On Saturday, May 17th, students, parents, and teachers from greater Los Angeles and San Diego came together at Immanuelle Presbyterian Church in support of quality education for low-income students, students of color, and English Language Learners. Sponsored by Californians For Justice (CFJ) and the Campaign for Quality Education, the event served as an opportunity for parents, students, teachers, and community groups to voice their concerns about schools, as well as a call to policy makers to listen and respond to the issues students, parents, and teachers face. The event additionally served as an opportunity to release “First Things First,” a report by CFJ on the inequalities in public education and the dangers of the California High School Exit Exam.
After a morning breakfast of tamales and bagels, students, parents, and teachers read poetry, performed skits, and testified on the conditions in their school, including, poor substitute teachers, the lack of bathrooms, and police brutality. Organizers additionally utilized the Speakout as an opportunity to question the progress made by California schools in the 49 years that have passed since the US Supreme Court ruled in Brown vs. the Board of Education.
Fifth grade student Carla Hernández passionately spoke about the issues at her school, including, inappropriate substitute teachers, the poor quality of the food, and the focus on standardized tests. The presentations culminated with a speech by Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg.
