BOARDWATCH: 'I teach at Jenner Academy of the Arts--and there is no art program, because we're told there is no money for it...' Tara Stamps criticizes Board on 'toxic swaps' and cuts in the arts
{Substance continues to publish the remarks delivered to the November 19, 2014 meeting of the Chicago Board of Education by the more than 50 people who spoke there then. The following remarks were provided to us by Jenner teacher Tara Stamps. George N. Schmidt, Editor].
Jenner Elementary teacher Tara Stamps begins to speak at the November 19, 2014 meeting of the Chicago Board of Education. Stamps is running against Emma Mitts, a long time opponent of the Chicago Teachers Union, for alderman in the February 24, 2015 municipal elections. Mitts has been one of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's most notorious supporters in City Council, and has been a long time supporter of Walmart and other attacks on working people and unions. Substance photo by Nate Goldbaum.Tara Stamps, 37th Ward Aldermanic Candidate, Fifth Grade Teacher, Jenner Academy of the Arts
Comments to the Chicago Board of Education - November 19, 2014
Good Evening. My name is Tara Stamps and I am a fifth grade teacher at Jenner Academy of the Arts and a candidate for Alderman of the 37th Ward.
I'm here to talk about the toxic swaps and the devastating impact that they are having on our public schools. I teach at Jenner Academy of the Arts--and there is no art program, because we're told there is no money for it.
I find it ironic that the same school board that cries "broke" and closes fifty schools, led by Mr. Vitale and Mayor Emanuel, has not taken any steps to get us out of these toxic financial deals that could return hundreds of millions of dollars to the classroom, and hire the teachers we need for well-rounded schools.
You say you want our students to be global citizens and technologically savvy, but you have squandered our taxes on high-risk financial deals instead of investing in the technology art, music, and language teachers we need. How can our children take computerized tests when we don't have a staff person to teach them how to use a computer?
If broke is the problem, there is a solution. You could file for arbitration, sue the banks for failing to deal fairly with you, or demand to renegotiate these bad deals. But you haven't.
So as a mother, a teacher, an activist and an aldermanic candidate, and in the spirit of my mother, the late Civil Rights activist Marion Stamps, I'm here to serve notice. On February 24, working families will take back Chicago. We will vote for a new mayor. We will demand our right to an elected school board that will work for the people, not the billionaire boys' club. And we will replace rubber-stamp aldermen with new, independent leaders who will bring participatory government to our neighborhoods--government by and for the people!
