Protest Charter High School for Law and Social Justice unfair labor practice

There are things we know that apply to all schools.

• Everyone must feel safe in their own school.
• Curriculum must engage students and meet their academic and social needs.
• And all voices – parents, students, staff and administration – must be heard.

The Charter High School for Law and Social Justice at 1960 University Avenue (by Burnside) denies voice. Worse than that – they fired three quarters of their teachers – precisely for trying to discuss conditions in the school.

The United Federation of Teachers moved to file a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board. This was the correct and necessary first step.

But we must do more. We must rededicate ourselves to helping all teachers and staff in New York City schools gain or maintain voice. We must organize the unorganized, and stand stronger in the face of injustice.

And we must bring pressure to bear on this charter school in particular. I am writing to the UFT leadership today, proposing we begin informational picketing at the school.

Richard Marsico, the president of the Charter High School for Law and Social Justice is director of the “Justice Action Center” at the New York Law School. Two more officers and several board members are associated with the Justice Action Center, or with the law school itself. I will also be proposing a UFT campaign directed to the “Justice Action Center” and its association with these damaging actions and unfair labor practices.

I am a strong supporter of public education. Public schools are a pillar of our republic. The current infatuation with charter schools will pass. But I recognize that we have a lot of work to do improving our public schools – what we teach, whether we test, and the environment inside many of our schools before we reach that point.

In the meantime we should continue to advocate for improvement in ALL schools. That includes making sure that all stakeholders have voice.