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"California Children’s Rally"
An Open Invitation
TO: Fellow California public school families
FROM: Sandra Tsing Loh (P.O.M.--Pissed Off Mother)
RE: "California Children’s Rally," an open invitation
Tuesday, June 17th, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Capitol Building, Sacramento
Dear Friend,
I’m a 46-year old former California public school baby, and now
mother. In my lifetime, the history of California has been written by
Howard Jarvis--June, 2008 marks the 30th anniversary of Proposition 13,
the legendary "taxpayers’ revolt." The disastrous effects on our
schools, libraries, and more are too depressing to repeat, but our
legislators don’t seem to be "hearing it." The union representatives,
lobbyists, and paid political advocates who trundle through Sacramento
by the busload have melded into a blur.
Children remain the only ones who have no lobby. When will their voices be heard?
Tuesday, June 17th, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sacramento. The Capitol Building.
WHY THIS DATE: June 15 - July 3 is the window within which state
legislators are slated to vote on the draconian new budget. Tuesday
mid-day (spanning the lunch hour) is the ideal time for a rally
(legislators travel Mondays and Fridays). We're told better than 5000
people on a Saturday is 500 on a Tuesday.
June 17th is also during the last shortened week of school (at our
school, it’s a minimum day). For elementary children in particular,
it’s an ideal time for a Sacramento field trip--including a tour of the
Capitol building, visits to a live legislature actually in session, and
an illustrative lesson on the history of California political rallies.
As a culmination, with our help, our kids plan and throw their own!
The "California Children’s Rally."
Consider this an open invitation to join us in a grand new venture: a
100% family-produced rally that is creative, joyous, educational, and
fully participatory. The message: even though California schools are
spectacularly underfunded, our kids--and their families--are brilliant,
funny, upbeat, and resourceful. Think kids doing STOMP! (A fantastic
ballet with garbage can lids--all we can afford!) A marching band of
1950’s autoharps (yes, public school instrumental music needs
"updating"). Think a parade of kindergarteners dressed as the people
they dream of being when they grow up (doctors, lawyers, etc.) Or a
march of children holding their paintings, for the right to make art!
Speaking of creating, California kids have learned to do amazing things
with. . . trash. How about a challenge called "MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: Can
intrepid 4th graders build a life-sized California mission (that
classic curricular staple) from the ground up, in one hour, using only
the government’s recycling?"
A friend started a band called "The Grateful Dads"--there are fab
guitar-wielding dads in every other school, let’s hear them perform!
What? "This Land is Your Land!" Music is the Weapon of the Future.
In fact, I think it’s time for a Public School Dad Guitar Army. Just
puttin’ up the bat sign. Heroes will rise.
June 17th also marks the anniversary of the Statue of Liberty’s arrival
in New York harbor--the children will certainly want to frost the
world’s largest home-made birthday sheetcake, commemorative of the
endless fundraising bake sales California parents have been throwing,
for these three decades since Jarvis!
In short, let’s have a fun, upbeat, educational rally/party,
celebratory of public school culture, which creates irresistible
television news images while making a point. It’s NOT about halftime
cafeteria and service worker’s health and dental benefits (not that
we’re against those). Public school funding? "It’s About The
Children, Stu---!" (Not that we would allow our children to use that
language!)
We welcome you to join us with your ideas, your input, your art, your
music, (your flat bed trucks?), your stories, your RV’s. . . I have
personally rented four "luxury RV’s" (Four Winds Majestics) to go from
L.A. to Cool, California (just outside of Sacramento where friends have
a ranch--you may join us to camp), and have contracted--no
joke--onboard tai chi master and masseuse. It’s all the money I’m
saving on L.A. private school tuition. (Apparently, my own band of
artmothers also needs chocolate--done!)
And as a final note, Niemack-Hassett is making a documentary of the event--it’s yet another chance to be part of history.
The website goes up next week, along with our "Rally-Planning Tool Kit"
to aid those interested in joining us on this grand adventure. Don’t
hesitate to contact me.
Viva La Kids!
Sandra
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