New York Metro Academics for Democracy and Justice in Education

• In Event: A Discourse of Democracy: The Role of Researchers, Faculty, and Community Organizations in Education Reform

Abstract

NY MADJE was formed to bring voices and resources of higher education faculty to the work of defending public education through the promotion of social justice and collective action between youth, parents and teachers. An essential part of this undertaking is supporting development of rank-and-file teacher union leaders who are committed to authentic solidarity with low-income parents and communities, in the schools and the city.
One of our first projects is supporting Teachers Unite (TU), an organization of teachers in New York City that is creating new spaces for collaborations for educational justice among students, parents, and teachers, city-wide and at the school site. TU also aims to support teachers who are trying to build democratic, progressive union chapters that work as respectful equals with parents, students, and other school workers.
In coalition with the Dignity in Schools Campaign (DSC), Teachers Unite has been organizing teachers as key stakeholders who advocate alongside youth and parents for policies that will end student pushout. TU has received a grant to produce a teacher-developed video/toolkit about how to implement restorative justice ideas in the classroom and in the school. In conjunction with the Community Development Project, TU helped produce a study documenting the adverse impact of mayoral control. A new project being launched examines the disappearance of Black and Latino/a educators in New York City schools.
NY MADJE is proud to bring the resources of the city’s progressive academic community to the participatory action research of teachers, schools and families in New York City. We are committed to expanding our membership and our partnerships. This presentation will describe our own organizing efforts in higher education circles, as well as the work we have done so far with grassroots activists in New York.

Authors

• Gary L. Anderson, New York University

• Lois Weiner, New Jersey City University