A letter to local ministers asking support for JPS preservation and improvement
Dear Reverend:
We represent Preserving and Improving JPS, which is a group of citizens in Jackson who are advocating for the preservation and improvement of Jackson Public Schools. We believe that some decision making for the district should come from those who are directly affected by the decisions.
The root of value for education in our community is clearly defined by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said, “Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the fact from the fiction. The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and critically.” Using that purpose of education, we are extremely hopeful that you will assist us in the preservation and improvement of Jackson Public Schools.
We encourage our religious leaders to:
- Speak directly to the JPS Board for improved educational opportunities for the scholars of the district and advocate against the growth of charter schools in Jackson and in the state of Mississippi;
- Encourage your congregation to become informed on the performance data of the charter schools in the Jackson area and help them understand that the charter schools have not increased student performance;
- Encourage your congregation to speak directly to the JPS Board for improved educational opportunities for the scholars of the district and advocate against the growth of charter schools in Jackson and in the state of Mississippi;
- Allow the circulation of petitions and surveys related to the improved educational opportunities for the scholars of the district; and
- Use your influence to persuade your congregation and others to be involved parents and be active in the education of their children.
We invite you to learn more about our group by attending our open strategy sessions every Monday from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at 800 N. Farish Street or by contacting Dr. Ivory Phillips (ipaulphillips@aol.com), Mzee Asinia Lukata Chikuyu (afrikan_tbt@yahoo.com), Al Thomas (athomas532@aol.com), or Rosaline McCoy (rosmccoy@gmail.com).
