Date: Wed, 01 May 1996 13:16:15 -0400 From: Maggie Heineman Subject: Pennsylvania Expose - 5/01/96 ================================================================== Pennsylvania Expose - 5/01/96 Pennsylvania Expose(X-Poz) is a project of the Fight the Right Network Communications Working Group & People for the American Way. ================================================================== A. Funding Crisis in Pennsylvania Schools - May 16 Rally B. Mobilizing, Part One - The Lancaster SpeakOut C. Mobilizing, Part Two - The Philadelphia Marriage Conference D. Calendar ================================================================== A. Funding Crisis in Pennsylvania Schools - May 16 Rally by Gail Tomlinson, Coalition to Close the Gap A great deal of lip service is given to the need for a high- quality education for our children, but the actions of our elected officials offer the unspoken message that high-quality education will soon be available only for the children of families that can afford private education. How else to explain the governor's budget for the year 2000 which includes no increases to public education, not even cost of living, and only a token commitment of funds for new technology for schools. The citizens of Philadelphia have begun to realize that public education, once a societal given, is now a legislative program, like any other, that must be fought and advocated for. The Coalition to Close the Gap, a group of more than 30 non-profits, advocacy, and parent groups, have formed to protest the insufficient funding for public education in Philadelphia. Groups in other parts of Pennsylvania may want to duplicate what the Coalition is doing in Philadelphia: * Phone Calls/Letters: With the help of Coalition members, teachers and principals, a basic fact sheet and legislative directory has been distributed to many of Philadelphia's 256 schools. Parents and other callers are being encouraged to ask elected officials, "When was the last time you were in the (name) public school and what are you doing to provide adequate funding for my school?" To be most effective, however, the volume of calls, letters and/or faxes must be sufficient to temporarily shut the office down. * Public Hearings: Because public schools have been *a given* in American lives in this century, there has been little need to publicly speak out for them. But today we must fill public hearings with speakers who know what works and doesn't work in the system and who are willing to demand that elected officials do their job and provide funding for schools and their programs. Advocacy groups should provide transportation for concerned citizens and fill the hearing with pro-public education activists and signs. * Public Demonstration: On May 16 citizens will rally at Philadelphia City Hall and the State Office Building. The Coalition encourages principals to share with parents the specific cuts in personnel and programs that their school will suffer if public education is not appropriately funded. Parents are encouraged to take this information on signs to the march, as a visual questioning of elected officials' awareness of losses to schools in their districts. *Legislative "Night Out." Legislators are asked to designate a night at their local offices as an education night to hear concerns of parents and learn what the schools in their district will lose because of the lack of state support. For more information about the Coalition to Close the Gap and its activities, call Citizens Committee on Public Education in Philadelphia (215-545-5433) or Parents Union (215-546-1166). Or reach either groups by faxing 215-731-1688. ================================================================== B. Mobilizing, Part One - The Lancaster Speakout by Laura Montgomery Rutt, Lancaster People's Alliance for Tolerance and Freedom On April 29 both Lancaster dailies had articles on our April 28 SpeakOut, and the Intelligencer ran the story on the front page. There were 250 people, including several clergy, at our forum at the Lancaster Jewish Community Center. Several of the 24 sponsoring organizations set up booths, allowing people to sign petitions, become members, or just get more information about the Religious Right's tactics and agenda. "It is good to know I have allies in Lancaster County," said one astonished woman as she made her way around the information tables after the SpeakOut. "We wanted to become active in fighting the right, but didn't know how. This was great. We can't wait to get started," said a couple whose arms were loaded with literature. For information on organizing a SpeakOut, contact Laura Montgomery Rutt at 717-581-8292 lmrutt@prolog.net. Editor's note: We have had new subscribers to the pa-expose Internet list following the Lancaster SpeakOut. We hope all