The CDC reported in 2014 that people of color are more likely than whites to accidentally drown. In fact African Americans are likely to drown at a rate of 10X more frequently than whites. This is a shocking statistic and the reason for this I believe is lack of access to municipal pools. The 911 students at Encina are 81% minority and 93% are economically disadvantaged. They must endure the hot summers of Sacramento and there are few public pools in the vicinity. I presented this information to the Encina School Site Council in November, 2016. I thought that they would see how important a school site pool would be. I was so happy when Measure P passed. I assumed the district would provide a necessary provision. Then I saw that a track and field turf with stadium bleachers had been prioritized and was surprised that this superseded the need for a pool. The average temperature in Sacramento in July is 94 degrees and the nearby rivers are enticing. The American and Sacramento Rivers are dangerous, but attractive to swim in on hot days. On June 24 2018, an Encina Student, Mohammed Mounir Kamal, aged 17, accidentally drowned in the Sacramento River when he was on a picnic with his family. This sad tragedy should be our wake up call. Studies have shown the risk of drowning can be ameliorated by providing safe swimming sites, according to the author of “Contested Waters-A Social History of Swimming Pools in America” Prof. Jeff Wiltse, 2007. Moreover, swimming is a California State Teaching Standard. Having a pool on a school site underscores the importance of knowing this skill. A pool on campus supports four sports; Competitive Swimming, Diving, Synchronized Swimming and Water Polo. The Mission Oaks Park and Recreation District which serves the area has no pool either. Dan Barton, the Director has said he is open to operating the Encina pool over the summer. There are many models for this. For example in West Sacramento, The Parks and Recreation District has a contract with the Washington Unified School District to operate the pool during summertime at River City High School. It is called a Mixed Use pool. The approximate cost for a pool is $7 million. Encina had a winning swim team in 1991 and the SJUSD filled in the pool with dirt and asked the students to practice at Sac State. This proved to be too much of an inconvenience and the team disbanded soon after. Seven other SJUSD high school sites have pools so please consider giving these needy students a pool. A pool on campus supports four sports: Competitive Swimming, Synchronized Swimming, Water Polo and Diving. Swimming is unlike any other sport; it is a life saving skill.

Gabby is the most hardworking, talented, brave person I know. As a senior in High School, she is amazing. She deserves to be there y'all

The very integrity of the United States and the Presidency are at stake. Our core values are being challenged and wrong is wrong. Period.

Dyslexia is a proven neurological disorder that negatively impacts students. Yale University has conducted research that suggests that 20% of the population has dyslexia, even though it is not always diagnosed. (See https://www.dyslexia.yale.edu/dyslexia/what-is-dyslexia/). Obtaining a diagnosis is critical because it helps students gain access to the intervention services and accommodations that they need to succeed in school. Other research shows that by 4th grade, if students haven't developed strong reading skills, they have a higher risk of dropping out of high school. Studies show there is a disproportionate number of people that are incarcerated that have Learning Disabilities. Therefore, providing early detection and appropriate intervention services is a more economical and wiser investment than paying for remediation and other services that are often required to support students as they age. Over 40 states have Dyslexia Laws included in their educational codes. Isn't it time that Vermont joins this movement? Our Vermont children (estimated 1 in 5) that are struggling readers, deserve better. VERMONT RESIDENTS: Please sign this petition and contact your State Representatives and encourage them to support a literacy bill with the features noted above.

The importance of a child's success is from their conduct and grades. Even if a child is struggling academically, the right to possess a natural part of their being should not be denied politically. The hatred and conformity of not just a school district, but insincere outlooks from employers and public offices should not prevent the acceptance of what should be an overall standard. Time and time again, the African American community has to change their cultural character just to be allowed dire resources. I want to speak not just for the African American community, but to every one as a whole. With the Islamic populace with their hijab, with caucasians with their long hair or mohawks, and etc., this should not be a problem or a distraction because of how we keep our cultural grounds. If their are beads or metal clips, and etc. that should be banned as a dress code violation, then I can understand that part of unacceptance. Things can be used for weapons, hazards to others and themselves for accident or purposeful negligence, then it shouldn't be allowed. But to condemn a student because of a natural expression is hurtful, irresponsible, judgmental, and inconsiderate for what kind of person you are putting under the scope. The policy should change because it would bring us closer together as different cultures being together under one roof. I will not stand for the outright disrespect. I will not stand for the undermining and non-consideration of others rightful possession. Change this policy or this will come to a bigger gap within our great American civility.

We, as teachers, need to band together for the success of public school education and teacher satisfaction and longevity. Together we can fight for what we need in order to help students be successful and make teaching a more manageable career. This will only work if teachers all agree to band together to wake up the nation to the education crisis America is facing. Please sign if you WILL strike on April 13, 2020 and share with any educators you know. America needs to know these changes are important and teachers need to stand together to have our voices heard and addressed. The strike will last until are demands are met.

