If we can't march for children, parents, teachers and our public schools than we can't stand for anything

In 2011 my family was one of 10,000 marching to save our schools from policy makers with SOS in Washington DC , Our politicians in both parties and Ed Reformers have reduced childhood to test scores. These reformers call closing local public schools, and opening private charter schools in poor communities education reform. Reformers and governors whose reforms are seeking to end local elected school boards in Black and Brown communities. None of these reformers are seeking to end publicly elected school boards in all White communities. Democracy belongs to all people, and anyone seeking to take it away from some people takes it away from all people. 

Cesar Chavez said: "We can choose to use our lives for others to bring about a better and more just world for our children. People who make that choice will know hardship and sacrifice. But if you give yourself totally to the non-violence struggle for peace and justice you also find that people give you their hearts and you will never go hungry and never be alone. And in giving of yourself you will discover a whole new life full of meaning and love.”

My family marches in that spirit of giving of ourselves, that Cesar Chavez evokes returning to Washington DC for the Save Our Schools Coalition: March for Public Education and Social Justice this July 8 to 9. 
http://saveourschoolsmarch.org/.../sos-coalition-event.../

We are going, because teachers marching now matters more than ever,
We are going to DC, because teachers cannot be silent and apathetic under a system of test and punish that harms our children, parents, their teachers and their public schools, 
Because justice on our streets matters,
Because justice in our schools matters,
Because marching for children matters,
Because  marching the elderly matters,
Because marching for those without health insurance matters,
Because marching for low wage workers matters,
Because marching for the handicap matters, 
Because marching for the poor matters,
Because children matter, we all matter, Black, White, Yellow, Brown, and Red,
We are going to the Lincoln Memorial to march on the wings of Dr. Martin Luther King's dream of justice for all. 
We are marching because silence and apathy are not acceptable in the face of injustice in America's Public Schools.
Jesse The Walking Man Turner

Trust me marching matters America

If you like to know what this walking man is listening to this morning on his walk...it's Jack Johnson & Ben Harper "We can change the world with our own two hands"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7q98vL1Xy0

Change requires creative transformative marchers

Dr. Martin Luther King said “As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation -- either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.” at the age of 8 in 1963 I found myself in DC listening to that voice of creative transformation. Martin set the bar higher than I can ever reach, but I can reach. I am proud that I am playing a small part in the Save Our Schools Coalition "People March" at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC this July 8. 

If you think it is wrong for 49 states to spend more money on their wealthy schools than their poor schools? 

Then come march with the people.

If you think spending 1.7 Billion dollars on testing while school budgets all across the nation are cutting services to children?

Then come march with the people.

If you think inequity must not be the corner stone of public education in America?

Then come march with the people.

If you think children are more than test scores?

Then come march with the people.

If you think poverty matters?

Then come march with the people.

If you want to end the School to Prison to Pipeline?

Then come march with the people.

If you think teachers are more than test scores?

Then march with the people.

If you believe that children, parents, teachers and public schools matter more than test scores?

Then come march with us.

If you believe you believe justice deserves to be front and center in our public schools?

Then march with us.

If you want to change bitterness occupying education reform into a transformative creative force that honors and respects childhood, our youth, their parents, their teachers and our local public schools.

Then march with us.

The bar is high, but everyone can jump.

See you in DC all you creative transformative marchers of hope,

Jesse The Walking Turner

Our creative transformative demands

Our choice is to rally and march to Save Public Education To stand for Justice In Washington DC this July 8-10 

http://saveourschoolsmarch.org/2016/03/sos-coalition-event-lincoln-memorial/

If you want to know what this Walking Man listened to on his walk this morning...it was Bruce Springsteen version of "We Shall Over Come" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMfaAHoZ8xs

"Rise Up" Lets talk about the fighter I see in you

A conversation in the key of the broken and tire teachers of the world

A teacher friend called me late last night.
She said I am tire and broken.
I can't go on any more.
I am leaving.
No one cares about children, teachers or public schools.
I can't stay without losing my humanity.
I am not a robot.
I am bleeding for my students, and no one cares.
I am alone and lost.

My reply...
I too am broken,
I too am tried,
I too feel alone,
The only thing keeping me standing is you.
I can't leave my students to the robots and the heartless.
On my knees I beg you Please, Please, Please stay.
Of course I'm crying,
My staying depends on your staying,
We can walk it out,
Lets go over that Avon Mountain on Saturday,
Lets walk and talk about the fighter I see in you.

Some verse and Andra Day's Rise Up Lyrics

For you the broken down and tire ones,
You are beautiful,
You inspire me,
You are loved,
In you I see the face of God,
In you I feel God's grace,
I hear Andra Day's Rise Up singing:

"You're broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry-go-round
And you can't find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains

And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
And I'll rise up
High like the waves
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
For you [4x]"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNKu1uNBVkU

For you my mother, my father, my sister, my brother, my fellow teachers, for you are God's people.
Tell it on every mountain I am blessed by walking together with the tire and broken.
We gonna walk it out,
Jesse The Walking Man TurnerIf you like to hear Andra Day's "Rise up"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNKu1uNBVkU

If you want to walk it out together come to DC 7/8/16 and march with us the no longer broken, the no longer tired, come rise up together.