SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE

INTRODUCTION SOCM formed the SJC to facilitate our members getting involved with a wider range of issues affecting TN communities The SJC is a statewide committee of SOCM members that meets monthly via conference call and quarterly face-to-face meetings Members of the committee have organized campaigns in the past around issues like race and the media. Recently the SJC reformed and decided to focus on building the movement to defend and strengthen K-12 public education in TN HELD SEVERAL PUBLIC EVENTS AIMED AT CHANGING THE WAY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, MUSLIMS, AND OTHERS ARE NEGATIVELY REPRESENTED IN THE NEWS

BUILDING THE MOVEMENT TO DEFEND PUBLIC EDUCATION The SJC reconvened late last year after a period of inactivity. The committee now includes mostly new members, including a cluster of ‘at-large’ folks in Nashville After meeting, members decided to focus on public education. Right now our schools, teachers, and students are facing aggressive attacks from all directions Over the past few months, the SJC has identified areas where this is occurring and is developing a broader strategy for how SOCM can best join with allies in building the broader education justice movement in Tennessee NUMEROUS BILLS IN THE LEGISLATURE SCAPEGOATING OF TEACHERS BY POLITICIANS AND THE MEDIA

CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PRIVATIZATION The biggest threat to public schools in our state right now is the expansion of charter schools, which are privately operated (but publically funded) K-12 schools Though charter schools are publically-funded, they are not held to the same level of accountability as traditional public schools Public schools are also at risk of losing already scarce resources if a renewed effort to expand vouchers succeeds in the Tennessee Assembly. Vouchers are waivers issued by the state to allow a student in an underperforming to attend a private school. If new voucher legislation passes, the financial review board of the General Assembly projects that public schools will lose nearly $70 million NUMEROUS BILLS IN THE LEGISLATURE SCAPEGOATING OF TEACHERS BY POLITICIANS AND THE MEDIA “…charter operators in 15 states are responsible for losing, misusing, or wasting over $100 million in taxpayer money.”

TEACHERS UNDER ATTACK In 2011, the General Assembly repealed previous legislation safeguarding teachers’ rights to collective bargaining. Under the old system, teachers negotiated for not just better pay and benefits for themselves, but for things like smaller class sizes, more money for school supplies, and other student needs.

SJC STRATEGY The SJC is currently developing its strategy for building the movement to defend public education. Right now, the SJC is working to build clusters of SOCM members-activists across the state. The goal is have more SOCMers embedded in local education struggles and coordinating together at the state level. In Nashville, SJCer are directly involved in a campaign against a charter school conversion and are working with teachers to defeat dangerous legislation. LOCAL STRUGGLES STATEWIDE POWER

WHY SHOULD I JOIN THE SJC? Public education is the most important institution in our society. If our schools are turned over to corporations, the future of the U.S. as a democratic society will be threatened. Getting involved with ed. organizing connects you with parents, teachers, and students from many different backgrounds – thus building a stronger community. Get to know SOCM members from around the state! HOW TO JOIN? To join the SJC and find out about our next meeting: Contact SJC Chair Dylan Ross at or