My name is Lester Spence. I am an Associate Professor of Political Science and Africana Studies at Johns Hopkins University. I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1991, and my PhD from the University of Michigan in 2001. I worked hard for both of those degrees. But contrary to stories of “individual initiative,” I know my degrees didn’t come from my hard work alone. Student protest created the Comprehensive Studies Program that accepted me in 1987. Student protest created the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies where I took many of my classes, where I wrote the undergraduate paper in 1989 that led to my first book 22 years later. Student protest led to the hires of every single letter writer I had for grad school. Black students (and their allies) risked their academic careers. Risked their academic careers so years later people like me could find themselves and their purpose. Risked their careers to force the university to live up to its highest principles and values. When I saw that black students at Michigan were forced to protest again, forced to issue demands protestors issued almost thirty years ago, I couldn’t stand by silently. We know what they’re risking. We know what they’re fighting for. Our petition accomplishes two goals: First, the petition tells students they aren’t alone. They have received hate mail and threats. This in addition to the stress they’re already undergoing as students. Second, the university recently named Dr. Mark Schlissel (current Brown University provost) its next President. This petition tells incoming President Schlissel and other university officials that the issue of racial and economic equity are critical concerns they should not ignore. The University of Michigan, like all prestigious institutions, is sensitive to public pressure. Adding your name will turn up the heat on university leadership and further enable students organizing for a Michigan that truly represents the leaders and best. Tell the University of Michigan that it’s time they stand up and support student demands for more racial diversity and more economic support for poorer students.

For decades, the Arab/Muslim community has been either ignored or under-represented culturally, socially and politically, and has been consistently misrepresented by negative stereotypes in film, television and news media. After 9/11 hate crimes against our communities increased astronomically, and surged again after the death of Osama Bin Laden. Through arts and education, youth programs, community services, and effective cultural outreach, we can champion a greater understanding of the Middle East and North Africa. We can also work on conflict resolution programs and peaceful interfaith initiatives that help to advance human progress. In an age of mistrust, tension and turmoil, the arts provide a valuable opportunity to celebrate our common humanity and transcend our differences. Let's join together to increase understanding and appreciation of our cultural diversity.

The research says that opportunity starts young. If you want to help students do better, you have to reach kids 5-years-old and younger. That's why states like Oklahoma make sure every child in the state gets access to a year of free preschool. Here in Massachusetts, more than 40% of 3 to 4 year-olds, some 60,000 kids, aren’t in an early education program. Meanwhile, 30,000 children are on waiting lists for preschool slots. That's not only wrong; it's short-sighted because we know that for every $1 we spend on early education, we save $7 over time. As legislators draft the budget for the next year, it's our chance to make early education a priority. If we want to expand access to preschool, we need to raise our voices now. We'll be meeting with lawmakers on Feb. 4, and every signature we collect makes our case more powerful.

The research says that opportunity starts young. If you want to help students do better, you have to reach kids 5-years-old and younger. More than 40% of 3 to 4 year-olds, some 60,000 kids across Massachusetts, aren’t in an early education program. Meanwhile, 30,000 children are on waiting lists for preschool slots. That's not only wrong; it's short-sighted because we know that for every $1 we spend on early education, we save $7 over time. As legislators draft the budget for the next year, it's our chance to make early education a priority. If we want to expand access to this programming, we need to raise our voices now. We'll be meeting with lawmakers on Feb. 4, and every signature we collect makes our case more powerful.

We must raise teacher salaries to be competitive with other states and stop the loss of teachers in our public schools.

Cameras in special needs classrooms are necessary. Cameras WILL prevent teachers from becoming Ogres and Monsters and beasts because they have proven that they will behave ONLY when the paycheck signers are watching them. Let me take a step back and say not all teachers are this way. But for those who are not this would help them prove that they are good teachers, and help the parents to see what is going on. My reason for wanting camera's is very easy my child is nonverbal and can not tell me what is going on. When he comes home with bruises with no explanation of why, yes it upsets me. Other children in the class room as well have limited vocabulary or could easily be manipulated. They can not say or may not even understand what is happening to them. My son started acting out and trying to run away from school, never a problem before. Came home with bruises and several times with scratches. I started making reports of every mark my child came home with, and then suddenly he was acting out home. Trying tell us in his own way to communicate there was something wrong. He then came home with bruising on his gentile area and I was aghast and horrified. Made a doctors appointment and to my horror she said the one thing I wanted to deny sexual abuse. I felt like i was being sucked under and about to drown. How, why, when, I has so many questions circling in my head. I felt like the worse mother in the world. I would like to make certain that this never happens to another child again. Going through the justice route and the school board did no good. It is a sad day when a child has to suffer due to the fact he is non verbal. I would like to help protect our children to the best of my ability. Cameras protect our most vulnerable members of society from our most depraved and evil monsters. Once again this will also help the good and caring teachers out there as well. Cameras should be MANDATORY in ALL special needs classrooms.

