- Signatures: 285
- Goal: 1,000
- Deadline: 3-21-2008
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In March 2007, the administration of the Celerity Nascent Charter School in Los Angeles fired seventh grade teacher Marisol Alba and math teacher Sean Strauss for their participation in events planned for the school's Black History Month program.
The school also forbade its students to read a poem, "A Wreath for Emmit Till," written by Marilyn Nelson, or to lay a wreath of flowers as part of its memorial to the slain youth.
According to an article in the L.A. Times, school officials felt that the details of Till's murder were "too graphic" for its younger students. The article quoted Celerity co-founder and Executive Director Vielka McFarlane as saying:
Marisol Alba had helped her students plan the Black History Month program and was dismissed for her activity. Fellow teacher Sean Strauss signed a letter of protest drafted by the students after the program was cancelled. He was dismissed for doing so.
In 1955, Emmit Till, a 14-year old Chicago native, was visiting the town of Money, Mississippi when he allegedly whistled at a white woman. Till was African-American. The boy was abducted by two white men, pistol-whipped, shot in the head and weighted down with a 74-pound gin fan before being dumped in a nearby river. The men were acquitted by an all-white male jury. Both of his killers publicly admitted their guilt in a national article in Look magazine. The savage murder and the trial received worldwide attention and galvanized the civil rights movement in the United States.
The school also forbade its students to read a poem, "A Wreath for Emmit Till," written by Marilyn Nelson, or to lay a wreath of flowers as part of its memorial to the slain youth.
According to an article in the L.A. Times, school officials felt that the details of Till's murder were "too graphic" for its younger students. The article quoted Celerity co-founder and Executive Director Vielka McFarlane as saying:
We don't want to focus on how the history of the country has been checkered but on how do we dress for success, walk proud and celebrate all the accomplishments we've made.
Marisol Alba had helped her students plan the Black History Month program and was dismissed for her activity. Fellow teacher Sean Strauss signed a letter of protest drafted by the students after the program was cancelled. He was dismissed for doing so.
In 1955, Emmit Till, a 14-year old Chicago native, was visiting the town of Money, Mississippi when he allegedly whistled at a white woman. Till was African-American. The boy was abducted by two white men, pistol-whipped, shot in the head and weighted down with a 74-pound gin fan before being dumped in a nearby river. The men were acquitted by an all-white male jury. Both of his killers publicly admitted their guilt in a national article in Look magazine. The savage murder and the trial received worldwide attention and galvanized the civil rights movement in the United States.
| Number | Date | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 286 | 2:08 pm PDT, Aug 11 | Chris Oliver |
| 285 | 8:55 pm PDT, Aug 10 | Jose Lara |
| 284 | 7:53 pm PDT, May 12 | Howard Stone |
| 283 | 7:42 pm PDT, May 12 | Robin Potash |
| 282 | 10:33 am PDT, Mar 25 | Anonymous |
| 281 | 11:54 am PDT, Mar 9 | Debbie Butz |
| 280 | 10:24 am PST, Mar 4 | Felicita Luna |
| 279 | 10:28 pm PST, Feb 1 | Anonymous |
| 278 | 11:39 am PST, Feb 1 | Anonymous |
| 277 | 2:39 am PST, Jan 23 | Victoria Mary Stong / CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST!!!! |
| 276 | 1:21 am PST, Dec 20 | Simos Tarabatzis |
| 275 | 11:20 am PST, Nov 9 | RACAYA RAY |
| 274 | 4:54 pm PST, Nov 4 | Sarah Cook |
| 273 | 8:31 am PST, Nov 4 | Tonya Foster |
| 271 | 4:12 am PDT, Aug 5 | Anonymous |
| 270 | 3:43 pm PDT, Jul 30 | Anonymous |
| 269 | 3:04 pm PDT, Jul 9 | Anonymous |
| 268 | 9:38 pm PDT, Jul 8 | Anonymous |
| 267 | 9:06 pm PDT, Jun 18 | William Harper |
| 266 | 10:31 am PDT, Jun 17 | Jael Williams |
| 265 | 3:42 pm PDT, Jun 3 | Candice Bovell |
| 264 | 7:50 am PDT, May 31 | Donna Weaver |
| 263 | 2:36 pm PDT, May 14 | Roswell G. Hall |
| 262 | 8:33 pm PDT, May 11 | Melissa Beverage |
| 261 | 1:33 pm PDT, Apr 29 | Leslie Wertam |
| 260 | 10:52 am PDT, Apr 27 | Kedra Chan |
| 259 | 9:29 am PDT, Apr 26 | judy jensen |
| 258 | 4:22 am PDT, Apr 26 | Diane Kendig |
| 257 | 3:30 am PDT, Apr 26 | Anonymous |
| 256 | 12:14 am PDT, Apr 26 | Tina Florell |
| 255 | 3:07 pm PDT, Apr 25 | Melissa Bardwell |
| 254 | 7:11 am PDT, Apr 25 | seth osborne |
| 253 | 8:39 pm PDT, Apr 24 | Anonymous |
| 252 | 6:19 am PDT, Apr 24 | nilu shaikh |
| 251 | 7:00 pm PDT, Apr 23 | Juliana Fraenza |
Re-instate Celerity Nascent Charter School Teachers
We, the undersigned, call for the immediate reinstatement of Marisol Alba and Sean Strauss to their former teaching positions at the Celerity Nascent Charter School.
We, the undersigned, acknowledge that education includes historic events that are both graphic and elevating, and we believe that students should have access to all the facts in order to receive a well-rounded and accurate education.
We, the undersigned, hold Celerity Nascent Charter School responsible for educating the youth enrolled in their school in a environment that encourages questioning and that provides for a free expression of their concerns. We believe their students are entitled to the same right of expression extended to Americans under the United States Constitution.
We, the undersigned, believe in academic freedom for teachers in both public and private institutions, in creating their curriculum and methodology, as long as it is in accordance with educational standards set by the respective States.
We, the undersigned, acknowledge that education includes historic events that are both graphic and elevating, and we believe that students should have access to all the facts in order to receive a well-rounded and accurate education.
We, the undersigned, hold Celerity Nascent Charter School responsible for educating the youth enrolled in their school in a environment that encourages questioning and that provides for a free expression of their concerns. We believe their students are entitled to the same right of expression extended to Americans under the United States Constitution.
We, the undersigned, believe in academic freedom for teachers in both public and private institutions, in creating their curriculum and methodology, as long as it is in accordance with educational standards set by the respective States.
Note: This Re-instate Celerity Nascent Charter School Teachers petition was submitted by Ann White. ThePetitionSite.com is a free service provided to help concerned citizens rally support for issues they believe in. The opinions expressed by this petition do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ThePetitionSite.com or Care2.com. There is no express or implied endorsement of this petition nor any newsletter offers (except those from Care2.com) by Care2.com, Inc, ThePetitionSite.com, or our sponsors. If you believe this system is being abused, please contact customer support.
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