothing to remedy the current budget situation.
Fair measures would raise hundreds of millions of dollars that could be used to restore funds for education, healthcare, and human services. A 5% tax on fracking would bring an estimated $700 million in revenue to the state. Business tax cuts have cost the state billions of dollars in recent years. Medicaid expansion would add $620 million to Pennsylvania’s 2015 budget and add about $3 billion annually to its economy. It would support 35,000 new jobs by 2016 and 40,000 jobs by 2022.
Protesters will stay in the Capitol until the governor commits to a fair budget that works for his state, unlike all of his past budgets. In coming days, they will lobby legislators, hold “teach-ins” around the Capitol, and participate in dramatic actions to call attention to the dire need for more education funding.
###
PCAPS is a coalition of students, parents, and teachers with an unwavering commitment to improving Philadelphia’s school system. Members of the coalition include ACTION United, American Federation of Teachers PA, Fight For Philly, Boat People SOS, Jewish Labor Committee, Jobs With Justice, JUNTOS, Media Mobilizing Project, Neighborhood Networks, Occupy Philadelphia Labor Work Group, Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, Philadelphians Allied for a Responsible Economy(PHARE), Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, Philadelphia Home and School Council, Philadelphia Student Union, SEIU 32BJ, UNITE HERE, Youth United for Change.
http://www.wearepcaps.org
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Let’s hope that this is the beginning of a new trend.
I’m sorry. But as an historian, as nostalgic as we may be for the tactics of the 1960’s, our culture is fundamentally different now. And so is the complexity of the struggles we face. Remember the Wisconsin Recall Movement? Or Occupy Wall Street? They didn’t work, precisely because of the fact that they are simply outdated, and no “sit-in,” as well meaning as they may be, is going to make an ounce of difference in policy. I love what the students, parents, and educators in Rhode Island did…it was savvy, creative, and actually met with results. And while symbolic gestures are important, we’re fighting BIG money corporate takeover of our public schools during a recession, and while we can’t match that money, we certainly can use what we have wisely with a counter internet and media blitz. In a sort of haphazard way its already working, Imagine if we unified, as students, parents, and educators, and decided to go as Machiavellian hard as those who want to dismantle public education have? This is too important for “sit-ins…” We need to be smarter. Just a thought teachers? Let’s start pressuring, again HARD, our own unions. Replace the leadership. Immediately.
While I agree no single sit-in is going to make an impact, I disagree that they are ineffective and passe. Wisconsin and Wall Street have not been forgotten. We build on the energy of past efforts. It was the same in the 60s. It took a long time and continued effort to make a difference. While we have new tools to add to the mix, that is no reason to throw out the old. It certainly is easier to fight in cyberspace, but is it so effective that we should depend on virtual crowds alone?
And if I might add, I’m not talking about the local union leadership…I know those folks are working very hard. I’m talking about the leadership of such organizations as the AFT..no name mentioned. And while I HATE the “War” metaphor, that’s exactly what’s going on here. We clearly cannot fight a fully equipped SWAT Team with butter knives. They will always “out arm” us, so we have to fight smarter. Social media which unifies kids, parents, and educators is a huge start. Small amounts of money from a large constituency will certainly help in hiring public relations specialists to get our message out in a big way…it’s not as if the “Reformers” haven’t been doing this for years. I actually think “Sit-Ins” are counter productive, because our country is too Conservative leaning at the moment. But they keys are Precision, Research, Intelligence, and Unity. I’m happy to hear anyone else’s thoughts.
My Thoughts
Action is better than no action.
Most of us are sitting on our backsides reading blogs.
We can be as media savvy as any PR firm.
The commenters on this blog are highly intelligent.
We nead to figure out a strategy.
I have been amazed to find out that teachers all over the country are struggling day to day just as I am.
How do we move forward?
My first question too: how? I’m starting to feel so defeated. This feels so much bigger than me and out of reach. Yes, I read the blogs voraciously. Yes, I’m an exec. committee member in my local. Yes, I just joined the social media circus so I could receive and share information. I sign the petitions to my legislators ( but don’t call because I don’t have the faith in my own knowledge to have a two-way conversation w/ the person at the other end that I perceive to be my “enemy”). I’m scared witless. I just want to surround myself with my kids, close my classroom door, and do what I know I was put on this earth to do. So many of us walked out of school the other day in tears…for all the wrong reasons.
How?
Special Ed in NY
Why would you assume that the idiot on the other end of the phone knows more than you? Do not underestimate yourself. You are the expert. You do this work day in and day out. I have begun to question my competence too. This is a clear sign the reformers are winning.
