Given
the timing of the September 9 events, so early in a school semester, it will be
a challenge for teachers to make a concrete commitment to participation. However, there are some opportunities for
teachers to make a maximal contribution to the efforts.
Already,
the statewide chapger of the teachers activist organization Bad Ass Teachers
Association (BATS) has written a statement supporting our efforts.
The
following is a proposed set of actions for teachers of BATS, and NEA and AFT
locals, as well as individual justice motivated teachers to participate in the
September 9th Solidarity with the Incarceratd and Enslaved, in support of the
Multi-State Prison Shut Down:
·
A
letter sent to the BATS membership and to allied teachers union, including the
state chapter and locals, and any other activist teachers in NJ (and beyond)
including the BATS statement and
a set of suggested actions, including issuing their own statements of support.
·
Dedicating
the week of September 9 to September 16 to this solidarity effort. Teachers should try to set up activities for
other teachers and for students – either during study periods, after school or
activity periods or lunch (whatever the tradition at your school is). The activities should be educational and
topical with a presentation by either a teacher in the school knowledgeable on
the topic or an outside speaker. The
activity should be widely promoted and any appropriate student clubs be invited
to assist in the outreach. The 13th.
Amendment exemption clause and the enslavement of incarcerated should be
discussed. Discussion should be
encouraged about the problem and solutions.
If any students decide they want to try to organize a club around the
issue that should be encouraged and participating teachers should offer to be
faculty advisor.
·
Develop
a curriculum for Decarceration and ending of incarcerated enslavement. An effort to advocate for the inclusion of
the curriculum in the state curriculum cab be initiated. Meanwhile, the curriculum should be published
at a website dedicated to teachers interested in the Decarceration issue and
students should be made aware and if interested their embracing of the
curriculum should be supported. Below are some potential resources from a simple search. However a curriculum should be comprehensive.
·
Education
to youth should include helping them steer clear of incarceration. That does not only mean avoiding crime but
teaching legal knowledge as to how to handle one self around police. This is particularly needed given the growing
presence of police in the school system.
Schools are obligated to help their students avoid prison terms and
criminality, Legal workshops and written
materials and links should be made available to the youth through the
abovementioned activities and through the student groups that embrace this
effort. See:
http://decarceratenj.blogspot.com/2016/07/letter-to-hespe-schools-have-obligation.html
http://decarceratenj.blogspot.com/2016/07/letter-to-hespe-schools-have-obligation.html
·
Create
a “contest” for students across NJ to participate in support of the September 9
initiative. Entries should be accepted
from now until September 16. They should
include any measure of support for the demands to end enslavement and to
Decarcerate and otherwise support the struggles of the incarcerated. Some of the ways to participate can include the following (the contest would not be competitive - everyone that participates is a winner. Perhaps the prize could be a music CD with decarceration music on it.)
A. Painting, drawing, poster
representation or other visual representation.
B. An opinion piece, article,
poetry, song
C. A musical performance.
D. Participation in any event
calling for Decarceration or an end to enslavement.
E. Write a letter or letters to
incarcerated.
F. Providing any measure of support
including petitioning, making a flier, spreading the word about events or even
organizing an event.
G. Other activities in support
This
is just a starting proposal. Hopefully
BATS members and other teachers can offer some additional ideas that can be
incorporated into this plan. To offer
feedback – call or text 908-881-5275.
Some Curriculum Resources
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