Oakland/SF Bay Area Teachers, Parents, Activists Challenge the Crisis in Public Education

Oakland 12/9 - SF Bay Area teachers, parents and educational justice leaders from the Oakland Education Association and other groups are gathering to discuss and strategize on addressing the crisis in public education.

HIGHLIGHTS: Herb Kohl keynote; noted education authors: Gray Brechin and Kathy Emery, and the Rockin' Solidarity Labor Heritage Choir

Sat. Dec. 9, at the Laney College Forum,
9:15 a.m. - 3:45 p.m

Schedule

8:30 – 9:15 Registration, Coffee and Pastries

9:15 – 10:15 Opening Plenary (Forum)

Welcome – Elnora Webb (VP of Instruction, Laney College)

Introduction – Betty Olson-Jones (OEA President)

Keynote Address – Herb Kohl (author and education activist)

Overview & Education Timeline – Harvey Smith (OEA)

10:25 - 11:35 Session I Workshops (3) - Funding, Privatization, Criminal Justice

Economic Issues & School Policy/Funding of Education Panel (Rm. A239)

Prop. 13/Resource Allocation – Niru Jayaraman (California Budget Project) Organizing to Revise NCLB – Harold Berlak (author and education activist)

Privatization of Higher Education – Gray Brechin (author)

Corporate Oakland & Port of Oakland – Bob Mandel (OEA)

Combatting Corporatizations/Privatization Panel (Rm. A120)

ESEA/NCLB– Manny Lopez (OEA)

High Stakes Testing – Kathy Emery ( San Francisco Freedom School)

History of State Takeover/ /Democratic Control – Dan Siegel ( Oakland School Board)

Vouchers/Charters/Foundations/Corporations – Jack Gerson (OEA)

Criminal Justice/Prisons/ Military-Industrial Complex Panel (Rm. A140)

Prison-Industrial Complex – Nat Smith (Critical Resistance)

Youth and Prisons – Zachary Norris (Books Not Bars)

Counter-Recruitment – Escenthio Marigny and Aurora Castellano

Youth Organizing – George Galvis (Youth Together) and Big Dan (Youth Uprising)

11:45 - 12:55 Session II Workshops (3) - Funding, Privatization, Racism

Economic Issues & School Policy/Funding of Education Panel (Rm. A239)

Repeat of Session I Workshop

Combatting Corporatizations/Privatization Panel (Rm. A120)

Repeat of Session I Workshop

Institutional Racism Panel (Rm. 140)

Youth Organizing – Big Dan (Youth Uprising)

Push-Outs – Jonah Zern (Education Not Incarceration)

Williams Case – Michelle Rodriguez (Public Advocates)

Immigrant Rights – Allison Davenport (Centro Legal de la Raza)

12:55 - 1:40 Lunch

1:40 - 2:50 Session III Workshops (2) - Media, View from the Ground

A View from the Ground Panel (Rm. A120)

RBB, School Closures, Program Cuts – Steve Miller (OEA)

Parents and Students – Henry Hitz ( Oakland Parents Together)

Small Schools – Craig Gordon (OEA)

Community – ACORN

Media Coverage Panel (Rm. A239)

Louis Freedberg (SF Chronicle)

Katy Murphy (Oakland Tribune)

Jessie Allen-Taylor (Berkeley Daily Planet)

2:50 – 3:05 The Rockin' Solidarity Labor Chorus (Forum )

3:05 - 3:45 Closing: Vision for the Future (Forum)

OEA Statement – Betty Olson-Jones

AFSCME – Morris Tatum

AFT – Ana Turetsky

Community
More info - http://www.oaklandea.org