GothamSchools — daily independent reporting on NYC public schools

a thousand words

Students from three boroughs protest planned school closures

Student protesters unfurled a banner listing names of the schools that could close this year.

Students from at least five city high schools walked out of classes this afternoon in opposition to the city’s school closure proposals.

Led by students at the Legacy High School for Integrated Studies, more than 50 students from schools in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn joined other activists in Union Square shortly after the walkout to criticize the closure plans and defend their schools, many of which are up for closure this year.

The protest took place just blocks from Washington Irving High School, which is on the chopping block along with Legacy, but only a small handful of Irving students attended the rally. Though Legacy students led the march along 14th Street from the school to the square, the overall effort was organized by representatives of the Coalition for Education Justice and the Urban Youth Collaborative, two activists groups that organize students when their schools are facing closure.

As the rally began, representatives of Occupy Wall Street taught the students how to “mic-check”—the process of echoing speakers’ messages to amplify them—and led them in chanting, “Education is a right.”

Before individual students lined up to speak, the group unfurled a banner listing the 25 schools on the closure list and the 33 schools that face “turnaround.”

  • http://ednotesonline.blogspot.com/ Norm

    Great photo Rachel. I’m stealing. Thanks for the coverage all day. I was checking at half-time (I have Super Bowl fever) of the matinee I was at.

  • Transformation Teacher

    This was an amazing effort put forth by these students.  I just want to add that from my estimation there were well over 100 students at this rally, and dozens of teachers, organizers, occupy wall street members, and others joining in.  I would love to see some video if it exists.  I wish the best of luck to all of the schools up for PEP vote next Thursday.  

  • student

    this event was by the students !!!!! we created the rally and instructed it !  STUDENTS FROM LEGACY HIGH SCHOOL

  • fire them too

    This is great! Not that these students missed school but that they stood up and showed unity and spoke out for a caused..their education. The Politicians along with the DoE are transforming the school/education process into a business. This about it, the real reason the mayor is closing schools is to transition them into a business he is a business man with a business mind. Why is it the DOE says Lehman High School is over populated yet they plan to add another school to the campus? Our kids are at risk to fail based on the Mayor and the POOR DoE Mangement. Don’t expect Walcott to be of any support he works for the Mayor too.Parents unite and push back at the DOE find out what the LAW says about thi. By the way ,,Where are the Superintendent what value are they for over 200,000.00 a year salary they too should be changed or closed down (hired).

  • Paula Kimmel

    The walkout was orchestrated by Joan Mosely, the Principal at Legacy.  Is this the type of person we want running one of our schools?  NO, we do not want self-serving educrats thumbing their noses at the Mayor!!!

  • student

    PAULA THE PRINCIPAL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT ! SHE TRIED TO STOP THE KIDS. WE THE STUDENTS AT LEGACY MADE A DECISION !  YOU SPEAK FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT !!!!

  • Paula Kimmel

    My neighbor’s child goes to Legacy.  I know all about how Joan Mosely encouraged the walkout.  She is what’s wrong with NYC’s schools!!!

Tips, questions, feedback?

Contact us at .

Word from Our Sponsor

Follow GothamSchools

RSS
Subscribe to the daily email digest:

Chalk It Up

Recent Comments

5 comments so far today

Archives

May 2013
M T W T F S S
« Apr  
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031