FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 25, 2012
CONTACT:
Jesse Phillips
Faith leaders gather to support changes to education system
“It Stops Now” campaign launched to end travesty of failing schools and unequal education in Connecticut
HARTFORD—Today, faith leaders from around Connecticut gathered in Hartford to announce a joint effort to end the travesty of failing schools in Connecticut and to promote equity in education across the state without further delay.
The “It Stops Now” campaign is bringing together communities, parents, students, and others to call on legislators to pass meaningful school improvement legislation during the 2012 legislative session.
The community leaders released a letter (attached) to legislative leaders outlining the unacceptable realities for thousands of children in Connecticut’s public schools.
“40 years ago, I was awakened to the fight for equal rights and equal opportunities during the Civil Rights Movement,” said Bishop Theodore Brooks, Diocesan of the Connecticut District Council of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. and the Pastor of Beulah Heights Church in New Haven, CT. “Although a lot has changed since then, the fundamental issue of equity in education still remains. Our achievement gap proves that we are not providing equal educational opportunities and experiences to all of our children. This is the civil rights issue of our time.”
“If this is the year for education reform, we must embrace the opportunity to free students from the life sentence of failing schools based on zip codes,” said Pastor Todd Foster, Church on the Rock in New Haven, CT. “Our lawmakers have the opportunity to change this now. The expectations for our children are too low. But we have high expectations for our legislators, and hope they will do what is right for our children and make real changes happen this year. The practice of allowing race, poverty, and zip code to predict a child’s future in Connecticut must stop now!”
“Adults in Connecticut have stood by for years, for generations, while education has deteriorated for thousands of students,” said Rev. Eldren Morrison, Pastor of Varick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in New Haven, CT. “Today there are 135,000 students sitting in failing schools in this state, and today our communities are here to say, It Stops Now! The time has come to put an end to this travesty and fix our schools so that every single child has the kind of education that lets them become a healthy, productive member of this society.”
“The expectations that we have for our children are too low, especially kids of color and kids in poverty,” said Rev. Joseph Hooper, Pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church in New Haven, CT. “We expect them to succeed when we know they deal with issues of institutionalized racism and prejudice against class differences in their schools. They know if the person standing in front of them believes in them and that makes a world of a difference in their lives. The Governor’s reform plan must be passed this legislative session. It’s not going to close the achievement gap overnight, but it’s a step in the right direction.”
The group plans to continue advocating for changes through this legislative session and beyond, and will hold a rally in support of school equity and justice on May 3.
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