Public School Strong
Participant Agreements

 

I am participating in the movement to promote, protect, and strengthen public education through Public School Strong. Joining means I commit to:

  1. Push for public funds for quality public schools with public oversight.
  2. Protect the freedom to learn so that students of all races, genders, sexual orientations, abilities and class backgrounds are safe and free to be their full selves, and are taught honest lessons about our past and how it shapes our present.
  3. Work together across differences of race, class, gender, sexuality, ability and age to accomplish these goals, following the lead of the most impacted communities.
  4. Start this advocacy at my school board, then join other PSS members and partners at state and national levels through collective action.
  5. Show I am connected to this larger movement by wearing my PSS T-shirt at school board meetings. By accepting the PSS shirt, I agree to represent this movement well by abiding by the PSS agreements at school board meetings and elsewhere.

Agreements For Attending School Board Meetings

I agree that during meetings and especially while wearing my PSS shirt, I will:

  • Choose my actions and words with the understanding that I am representing a national network, not only myself.
  • Look for opportunities to support and encourage our school board members to do the right thing - seeing school board members as potential allies.
  • Assume that when we listen to concerns and speak with clarity, the majority actually want honest, accurate, safe, equitable and fully-funded public schools
  • Take a breath to stay calm under pressure, focused on our goals - not distracted by attempts to cause conflict. I look for opportunities to bring the conversation back to the real issues of what students really need.
  • Engage with other school board meeting attendees safely and respectfully, not engaging in shouting matches or other disruption during school board meetings (in the meeting, the lobby, or the parking lot)

Agreements for Participating in the PSS Organizing Platform & Facebook Groups

While participating in the PSS Organizing Platform or my PSS Facebook Group, I will:

  • Be Kind and Courteous - We're all in this together to create a welcoming environment. Let's treat everyone with respect. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required.
  • No Hate Speech or Bullying - Make sure everyone feels respected. Bullying of any kind isn't allowed, and degrading comments about things like race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender or other identities will not be tolerated.
  • Keep the focus on our shared Public School Strong work. No Promotions or Spam - Give more than you take to this community. Self-promotion, spam and irrelevant links aren't allowed. We are all here to build this movement across the country and that is our focus.
  • Respect Everyone's Privacy - Being part of this community requires mutual trust. Authentic, expressive discussions make communities great, but may also be sensitive or private. Use your discretion and ask for permission before sharing a story you hear in this group outside of this group.