“There are two animals that walk the earth that don’t swim by instinct, and therefore must be taught; Chimpanzees and Humans” (Bonnie Tsui, 2020 “Why We Swim”) “Swimming is Unlike any other Subject; It is a Life-Saving Skill” Drownings are the number one killer of children under age 5. Worse, for every drowning victim, there are four near-drownings. That is, when someone has been deprived of oxygen for a sufficient amount of time to cause brain damage. Drowning is preventable with swimming lessons and water safety instruction and safer places to swim. Studies have shown that when a community has a public pool, drownings decrease. Swimming used to be as popular as going to the movies; there were huge magnificent municipal pools in many places. They had the Fleishecker Pool and Sutro Baths in San Francisco. The Fleishecker could accommodate 10,000 swimmers and had sandy beaches and lifeguards in rowboats. The tilework and statues were beautiful--museum quality. According to Jeff Wiltse, (Contested Waters--The Social History of Swimming Pools in America, 2007) these fancy municipal pools were for whites only; the black communities had more austere pools--but swimming was popular in both places and lessons were free. In 1947 when the Jim Crow laws expired, blacks could then go to the fancy pools. So many of the plain pools closed when blacks could go to the fancy pools, but they found themselves sometimes unwelcome and whites generally stayed away. Little by little the fabulous municipal pools shuttered. This was when people of means built backyard pools and started private clubs. Swimming stayed popular with anyone lucky enough to have access to a pool. Unfortunately, people that didn’t swim didn't prioritize teaching their children to swim and now we are on the third generation of some non swimmers--and it is really a class issue. But it plays out racially. In 2014 The Center for Disease Control (CDC) did their first ever report on the racial disparity in drownings. The results are alarming. People of color drown at much higher rates than whites. Latinos, Asians, and Blacks drown significantly more often than others.  Swimming pools are expensive to build and maintain, so unless people ask for one, they don’t get built and maintained. In Sacramento, CA where the average July temperature is 94 F, there are few inner city public pools, yet the suburbs are still building them.  Roseville built their aquapark in 1995, and they have two other municipal pools (67%white community).  North Natomas built a $43 million aqua park in 2019 -- 70% white neighborhood.  Elk Grove (45% white and 29% Asian) has three Aqua parks,   Davis has eight municipal pools and is building a $13.6 million aquatic center for 2023.  Because of the lack of access to municipal pools and swimming lessons, there is a huge racial disparity in accidental drownings. An 11 y/o black child is now 10X more likely to drown than a white. Swimming is unlike any other sport; it is a life-saving skill.

The United States has a very low voter turnout compared to other countries. It's important that as many citizens as possible be given the opportunity to participate in our democracy by voting. Making election day a federal holiday will give significantly more people the opportunity to vote. Since it will replace Columbus Day, it won't generate any additional costs.

They have done so many things to not only me but many of my friends and peers at that school. They treat their students like we mean nothing and punish us for anything they “feel” like. It’s such a mentally abusive establishment and for the past 4 years they have put my friends, and peers and I in such a depressive, anxious state. It genuinely sucks and hurts to go there everyday. They don’t help us when we need it and they make it perfectly clear select students don’t mean anything to them by how we are treated. I’m fed up with it because of the things they have done to me for the past 4 years but especially my senior year which is right now. And I don’t want their to be kids who get stripped of the desire to learn because that school ruined it.

The 2018 Farm Bill defined hemp as a legal agricultural product. People who maintain irrational "Reefer Madness" grudges against hemp should not be allowed to impede access to hemp. In other words, people who dislike broccoli can't prevent others from eating it. Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp should be no different. Organizations that maintain antiquated hemp prohibitions, such as Colorado State University-Pueblo*, are not only out of compliance with federal law, but also absurdly impede access to hemp’s myriad health benefits. Anyone who wishes to consume hemp to enhance health and nutrition should not be prevented from doing so. Therefore, signatories of this petition call for the immediate termination of all existing bans on hemp across the USA. *Colorado State University-Pueblo, which ironically houses an Institute of Cannabis Research, maintains the following ignorance-inspired prohibition on hemp and/or Cannabis: “The use of marijuana on campus, even with a valid medical marijuana license, is prohibited.”

We were promised this walk since our freshmen year, for it to be taken from us for no reason at all is completely ridiculous.

We will not vote for EVIL, even the lesser of two evils. We will not compromise and settle for pretenders who pale in comparison. This is not a game. This is not a bluff. To nominate anyone else the DNC would repeat the same folly as 2016. In order to defeat Trump, Bernie Sanders is the best option, one that will attract record voting highs full of independents, traditionally non-voters, former centrists and right wingers that have 'seen the light' and #FeelTheBern. In order to successfully make change in healthcare, climate change, tax reform, stopping legal tax evasion, gun reform, prison reform, and stopping the wars the President will need to have unprecedented fortitude and courage to remain noble and stedfast in the face of pressure and attacks by very powerful industries. Bernie Sanders is that candidate. No other candidates satisfy our criteria of not being corrupt in their policy decision making, no other has integrity, no other has determination to follow through with the lip service of their platform, such as true Single-Payer Healthcare in the form of Medicare for All. We will also vote out any opposition in local elections, and support candidates that pledge to support his agenda. Brought to you by The Forte Foundation and the Purple People's Party. #NotMeUs #WeThePeople #BrandNewCongress