Protesters ‘mic check’ speech to CPS Board members

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A group of protesters repeatedly interrupted a Chicago School Board meeting Wednesday to deliver the prepared message below.

It was delivered in a “mic check’’ format similar to that used by Occupy Wall Street protestors, in which one speaker delivers short bursts of phrases and others repeat those phrases to amplify them.

The speech refers to various published analyses of Chicago Public Schools’ closing policy, national charter school data, Chicago’s Renaissance 2010 effort, and three eras of Chicago school reform.

Mic check speech to Dec. 14, 2011 Chicago School Board members

Parents, teachers, students, and communities reject CPS’ failed reforms.

We now know that only 18 percent of the replacement schools perform well.

Most of those are selective enrollment run by CPS.

Nearly 40 percent are performance level 3 -- CPS’ lowest rating.

We see through the sound bites.

You have betrayed the public trust.

You have failed Chicago’s children.

You pray at the altar of greed

And dare call it education.

We value people over profit.

Every life is precious.

Our children are not product.

But look at what you’ve produced.

Children have died

Literally and spiritually

As a result of your policies.

You have produced chaos.

Mayor Emanuel, you should be ashamed.

Brizard, you should be ashamed.

You both should be fired.

Stanford University says you have failed.

The University of Chicago says you have failed.

The Chicago Tribune says you have failed.

Most importantly, the people know you have failed.

The definition of insanity is to repeatedly do the same thing and expect a different result.

These are our children, not yours.

These are our children, not yours.

We are taking our fight to the mayor!

We are taking our fight to the courts!

We are taking our fight to the schools!

We are taking our fight to the streets!

These are our children, not corporate product.

These are our children, not corporate product.

These are our children, not corporate product!