WE ARE PART OF THE ALLIANCE FOR BROOKLINE SCHOOLS. WE AGREE THAT…
Teachers must have the time, support and freedom to teach the whole child. This means less testing, test prep and data collection. We need to bring JOY back into teaching and learning, and lower the stress of high-stakes testing.
Racial justice and equity must be central to programming and decision-making. All of us must address institutional racism in Brookline and in our schools. Teachers, staff, parents and community members want—and need–to be part of the solution. Racial justice work is too important to be double-booked with other job responsibilities or reduced to test-based “Achievement Gaps”.
The School Committee must be transparent and responsive to the community’s concerns. Engaging with the community should continue beyond public hearings. The school committee should partner with educators at the bargaining table, not prolong negotiations by claiming “management prerogative” and refuse to get to common ground. The process for hiring and addressing increased enrollment must be as public and collaborative as possible.
The School Committee should lead in opposing harmful state or federal mandates. From Betsy DeVos’ privatizing agenda, to the state commissioner’s over-testing regime, to corporate education reform, our school committee must say NO and be strong leaders in supporting schools our children deserve.
