I got into a discussion about OO with a couple of parents, and the list moderator suggested that the topic was not germane to the listserv. I argued that it was germane, but did not push, simply encouraging others to write and express their feelings about the matter.
Since then, a number of people have written in, all of them asking not to censor the OO discussion. I'm going to forward some of these statements because they suggest how deep and widespread support for the Occupy movement is.
Joanna ------------------
To me, one of the great things about the OccupyWallStreet movement nationwide and worldwide is that it gives physical visibility to America's hidden crisis. To the 25 million people looking for full time work. To a lost generation of young people for whom college education has become unaffordable. For the 50 million Americans that have no healthcare.
Our family along with the families of 900 Oakland children have had our schools closed to pay for past tax cuts to the 1% as Steve alluded to. We continue to deal with the stress and anxiety of the destruction of our school and our school community. Our story is no longer in the news. Our story has in a broader sense been taken offline.
As an OUSD parent, as a SSC member, I would not like the subject of Occupy removed from this list. ----------
I completely agree with Toni on this. We have different opinions on the Occupy Movement and, as an OEA Officer and 5th grade teacher, I would love to hear everybody's. but to say Occupy doesn't have a strong enough connection to public schools in Oakland to be discussed on a parents' listserve is incorrect. Surely school closures are a valid topic of discussion. What is the main reason schools are being closed? State budget cuts. What is the main reason that the state is cutting its budget? The 1% aren't paying their share, despite the skyrocketing profits and huge bonuses prevalent at financial and energy corporations during the "bad" economy of the past 3 years. We're not talking 6 degrees from Kevin Bacon here.
I always appreciate the excellent dialogue and informed opinions on this listserve, and I hope to hear more from subscribers on Occupy Oakland and the global Occupy Movement.
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I'm an Oakland teacher who sporatically follows this listserv and feel Occupy is absolutely relevant to the local education discourse, which is why teachers have turned out in such number to support it. As tactics and message become more muddied and uncomfortable I think this is a great forum to hear the parent/teacher community weigh in. toni