Two Philadelphia public school parents and two workers have launched a hunger strike against a wave of school closures and staff layoffs. Earlier this month, the Philadelphia school district announced the firing 1,200 employees, lunchtime aides responsible for safety and serving food to students. They are among 3,800 school workers who stand to lose their jobs next month in the city’s bid to close a $300 million funding gap. Philadelphia is also closing 23 public schools under a plan approved earlier this year. The hunger strikers are camping out in front of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett’s field office in downtown Philadelphia during the day and sleeping in a nearby church at night. Meanwhile in Chicago, the school year ended this week with a sit-in at one of the 49 schools being closed down under a plan approved earlier this year.