Teachers across Onondaga County wore blue today as part of a National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education. Van Duyn Elementary students, from left to right, Harmony Allison-Lemon, a kindergartener, Edith Hill, a first grader, Elijah Wright, a second grader, and Janae Robinson, a second grader, listen in this file photo. (Michelle Gabel | mgabel@syracuse.com)
By Charley Hannagan | channagan@syracuse.com
Originally Published at Syracuse.com December 09, 2013 at 3:28 PM, updated December 09, 2013 at 7:47 PM

Syracuse, NY – Teachers across Onondaga County wore blue today as part of a National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education.

A wide variety of districts across county reported that some teachers wore blue today to show their support, although not all districts took part.

The national day is part of a growing movement among teachers and parents who are apprehensive about the Common Core curriculum standards, an increased emphasis on standardized testing and teacher evaluations.

“Regardless of why people chose to wear blue today, I believe it is a reflection of what is in the media and across the state and country. Many teachers, administrators and parents are frustrated. There are simply too many changes and new initiatives occurring at once in education for them to be properly implemented and effective,” said John Mannion, president of the West Genesee Teachers Association.

Blue was the order of the day in the West Genesee schools. “I’m hearing across the district that there is blue everywhere, I am seeing it in my building,” said Mannion, who teaches high school biology.

The New York State United Teachers Association will hold a press conference at 4 p.m. at the Dr. Edwin E. Weeks Elementary School in Syracuse to discuss the call for action. [See In ‘Day of Action,’ teachers, parents call for more funding, fewer tests to read what was said and why.]

The call to action was well publicized to teachers in Central New York. Radio spots about the day featuring the national American Federation of Teachers and NYSUT aired today on Y94 FM. The ads encouraged community members to wear blue to show their support for public education.

“Walking around the halls there were a lot of people wearing blue today,” said John Nichols, president of the East Syracuse Minoa United Teachers.
“I think it was well received,” said Kelly Fletcher, president of the Fayetteville-Manlius Teachers Association.

Teachers in the Baldwinsville, North Syracuse and Solvay school districts also took part, according to administrators in those districts.

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