People will be taking their hopes and frustrations about public education to the streets, rallying against reform efforts that include any kind of privatization.
“Free, public education is the cornerstone of a democracy,” reads the e-flyer. “Public education is under siege by those seeking to privatize it for a profit. Together, we will call for a more equitable system of public education for all and ensure literacy as a basic civil right.”
The Defend Public Education Rally will take place Wednesday, April 30, starting at 6:00 PM at the Old Courthouse downtown. It will feature Thunderheart, a group of traditional Native American drummers, and speakers, including:
- Rebecca Rogers, Literacy for Social Justice Teacher Research Group, Acting for a Better Community Committee, Professor of Education, UMSL
- Ora Lewis-Clark, YMCA Literacy Programs, Advocate for Adult Literacy Education
- Donna Jones, Parent, member of the Elected School Board, St. Louis Public Schools
- Chad Beffa, SLPS parent, public school advocate, and candidate for State Rep (67th District)
- Byron Clemens, Regional Vice President, AFT Missouri
- Jackie Taylor, Literacy President Group
- Chuc Smith, Instead of War and Retired SLPS Math Teacher
- Cynthia Peters, World Education and The Change Agent
April 29th, 2008 at 6:49 am
How can Chad Beffa run for State Rep. and collect donations while he is is in bankruptcy? Does he want to bankrupt our education system like he did his bank account while he runs around playing politics and leaves his wife to support three children? And is this the same Chad Beffa who tried to decertify the teachers organization in the city? Doesn’t sound like a public eduaction advocate to me.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:57 am
Good gov’t? Good grief. I think I saw one of your posts before attacking my friend and ignored it- even though it was hard to with your spelling errors. Chad has never tried to decertify the pitiful teacher’s union. You should speak on things you actually know about. Why would you dare bring his family into the race? Leaving his wife home to raise three kids? You see, your ignorance of Chad is evident because you have no idea what sacrafices he has made to be an actual upstanding moral citizen that raises a family. I am assuming you are attacking his family now because no one else has one.
I am assuming you work for one of the other candidates, otherwise you would not be seeing him as a threat and posting anonymously. I would suggest you contact Chad yourself instead of posing rhetorical questions to make him seem as if he is anything but upstanding.
You see, Chad is not seeking the position to hold someone hostage in Jefferson City because he wants to buy a judgeship, he is running for the right reasons- to serve the people. That is why I and others encouraged him to run after seeing the morally bankrupt candidates- one of which you most likely work for.
Finally, if Chad was not a proper education candidate who actually knows what is going on, why would he have the endorsement of Dr. Diana Bourisaw? Simple, he attends the school board meetings, reads the contracts that the SLPS has been screwed on, and has real ideas to fix the SLPS- not charters and vouchers like all of his opponents support. I have never seen any of the other candidates at a school board meeting before knowing Chad was in the race. I never saw the other candidates help elect parents who knew the problems of the district to the school board. I never saw the other candidates fight as the Mayor and his Republican allies took over the SLPS. Sounds like a champion of education to me- not just advocate.
Also, you may want to tone down the bankruptcy mantra, as you have no idea of the circumstances. Candidates that live in glass houses should not throw stones. There are a lot of people who have financial difficulty out there. Pay attention to what he has done. He has built his business back up after being screwed by St. Louis and of course a couple of lawyers to become more profitable than ever. I should know, I am also one of his clients and he has saved me $97,000 so far.
I heard his speech tonight and it was wonderful. I did not see any other candidates at the PUBLIC EDUCATION RALLY.
KISS
Sarah
SLPS Parent
Beffa Supporter
May 1st, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Annnnd, where did you hear this?
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I hope Chad will address the issues of who is appointed to the state board of education, and just what a politically right wing organization they have become under Blunt. Beginning with the Construction contracts for Christ Alan Keyes delegate, with two failed appointments of Blunt being added and subtracted to that group dominated by 25 million dollar republican contributing fat cat Peter Herschends—-and maybe he can enlighten us about how well the new Texas can charter school at 4700 Goodfellow sponsored by the state is performing.