recipients of Pennsylvania Expose will ask about the online pa-expose discussion group. Send inquiries to maggie@critpath.org. ================================================================== C. Mobilizing, Part Two - The Philadelphia Marriage Conference by Chris Purdom, Interfaith Working Group The Marriage Resolution, which is being adopted by individuals, groups and churches around the country reads: "Because marriage is a basic human right and an individual personal choice, Resolved, the State should not interfere with same-gender couples who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities, and commitment of civil marriage." The anti-marriage bill that's circulating in Harrisburg hasn't been introduced yet, but the public conversation has begun. The week after the Interfaith Working Group's Marriage Conference we were delighted to see the Philadelphia Inquirer devoting the entire op-ed page to the topic. The opposition piece was written by a spokesman for the Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs. The pro-marriage commentaries were written by Philadelphians, Rabbi Rebecca Alpert, a board member of the Interfaith Working Group, and Patricia McBee, the clerk of the Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting which hosted our May 20 Marriage Conference. We call on allies to adopt the Marriage Resolution and to get more information. Philadelphia Freedom to Marry Coalition 215-893-9458 http://www.libertynet.org/~PFTMC/ Western Pennsylvania Freedom to Marry Coalition 412.362.4685 http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/scotts/ftp/wpaf2mc/ =================================================================== D. Calendar May 3,4,5, The Alternative to Violence Project (AVP) experimental program Cost $50, Sponsored by & held at Bucks County Peace Centers, 215.750.7220. May 4, 1:30-3:00 PM Seminar on Grassroots Lobbying Skills. Sponsored by PA League of Gay & Lesbian Voters and Human Rights Campaign. Temple Univ. Center City Campus, 1616 Walnut. Call Steve Black, 215.735.0852. May 4 Saturday - 3:00-4:00 PM Strategies to Counter the Radical Right with Rep. Barney Frank. Temple U. 1616 Walnut, cosponsored by FTRN 215.849.1400 (box 6) maggie@critpath.org. May 7, 10:00 AM Rally to oppose Medical Malpractice reform & news conference. Citizen Action, Capitol Building, Harrisburg. Call Mike Morrill, 215.592,4474 May 7 Tuesday - 6:00 PM. City Council of Philadelphia Education Committee hearing. Transportation coordinated by E-Quality & Coalition to Close the Gap, call 215.329.2687 May 9 Thursday 12:00 PM Mock Trial of Gingrich & Fox, different Groups will bring about different charges, Montco Courthouse, Norristown, sponsored by Citizen Action, call Mike Morrill, 215.592.4474 May 11, 10 AM - 1 PM Cross-cultural Dialogue for Women discussion group Cost $30, Sponsored by & held at Bucks County Peace Centers call 215.750.7220. May 11 Saturday - 7:00 PM- Rev. Mel White presentation, former ghost writer for RR leaders, UU Church of the Lehigh Valley, 424 Center St., Bethlehem. Sponsored by the MCC Church of the Lehigh Valley. May 12 Sunday - 2:00-4:30 PM Cease Fire: Living Through the Culture Wars with Rev. Mel White, Bahnson Center, Moravian Seminary, 60 W. Locust St, Bethlehem, cost $5.00, 610.861.1519 May 16 Thursday - 3:30 PM Rally to support public school funding, Philadelphia City Hall (west side) and the Capitol Building in Harrisburg. Sponsored by Coalition to Close the Gap & Parents Union, call 215.546.1166 May 18-20 Saturday - 1:30-4:30 PM Town Meeting with Paula Xanthopoulou and local activists. Keynote: "The Christian Coalition Unveiled." First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Fight the Right Network, Call Maggie Heineman 215.389.1400 (box 6) maggie@critpath.org. May 19 Sunday 7:00 PM Paula Xanthopoulou Forum, Citizens Interfaith Council for Democracy, Temple Anshe Hesed, Erie. Call Mort Metersky 215.672.4598 metersky@aol.com May 20 - Monday Paula Xanthopoulou Forum, Interfaith Coalition for Religious Pluralism, Temple Beth Am, Abington. Call Al Richardson 814.445.9730 asrjr@aol.com =================================================================== Pennsylvania Expose - May 1, 1996 Pennsylvania Expose is published three times a month. It is based on postings to the pa-expose@critpath.org Internet mailing list and available as an e-letter or fax-letter. For information, about pa-expose: mail to: pa-expose-request@critpath.org in the body: info pa-expose If you want to subscribe, then say "subscribe pa-expose" Send news, and inquiries about faxletter distribution, to: ---FTRN Communications Working Group --- 215.389.1400 http://www.critpath.org/ftrn/ ---People for the American Way --- 800.326.7329 http://www.pfaw.org/ ==================== Permission to Repost ========================