ST. LOUIS – Public school activists, parents and teachers gathered at Vashon High School Wednesday for a public education town hall. The challenges families and students are facing in major cities, including St. Louis, were discussed.
“It’s happening all around the world. Where people are trying to come in and privatize public education. Steady taking our funding from our babies and from our schools,” Carron “Ceejay” Johnson, vice president of AFT St. Louis Local 420, said.
The panel discussed what they lost with the mass closings of public schools in their community. The panelists represented St. Louis, Chicago, and New Orleans.
“In the year 2000, Chicago had 44% Black teachers. Today we have 19%,” Dr. Jitu Brown, national director of Journey for Justice Alliance Headquarters Chicago, said.
They discussed the effect of public school closures on the African American community.
“We have parents who cannot get to their children when the weather is bad because they don’t have transportation. We have children on buses who are assaulted, who are beat up because they don’t have monitors on the bus,” Dr. Michelle T. Barconey, teacher with Step Up Louisiana, said.
In March 2024, the Missouri Charter Public School Commission allowed two new St. Louis charter schools to submit applications. Attendees are upset with the closures.
“Nobody is going to stay in the community where there’s no educational system…. It makes no sense,” Gwendolyn Cogshell, attendee, said.
According to the Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri St. Louis, the charter school sector tested 30% more advanced than St. Louis public school system students. Public school advocates believe this is due to charter schools being selective in their enrollment.
The panelists and community members stated they would like to see more resources given to the public school system in order for students to receive a high-quality education.
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