Buy Books, Not Bombs: Public Education for Democracy

            Throughout our nation’s history, access to a quality education, as well as the content of that education, has been a political battleground. These struggles continue both nationally and within Massachussetts. Though historically public schools were locally financed through property taxes, at present both State and Federal Government make significant – though often unappreciated – contributions. The federal contribution has been limited  in order to finances the $884 billion military budget. This Forum hosts leaders in mass public education assessing the situation.

            Chair: State Representative Carol Doherty:

            Max Page  (President, Mass Teachers Association)

                        “MTA Priorities for Mass Educators, Students and Families”;

            Kathy Greeley (former Cambridge Teacher and Literacy Coach)

                        “More Teaching, Less Testing: Eliminating the MCAS tests as a Graduation Requirement”;

            Edith Bazile (Black Advocates for Educational Excellence)

                        “The Continuing Struggle for  Equal Access to Quality Public Education”;

            Andrew King (Citizens for Public Schools Board, Candidate for Cambridge School Committee)

                        “Right-Wing efforts to Suppress Truthful Curriculum Across the Nation”.