5/17: Take Back Our Schools Day- More Information

May 17th: TAKE BACK OUR SCHOOLS DAY IN OAKLAND, CA!

1. How Teachers and Staff Can Participate
2. Links to Flyers
3. "Actions in the Works"
4. Tentative Schedule
5. Partial List of Participants
6. Contact People

There will be a major event, "Take Back our Schools Day" in Oakland on the 51st Anniversary of
Brown v. Board, May 17. A large Coalition of groups are putting together events centering on downtown Oakland for that day. Education not Incarceration is working along side the Oakland Education Association to prepare teachers and our classes to participate.

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How Teachers and Staff Can Participate:

1. Field trip for students: rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza (at Oakland City Hall) from 12:00 - 1:00, student led teach-ins at the First Unitarian Church from
1PM - 4PM, a major rally from 4:30 - 6:30PM at the State Building on 15th
and Clay Street.

2. Teach about these issues at an all school assembly
or in your classroom. ENI will provide materials related to Brown v. Board of Education and
its connection with today's school conditions. Curriculum will be available at a teacher in-service on
May 10 and at http://www.ednotinc.org

3. Organize your students/ parents to march or car-pool to the State Building for the 4:30PM Rally, after school.

4. Attend the training for teachers on Tuesday, May 10 from 4-5:30PM at the Oakland Education Association office, 272 East 12th Street, where there will be activities, materials, and other resources and help.

Information on Teacher Activities or to Let Us Know How You Are Participating: Mary Prophet mlprophet [at] earthlink.net 510) 527-1222

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Download a flyer at:
http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/04/1734797.php
Flyer for Teachers and Staff at:
http://www.indybay.org/uploads/may_17_2005_flier.pdf

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ACTIONS IN THE WORKS:
• City Council Resolution to declare May 17 “Take Back Our Schools Day.” We are calling on our politicians to
support a city-wide day of education and action.
• Youth March to Oakland City Center. Students -- who are most affected by takeovers of public school districts, school closures, and hostile contract negotiations -- will take field study trips to City Hall to participate in the day.
• Community Education. Educators of all types are asked to present community workshops on May 17th. The First
Unitarian Church and other downtown Oakland centers will host youth and adult-facilitated workshops on topics such as No Child Left Behind, the High School Exit Exam, and State Takeover. Curriculum is being developed for on-site teach-ins and will be posted to http://www.ednotinc.org (see curriculum link).

We call upon other cities to join us in solidarity!

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Tentative Schedule:
Noon-1PM Rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza at Oakland City Hall (14th and Broadway)
1PM-4PM Teach-ins lead by students, Location TBA
4-6:30PM Rally at State Building on 15th and Clay Street

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Some Current Participants

May 17: Take Back Our Schools Day is a project of Organize Da BAY, a coalition of youth dedicated to collective action to reclaim public
education including Youth Together, Californians for Justice, Tojil and the Xicana Moratorium Coalition, as well as the Coalition to Defend and Improve Public Education, which includes Oakland parents, students, educators, politicians, and representatives from ACORN, Oakland Education Association, Oakland Federation of Teachers, Californians for Justice, Million Worker March, American Federated County State Municipal Employees, Bay Area Parent Leadership Action Network, Oakland Parents Together, DELAC, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, CalCARE, PUEBLO, National Lawyers Guild, and Education Not Incarceration.

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For more information on May 17: Take Back Our Schools Day, contact Raquel Jimenez (youth organizer) at 510.645-9213, Jonah Zern (parents) at 510.654-8613, Mary Prophet (teachers) mlprophet [at] earthlink.net 510) 527-1222; Michael Siegel (workshop organizer) at 510.289-3318, or Kali Akuno (community organizer) at
510.593-3956. Also, see http://www.oaklandrising.com for more information.