Hundreds Picket "State of the Schools" Speach

Four hundred teachers picketing a state of the schools address is not a usual thing. Rochester Indymedia decided to ask teachers, students, and community members why they came out, what they thought of the protest, and what they want to see in the future for Rochester Schools.

(Interestingly, but perhaps not surprisingly, many teachers expressed hesitation in speaking on record about why they came out. Many teachers refused to be interviewed outright, one teacher allowed my to interview her, but asked to remain anonymous).

What brought you out today?

We've very disappointed in the way the superintendent is dealing with the teachers and the district and our students and our parents. His arbitrary closing, not only of the elementary schools, but also the high schools. We've all been there before. We've all tried this. This isn't the answer. This is just a way for him to put one more feather in his cap.
-Pat Albring, Teacher

A lot of the decisions that are made are made from the top-down. We all know that the best leadership comes from the grassroots, from the bottom up. He's not inviting us into the conversation to say "how do we improve together?" Instead he's saying, "I'm the boss, this is what you will do." Okay, he's the boss, but don't you want to hear some other suggestions — we've been in the district this long and we know some things could be very productive.
-Marybeth Mueller, Teacher

Superintendent Brizzard is going to be giving his strategic plan for the next three or four years. That plan includes closing down community schools, carrying out the agendas of the broad foundation, of bill gate's, of other multi-billionaires whose only reason in being involved in education is to privatize it and turn it into a business. (more on privitizing Rochester City Schools)
-Tim Adams, Community Member

I just constantly see Brizzard not listening to feedback. I see him pushing forward, not paying attention to what we have to say. So that's why we come out like this because apparently we have to yell to make a point. We have to put ourselves on the news because our superintendent is not communicating, not responding.
-Meghan Gilfoy, Student

What did you think about the numbers out here today?

It was great, it was great, it was really wonderful to see everybody that came from all the different schools and all the parents and all the different kids. It's really wonderful to see the community backing.
-Pat Albring, Teacher

I'm not surprised, I think this community has not had a real extensive conversation to what is in the plan. I think they will be very surprised when they find out what it means.
-Anonymous, Teacher

Brizzard frequently characterizes his opposition as being resisting the improvements and change that he wants to bring to the district. How would you respond to a statement like that?

I've been to two of his community forums and in both forums he refused to let people talk. The questions were done on a card and they were monitored, they were censored, he didn't answer questions. So I think Mr. Brizzard is not being completely honest when he talks about "change" because he's not including us in the dialogue. It's a top-down approach, with very little input from parents or teachers.
-Anonymous, Teacher

We're resistant to bad change and change that takes us into the wrong direction. We've been headed in wrong direction for decades with public education. Now is the time we make a solid change where we have educational systems that are founded and directed by the community in which they exist. And Brizzard is taking us in the very opposite direction.
-Tim Adams, Community Member

Every few years we make another change. Simply changing the configuration of schools or changing the isn't solving the problem. It's simply putting a smoke-screen in front of the real problem.
-Pat Albring, Teacher