I’m guessing that the people who get to answer the phones are not high up on the totem pole. They are sitting their with a script and are not there to try to engage you in debate. Just read your script and get your opinion recorded or use my preferred method, the internet. It is very infrequently that someone’s telephone conversation gets noticed. They are really only interested in the number of people who called in support or against some legislation. That being said, Special Educator in NY, as a “retired” special ed teacher I so relate to the wish that closing the door would make the nonsense go away.
Because “they” have rattled me to my foundation. They have created a culture of self-doubt amongst teachers. I’m not giving up or giving in. It’s not in my nature. I just don’t know what to do to help try and stop or control what’s happening. The folks that are supposed to be on our side don’t seem to be (ie, AFT), or have their own agenda.
The support, ideas, knowledge base, intuition, snarkiness, and theraputic humor derived from Diane and others here are invaluable.
Thank you.
Nope, I disagree. Social media are an important part of the overall strategy to combat education deform, but nothing gets lawmakers’ attention better than showing up in person — “boots on the ground”. Or, in the case of sit-ins, “butts on the ground”, especially when those butts belong to actual parents, students, and teachers.
Camden, NJ. ‘Nuff said.
Erratum: “Newark, NJ.” My apologies to my neighbors to the south!
A very courageous act and one I think that will be remembered as emblematic of our twisted times. The death of one child calls for actions such as this.
…all the while, the PA Senate is close to passing SB1085…charter expansion…funding issues can wait till another time…because charters are so “popular” says Sen Smucker….(…and their lobby so well funded)…Hey…crack cocaine is popular also…·
SB 1085 LISTEN…http://av.pasenategop.com/Smucker/2014/0614/SB1085.mp3 Does not address the pension double dip issue
· Does not provide a reduction in cyber charter funding
· Does not include provisions for direct state funding of charters
· Does not include provisions for a Funding Advisory Commission
· Does not include language prohibiting enrollment caps on charters
· Does not include language expanding charter school authorizers, including institutions of higher education
· Expands and clarifies provisions regarding charter authorizer accountability that requires school boards to submit an annual report on the performance and status of charter schools it has authorized, with sanctions against school boards for failure to provide oversight/intervention of low performing charters. New provisions require PDE to develop a plan for sanctions by Nov. 30, 2014 (conveniently,after elections)….and send the plan to the General Assembly for approval before the sanctions can go into effect.
While the issue of allowing university authorizers has been strongly pushed by proponents, it has not been abandoned. Sen. Smucker has introduced Senate Resolution 414, which directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of alternative methods of authorizing charter schools and regional charter schools, to be completed by Nov. 30, 2014. The LBFC will study a variety of alternative authorizers including higher education authorizers, statewide authorizers and multiple charter organizations. SR414 is listed for consideration by the Senate Education Committee this morning.
Jo–Smucker accepted campaign contributions from Students First as did several cosponsors of that bill. Can PA taxpayers afford a dual school system? Is this what the taxpayers in PA really want?
Protesters ….”Fair measures would raise hundreds of millions of dollars that could be used to restore funds for education, healthcare, and human services. A 5% tax on fracking would bring an estimated $700 million in revenue to the state. Business tax cuts have cost the state billions of dollars in recent years. Medicaid expansion would add $620 million to Pennsylvania’s 2015 budget and add about $3 billion annually to its economy. It would support 35,000 new jobs by 2016 and 40,000 jobs by 2022. ”
PA is nothing short of a tax mess….while PA legislators chase after elusive golden ‘tax free” butterflies, pushing ALEC template bills and school districts across the state starve (Allentown lets go of 400 teachers this week….just one scenario of many…”Let them eat “tests”!” prevails)
TAX MESS….http://www.fandm.edu/politics/politically-uncorrected-column/the-real-question-about-the-budget
Pitch in from back2basic in Canada,
I would like to remind all good educators, parents and students in all districts in USA, the successful example from Saint Gandhi who promoted a peaceful strategy that against UK by actively stop buying and associating with all UK entrepreneurs; and only consuming their own local products
Similarly, we, conscious educators, parent and students in all districts, practically unite one day in a week, or one week in a month, or one month in a year in order to stop shopping, stop schooling=testing, stop watching TV; and only reading, writing, and publishing our innovative, democratic ideas over internet, then sharing with global educators, parents and students. (like pen pal style)
Hopefully, US civil rights movement can bring Gate’s and Zukerberg’s ambition in control public education down sooner. We ask, global answer will support our cause. How will central bank control our consumers’ tactic? We only peacefully practice this tactic often enough, we will paralyze their millions earning daily.
We need to agree on this routine until all big corporate know where they belong. We will survive and be contented with reading, writing, publishing, but they will lose their money until the next election. It is just a lesson from the past that we should follow. Back2basic.