Black Women for Justice calls on you to Save Our Children. Petition Mayor Bowser, the DC Council and the DC State Board of Education to request legislation and funding for Vocational Education Schools.
Let's Love Our Children Out of Crime
for We Cannot Police Our Way Out Of Crime
The rise of crime during the crack epidemic of the 1980s earned Washington, D.C. the title "Murder Capital" of the United States. Murder, crime and other violent activities plagued the city. And in many areas, specifically those heavily populated by African Americans, the crime rates soared beyond the national average. In 1991, there were 479 homicides that were drug and gang related and were perpetrated by some of the city's poorest and least educated residents.
The city's response was to increase police presence in many areas throughout the city. This, despite the fact that many studies suggest that by improving access to traditional and vocational education, outcomes for youth are significantly improved; and consequently, youth participation in criminal activity is reduced--this again, underscores the direct relationship between crime and education; or more aptly, lack of the appropriate education.
Please sign this petition so that our children will have options other than jail/prison or early death. From the Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC) Public Safety Consortium Mr. Phillip Pannell, Ms. Sandra (SS) Seegars and Rev. Anthony J. Motley In the interest of saving young people today and in the future, our group, which is geared towards anti-violence, and in particular anti-gun violence prevention, we come to petition the government. We support Vocational Education being brought back into the District of Columbia School system, both traditional and charter schools. It is our belief that having a robust vocational education program should be a right, based on interest, and should be a hallmark of any public educational system. Therefore, the ACC Pubic Safety Consortium, which comprises approximately thirty(30) non-profit anti-violence organizations, East of the River, supports the Black Women For Justice and the "Legislation and Funding for Vocational Education in the District of Columbia schools."
From Dr. Frazier O'Leary, Jr. Ward 4 School Board Representative
As someone who taught at Garnet-Patterson Junior High School where we had a print shop, two home economics classes, and a wood shop, I understood at the beginning of my career how important vocational education was. Many of our students went on to the vocational high schools. When I moved up the hill to Cardozo High School, our students were surrounded by vocational education. We had an auto shop, a wood shop, an electric shop, typing classes, and a three-person Home Economics Department. Later on, Cardozo added the Transfer Academy, the first one in DCPS. Our students have learned so much from their internships with the federal government and Metro. Ten years ago, the Cardozo Construction Academy welcomed its first students and it offered on-the-job training in the Construction Industry. It was a huge success. These are just a few examples of the value of vocational education. I am proud to support this important effort.
From Ms. Patience Singleton Chair, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4A WHEREAS, vocational education in numerous trades can provide opportunities for students who do not want to pursue a college education. Vocational education affords students the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to become entrepreneurs and /or secure careers in growing, high-demand fields.
From W. Earl Williams Past President DC Federation for Citizens Associations We believe as Black Women For Justice does, that we must work to prevent the causes of crime and that if our children are again offered an opportunity to learn a trade in junior and senior high schools, they will have an opportunity to choose the road that leads them to having a good quality of life for them and their families.
Unlike now, they were not steered into service jobs that should be a stop-gap measure until they have acquired skills that lead to entrepreneurship and/or highly skilled jobs that provide a good quality of life. AS EVIDENCED BY THE PANDEMIC, THOSE SERVICE JOBSs WERE THE FIRST TO BE ELIMINATED.
It must be noted that beginning in the 80s, the District eliminated vocational education from the public school curricula. Previously, students who had the aptitude for acquiring skills that enabled them to become entrepreneurs in various trades (i.e. plumbing, carpentry, car mechanics, secretarial skills, etc.) were able to learn and/or hone those skills in vocational schools.
Inevitably, IT SHOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT for elected, government officials and the community at-large to rightly conclude that investment in education is a more reasonable, effective and efficient way to increase public safety and insure a better quality of life for the currently underserved vulnerable populations who are both perpetrators and victims of various levels and types of crime.
We must re-introduce Vocational Education into Career and Technical Education. Please sign this petition so that our children will have options other than JAIL/PRISON or an EARLY DEATH.
PEACE FOR ALL,
Vannice Edmunds BLACK WOMEN FOR JUSTICE |
