[Peace-discuss] Fw: Rough Draft Press Release

[David Johnson]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCAL RESIDENT AND ENBATTLED CHICAGO TEACHER'S UNION MEMBER TO SPEAK AT A PUBLIC FORUM IN URBANA

SATURDAY AUGUST 25TH  
FROM  2pm - 4pm
CHANNING MURRAY FOUNDATION
1209 W. OREGON
URBANA ILLINOIS

Former Champaign resident Xian ( Sean ) Barrett, who is currently a Chicago Teacher and member of the Illinois Federation of Teachers ( I.F.T. ) affilliated Chicago Teachers Union, will be speaking this Saturday August 25th at Channing Murray Foundation, 1209 W. Oregon in Urbana.

In the weeks leading up to the start of the Fall 2012 semester for Chicago Public Schools, preperations continue for a possible strike of 30,000 Chicago Teachers.
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union, like former Champaign resident Xian Barrett, are traveling across the State of Illinois to inform Illinois residents about the realities of what is happening in Chicago, that is adversely effecting ; Teachers, Students, and Parents, and that most people who live in Illinois outside of Chicago are unaware of. 
Many Educators and other citizens in the state of Illinois are concerned that the events and circumstances that currently exist in Chicago could spread to the rest of the State. 

In Chicago, Teachers, Parents, Education Support Staff Workers, Students and many members of the Community are angry at the non-elected Chicago School Board that is appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuelle.
They are angry at the appointed Chicago Board of Education for it's policies and actions of the last several years that has involved the closing of Public Schools, the understaffing by means of massive lay-offs of existing Public School employees, the refusal to repair and upgrade the physical infrastructure of current public schools that are in some instances are literally falling apart, the diversion of public tax dollars from public schools to private schools owned by profit making corporations, and most recently attempts to destroy the Chicago Teachers Union.

Many Chicago residents feel that the non-elected Mayoral appointed Chicago Board of Education is out of touch with the concerns of the majority of Chicago residents, in particular those who work at and attend Chicago Public Schools.
Many of these same Chicago residents state that the appointed Chicago Board of Education consists almost entirly of wealthy individuals and representatives of corporate special interest groups, most of whom do not live in the city of Chicago and have little or no experience in the field of education.
In addition to this, recent accusations have emerged that the appointed Chicago Board of Education has allowed the vast majority of public tax dollars to be diverted to non-educational private hotel and real estate development, while simaltaneously stating publicly that the City of Chicago Public Schools are broke !
Allegations have also been made that some of these private development projects have personally benefited certain members of the Mayoral appointed Chicago School Board. 

For more information contact ;
David Johnson
dlj725 at hughes.net 
217-721-0583 
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