Bronx parents protest school reopening
Group calls for change in city’s approach to education during COVID-19
BY JASON COHEN
As schools have reopened
across New York
City, many parents expressed
deep concerned
about the well-being of
their children.
On Friday, Oct. 2, a
group of moms and dads
held a protest and march
calling for change in the
city’s education during
the pandemic. They demanded
that every child
have a laptop, innovative
remote teaching
and learning, a clean,
safe and verifi able plan
for in-person reopening
with community input,
adequate number of
teachers and PPE and a
transparent system of
testing and tracing.
The Bronx Parent
Leaders Advocacy
Group organized the
march with the support
of the District 8 Community
Education Council
and the District 8 Presidents’
Council. Residents
met at I.S. 131 at 885 Bolton
Ave., walked down
Story Avenue, toward
Bruckner Boulevard and
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,8 OCTOBER 9-15, 2020 BTR
Bronx River and ended
at Father Gigante Plaza.
“It is important that
Bronx parents take action
and continue to take
action so that we begin
to cultivate the culture
of civic action and
profound civic engagement,”
said CEC 8 President
Farah Despeignes.
“We cannot simply complain
and remain complacent.
We must take
action, make our voices
heard and get results.”
Prior to marching,
CEC 8 member Lourdes
Jibodh addressed the
community. She, along
with many Bronx parents,
felt betrayed by
the city and Department
of Education.
She questioned how
Chancellor Richard Carranza
and Mayor Bill de
Blasio could send kids
and teachers back to
school when the ventilation
systems do not work
and no one knows how
safe it is in regards to the
spread of COVID-19.
According to Jibodh,
the Department of Education
has pressured
principals to lie about
the conditions of the
buildings, the amount
of staff at schools and
even threatened staff
with termination.
“We want to tell the
teachers and principals
that parents in the Bronx
are in alliance with
them,” Jibodh said. “We
are standing shoulder to
shoulder with them and
everyone who opposes
reckless in-person reopening
and the disastrous
remote learning.”
Jibodh said that the
DOE and mayor should
have asked parents for
input before reopening.
With many kids confused
about their schedules,
lacking basic Wi-Fi and
technology and constant
worry about the cleanliness
of facilities, she
added that there must
be transparency.
“What kind of sweatshop
operation is the
DOE?” she shouted. “Educators
did not get in the
business of education to
be treated like slaves.”
Another parent that
shared her concern is
Luis Ramirez. Ramirez,
who has six kids, felt this
plan to reopen was hasty
and not safe.
Many of these kids
may be asymptomatic,
but have the potential
to pass COVID-19 onto a
teacher or elderly family
member, he said.
Furthermore, the
computers the students
were given often crash.
He also wondered why
it took a pandemic for
the kids to receive laptops
and for schools
to rigorously check
ventilation systems.
“I don’t think schools
are ready to be open
and play Russian roulette
with our children,”
Ramirez said. “As a
parent, I worry about
my kids.”
Community Education Council 8 President, Farah Despiegnes,
leads the march Photos by Jason Cohen
Monsignor Scanlan
High School
Virtual Open House
Saturday, October 17th, 2020
Session A - 11:00am - 12:00pm Session B - 12:30pm - 1:30pm
RSVP with Mr. Florentino
cfl orentino@scanlanhs.edu
www.scanlanhs.edu
/www.scanlanhs.edu
/www.scanlanhs.edu
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