Black Lives Matter at School
National Demands
Zero Tolerance means that making a mistake at school could lead to serious consequences like getting suspended, expelled, or even arrested.
Restorative Justice means that when you mess up and hurt people in your community, you have a chance to apologize and make it up to them. If you are struggling to make good choices, you get help and support so you can do better in the future.
In our schools . . .
In January 2017, the School District of Philadelphia employed:
284 counselors
351 police officers
What message does this send?
Many history textbooks teach history from the perspective of white people. For example, many history textbooks say Christopher Columbus “discovered” America. But there were already a lot of people here!
Black History and Ethnic Studies help us to see the past from many different perspectives.
In our schools . . .
In 1967, after a year of preparations, three thousand Philadelphia students walked out of school and demanded better conditions for Black students, including African American History. Their protest was peaceful, but the police attacked students with nightsticks and police dogs, arresting 42.
In 2005, the School District of Philadelphia made African American History a requirement for all students. It was the first public school system in the country to do so.
Have you ever had a Black teacher? What was your experience?
Why is it important for students (of all races) to have a Black teacher?
In our schools . . .
In Philadelphia in 2012,
Students are majority Black (about 60%).
Teachers are majority white (about 70%).
Why is this a problem?
In our schools . . .
How would our schools be different if ALL these demands were met?
What other demands do we have to make our schools better?
In our schools . . .
Do we have the resources that we need?
In nearby Lower Merion (a majority-white school district), per-student spending is $21,116.
In Philadelphia (a majority-Black school district), per-student spending is $11,417.
What could our school do with an extra $10,000 per student?
Lower Merion High School
Lower Merion High School Music Room
Lower Merion Art Studio
Lower Merion High School Library
Lower Merion High School Swimming Pool
Lower Merion High School Gym
Lower Merion School District: 82% white students
18% students of color
Philadelphia School District: 35% white students
65% students of color
Students are invited to submit poetry, prose, artwork or any other medium allowing them to provide a response to the question.
I DEMAND