Colorado Student Activists: Join us May 10th
by admin
COLORADO STUDENT ACTIVISTS: JOIN US MAY 10TH
April 28th, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WHAT: Students standing up for our education
WHERE: West Steps of the Colorado State Capitol
On a student retreat in March, student leaders in Colorado decided that more actions needed to take place to fix our public school system. From there, three student leaders went to Washington D.C. to speak as presenters at the annual Occupy the DOE 2.0 protest; while in D.C. they met with other student activists as well as representatives of the Dept. of Ed. They shared their ideas, their concerns and plans to take local action upon their return to Colorado.
One of many actions they are taking includes a student walkout on May 10th. They will be taking a stance against high stakes standardized testing and the privatization of public education occurring across the country.
In the coming year, schools will have to compromise their curriculum to teach to the new PARCC test which is aligned with the common core standards. We will see an increase in test prep and skill/drill. Public tax dollars will be used to fill the requirements necessary for the increased testing and curriculum aligned with common core (which has never been field tested). Students will be denied classroom environments focused on creative, critical and conceptual thinking.
We, the students, will be asking for:
-A democratic education, wherein the biggest stakeholders (i.e. students and teachers) have influence and input
-Equitable funding and access to education
-Inclusivity and anti-oppression
-Engagement in equitable curriculum reform
On May 10th, the students will be standing up for their education. They will advocate for an authentic education where they are evaluated by portfolios, self-directed projects and self-written evaluations. They want to see an education system where they have a passion-driven curriculum.
Students will participate by walking out during lunch and will join together at the Capitol where their voices will be heard. They encourage all students, parents, teachers and concerned community members to join them as they stand up for their education.
Alex Kacsh states: “This will be the start of the education revolution.”
For more information:
Alex Kacsh
720.232.1918
