Wide-ranging protest over possible Dewey closure grows
The March 12 event was billed as a forum on school turnarounds where parents, students, teachers and alumni could make statements directly to Department of Education (DOE) officials about why they dont want the DOE to close their schools. Out of 33 schools on the turnaround list, however, only a dozen sent representatives and only one arrived with a small army: John Dewey High School.
We as a student body want everyone to know that we care about our teachers, faculty, administrators and everyone at Dewey, said graduating senior Shataya Watford after testifying to the small panel, which was led by Elaine Gorman, DOE executive director of school turnarounds. We want Dewey as Dewey, the way it is.
In addition to bringing nearly 100 people from Deweys past, present and future including Principal Barry Fried, several assistant principals and dozens of teachers and alumni to the public hearing at Brooklyn Borough Hall, students also made their voices heard at an impromptu walk-out on Friday, March 9.