A new bill has just been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly that could rob Virginia students of a quality science education. If passed, students could lose out on a science education that includes climate change and evolution. This legislation is bad for our kids and must be stopped. State Delegate Richard Bell’s legislation says teachers would be allowed to “help students….critique and review….the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in science class.” This is well-known code for “teaching the controversy” of climate change instead of the facts about climate science. If this legislation passes, school boards, superintendents, and principals will be unable to hold teachers who cite fringe climate deniers and other crank theories accountable. Tennessee and Louisiana have already passed bills that call out climate change as an example of a “scientific theory” subject to debate rather than understanding. Unless we speak up now, Virginia could be next. According to a story in Climate Progress, “the bill is part of a national trend of legislative proposals, led by creationist organizations like the Discovery Institute and climate-change deniers such as the Heartland Institute.” (1) While the Virginia Assembly considers Bell’s anti-science bill, other states across the country have begun adopting 21st century science standards that include solid climate science education. The Next Generation Science Standards -- developed by the National Academy of Sciences and 26 states -- teach the known and accepted facts of climate change, rather than treating it as a debatable theory. Virginia should follow suit. At a time when Virginia is already experiencing climate impacts such as rising sea levels that threaten Hamptons Roads and other sections of the Virginia coast, our kids deserve to be taught the truth about climate change so that they can be part of the solution. Thank you for taking action for our kids and grandkids! Aimee Tavares, Mom Arlington, VA (1) Climate Progress story: http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/01/06/3124961/virginia-teach-controversy/

I am concerned about the lack of funding crippling school districts around the state, especially the large urban school districts. Lack of counselors, libraries closed and locked in the schools along with the lack of full time nurses in every school is disturbing and unfair to the students.

The arguments in favor of limiting enrollement are fallacious. The new policy states: Active participatory courses (such as physical education, visual arts, and performing arts) that are related in content are limited in the number of enrollments. Most individual courses that were previously repeatable no longer are and further restrictions apply. The new policy extends retroactively to your entire academic history. Community colleges used to be about the community and life-long learning. With the obesity epidemic should we really be prohibiting people from taking P.E. classes? I am not allowed to take swimming classes because 20 years ago I swam at our community college when I was on the high school swim team because my high school did not have a pool. There is no way one can learn an art or any physical skill in one semester. Atheletic and creative activities can help one stay physically and mentally healthy into old age. Obviously students who need the classes to transfer to four year institutions and those who have not taken the classes before should have priority, but these people are not getting to take the classes now either, because without people like me re-taking classes, there is not enough interest and the class gets cancelled. If there are 30 students taking the class instead of 20 because 10 of them are repeating, how is that not bringing in more money? Is it the goal of California to just keep all these campuses empty without classes? The cost of maintaining the campus and administration are better supported by more people paying tuition than they are when students are denied the opportunity to enroll. The institutions are more sustainable with fuller enrollment.

This week alone, January 12 th to the 18th, there have been two school shootings in our nation. We can easily implement lockdown drills, which are proven to save children's lives when an active shooter is on campus. I was sickened by Sandy Hook, and continue to be sickened by the increase in school shootings.

I moved to Concord, North Carolina from New Jersey with my husband, 6 year old daughter and 3 year old son in 2009 for a better quality of life in general and to Cabarrus County in particular for its excellent public school system. Five years later, I am now worried that with North Carolina ranking 46th out of 50 States for teacher’s salaries, the quality of this system will decline and force caring and highly qualified teachers, Principals and staff out of the state or the profession. Studies show that a quality public school system correlates with high student achievement, which is directly dependent upon high quality teachers. Our teachers, Principals and staff have not received a raise in the past 6 years and as of July 1st, 2014; our Master’s level teachers coming out of school will no longer receive the 10% salary incentive. All of this sends the message that our legislators do not value our public school educators or the concerns of constituents with school-aged children. It is our hope that all of the Cabarrus County PTAs will work together to convince our legislators to give our educators a substantial raise and bring back the 10% salary incentive to our Master’s graduates. Our children’s education should be a top priority. One of the ways to accomplish this is by offering a competitive salary that allows us to attract and retain the best available educators. Please sign this petition by February 12th, 2014 so that I can bring it to the February 17th 2014 County Commissioner’s meeting to show our collective support and concern as parents for our educators; who’s hard work significantly impacts the future success of our children and should be compensated.

As students of Blacksburg High School, we feel that we would be limited in our academic success with only seven classes. Many students would not be able to take all the classes they desired, therefore limiting their own stride to become more educated people. Students who wish to take electives, fine arts, and career/technical classes will also be restricted in their choice because they will not have as many periods to do so. School spirit and morale will decline when students do not have a community that they enjoy participating in. If students DO take an eighth class after school as offered, they cannot participate in athletics and other extra-curricular activities that they formerly have. Therefore, having eight classes AND a lunch is the best way to serve the Blacksburg community.