Education Topics

Democracy Now! stories, posts and pages that relate to Education

Newest First | Oldest First
  • Jaisal_noor-teacher_strike

    Thousands Rally in Chicago Teachers' Strike, Pushing Back Against Corporatized Education Reform

    School is out in Chicago for a second day, as public school teachers continue their first strike in 25 years. Almost 30,000 teachers and their support staff have walked out over reforms sought by the city’s powerful mayor, Rahm Emanuel, who is President Obama’s former chief of staff. On Monday, tens of thousands teachers, parents and students marched in the streets of President Obama’s adopted hometown. We go to Chicago to speak...
    Sep 11, 2012 | Story
  • Chris_hedges-teacher_strike

    Chris Hedges: Dems Owe Chicago Public Teachers Support for "Most Important Labor Action in Decades"

    As the Chicago public school teachers’ strike enters its second day, we’re joined by the journalist and author Chris Hedges. "The teachers’ strike in Chicago is arguably one of the most important labor actions in probably decades," Hedges says. "If it does not prevail, you can be certain that the template for the attack on the union will be carried out across the country against other teachers’ unions and...
    Sep 11, 2012 | Story
  • Teacher_strike_chicago_2

    Chicago Public Teachers Stage Historic Strike in Clash with Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Education Reforms

    More than 29,000 Chicago public school teachers and support staff have gone on strike today after union leaders failed to reach an agreement with the nation’s third-largest school district over educational reforms sought by Mayor Rahm Emanuel. It is the first teacher strike in Chicago in a quarter of a century. Unresolved issues include the cost of health benefits, the makeup of the teacher evaluation system, and job security. Emanuel, who...
    Sep 10, 2012 | Story
  • Cantor-gutierrez-chicago

    Striking Teachers, Parents Join Forces to Oppose "Corporate" Education Model in Chicago

    To discuss the Chicago teachers’ strike, we’re joined by two guests: Phil Cantor, a teacher and strike captain at Chicago’s North-Grand High School and member of Teachers for Social Justice, and Rhoda Rae Gutierrez, the mother of two public school students in Chicago and a member of the grassroots group Parents 4 Teachers. [includes rush transcript]
    Sep 10, 2012 | Story
  • Pauline_lipman

    Chicago Teachers Strike Could Portend Referendum on Obama Admin's Approach to Education Reform

    The showdown in Chicago — the nation’s third-largest school district — pits teachers against Mayor Rahm Emanuel, President Obama’s former chief of staff. Emanuel remains a close ally to Obama, while many of the policies at issue in Chicago are being pushed on a national scale by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, former Chicago Public Schools chief. We’re joined by Pauline Lipman, professor of education and policy...
    Sep 10, 2012 | Story
  • Picture 19

    Maple Spring: Nearly 1,000 Arrested as Mass Quebec Student Strike Passes 100th Day

    More than 400,000 filled the streets of Montreal this week as a protest over a 75 percent increase in tuition has grown into a full-blown political crisis. After three months of sustained protests and class boycotts that have come to be known around the world as the "Maple Spring," the dispute exploded when the Quebec government passed an emergency law known as Bill 78, which suspends the current academic term, requires demonstrators...
    May 25, 2012 | Story
  • Picture 20

    "Who's Killing Philly Public Schools?": Daniel Denvir on Plan for School Closings, Privatization

    We continue to look at the cost of public education, this time here in the United States. On Wednesday, thousands took part in education protests in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and other Pennsylvania cities, condemning planned spending cuts. In Philadelphia, school officials have proposed a controversial plan to close more than 60 schools in the next five years and potentially privatize those remaining. On Thursday, Republican presidential contender...
    May 25, 2012 | Story
  • Button-free-university2

    As Students Revolt over Cutbacks and Debt, NYC Occupy Stages May Day "Free University" for the 99%

    In New York City’s Madison Square Park, hundreds of people attended a "Free University" hosted by Occupy Wall Street, where professors gave free classes to May Day protesters. Activists said the event marked an alternative means of sharing knowledge outside the capitalist system. "This movement is all about building community and sharing and coming up with alternatives to the economic system that’s so pervasive in our lives...
    May 02, 2012 | Story
  • Seanarce-new

    Arizona Teacher Sean Arce Fired in Latest Crackdown on Acclaimed Mexican American Studies Program

    Sean Arce, the head of the Tucson school district’s banned Mexican American Studies program, was dismissed Tuesday night amid vocal protests from dozens of supporters. Tucson’s Mexican American Studies program has been under attack following the passage of a bill which prohibits schools from offering ethnic studies courses. Arce maintains he was fired because he spoke out against what he saw as a discriminatory law targeting Mexican Americans...
    Apr 13, 2012 | Story
  • Harrisheadshot

    Despite Praise & Permission, Detroit Teacher Fired for Helping Students' Trayvon Martin Fundraiser

    An eighth grade charter school teacher in Michigan has been fired after helping her students organize a fundraiser for Trayvon Martin’s parents. Brooke Harris and her students at Pontiac Academy for Excellence drew up a plan to raise money by donating one dollar each to wear a hoodie to school, as Martin had worn when he was shot dead. She obtained permission for the fundraiser, but her superintendent opposed the plan. Harris was initially suspended...
    Apr 13, 2012 | Story