Teachers for Social Justice to hold May 12 protest against Iowa test

By George N. Schmidt

Members of Teachers for Social Justice, a Chicago group, will hold an after-school protest against the use of Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) for promotion and retention decisions for elementary school stduents.

The group has said that it will assemble after school on May 12 at the federal plaza at Dearborn and Adams streets in Chicago’s Loop, then march one block to the headquarters of the Chicago Board of Education at 125 S. Clark St. for the event. The event is scheduled to begin at 3:45 p.m.

The organization, which includes several Chicago public high school and elementary school teachers, has also joined with two groups of high school students for the protest.

The theme of the rally is: “No high stakes tests — real equity and justice in education. Money for education, not war.”

The group attempted to get a resolution of support for their action through the Chicago Teachers Union House of Delegates meeting, but the resolution failed after teachers objected to the wording, which linked the protest against the ITBS to funding for the War in Iraq.

Teachers for Social Justice can be reached on the Web at www.teachersforjustice.org. The group’s Email address is teachers for justice @hotmail.com. They can also be reached by phone at 773-325-4352.