Thousands of Philadelphia teachers protest, delaying plans to restart in-person schooling
The Pennsylvania Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee is holding a meeting at 7:30pm EST Thursday night, Feb. 11, to discuss the developments in Philadelphia and mobilize opposition to the deadly reopening of schools. Register now and share this link with your coworkers to build the committee! All teachers, support staff and supporters should join the network of Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees.
Thousands of Philadelphia teachers and support staff protested across the city on Monday and educators are continuing to teach remotely after defying efforts by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) and Democratic Party city officials to restart in-person schooling.
Philadelphia teachers defy return to classroom order
By Betsey Piette posted on February 10, 2021
Philadelphia
Thousands of Philadelphia public school teachers defied an order from school Superintendent William Hite Jr. to return to their classrooms Feb. 8 for the first time since schools became fully virtual in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. Across the city, educators demonstrated outside closed public school buildings. (tinyurl.com/y2962287) Despite bitter cold, several teachers set up “classrooms” outside individual schools as well as the district headquarters.
Credit: Joe Piette
Around 200 teachers and supporters, organized by WE (Working Educators of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers), rallied outside the Philadelphia Board of Education later in the afternoon. They were supported by members of AFSCME DC 33 Local 427 (Sanitation), BMWED-IBT Local 3012 (Railroad Workers) and Teamsters Local 623 (UPS workers).On Feb. 6, Philadelphia Federation
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Teachers gather outside Samuel Gompers School in Philadelphia to protest the district s plan to reopen classrooms for 9,000 pre-K to second grade students. (Emma Lee/WHYY)
Thirteen city nonprofits that work with children and families released a statement Tuesday calling on the teachers union to abandon its battle with the School District of Philadelphia and allow some teachers to return to their classrooms.
The district had asked some teachers to report to school buildings yesterday ahead of a planned return of up to 9,000 young children to their classrooms later this month. The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers has objected, arguing that buildings are not yet safe because of ventilation problems and that members should be vaccinated before returning. Both sides now await a decision from a city-appointed mediator.