Antiracist School Struggle Communist Ideas Hit the Mark

Newark, NJ, December 18 — “You know, all this stuff going on with the schools is really making me think more about capitalism,” said one teacher involved in the class struggle here. He isn’t alone. Over the past few months, Progressive Labor Party (PLP) members have been more openly discussing capitalism and the need for communist revolution. These discussions are framed by the fightback against Superintendent Cami Anderson’s racist attacks on schools in predominantly black neighborhoods.
At a recent rally led by misleaders of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and a local Newark group, New Jersey Communities United, over 200 workers and students protested these attacks. The leadership focused the blame solely on Anderson and ignored the contradictions within capitalism that cause schools to fail the working class. But PLP was there to offer our communist analysis. We distributed CHALLENGE and had good discussions with teachers who were unfamiliar with the Party.
‘Becoming way too radical way too fast’
One teacher had never known a communist before joining this struggle. He said, “I can’t believe that I would ever read a communist newspaper and agree with what they are saying. I am becoming way too radical way too fast.” He wasn’t alone.  Many education workers and students responded to the Dec. 11 article about Anderson’s racist letter. They also found the editorial about the U.S. rulers’ drive to war helpful in understanding the world situation and how it affects public schools.
Through discussions and literature, PLP members have shown that the latest crop of education reforms, including the charter school movement, are designed to discipline the working class and consolidate U.S. rulers’ top-dog superpower status.  Charter schools give the ruling class more maneuverability; they are operated without even a facade of accountability to parents and students. The new Common Core State Standards Initiative, backed by President Barack Obama and the capitalists he serves, are being pushed in all schools, traditional and charter. The Common Core is essential to the bosses’ plan for centralized ideological control and heightened patriotism.
Closing Schools for Capitalism
A few days after the rally, Anderson announced the closings of 20 schools and a remodeling that may lay off hundreds of education workers.  An overwhelming majority of the schools to be shut down are from the mostly black South, West and Central Wards. The East Ward, which is mostly white and Latino, will remain untouched, still another way they’re dividing the working class. This is to persuade these students to think they are better off.
At a number of other schools, faculty will be forced to reapply for their jobs, regardless of tenure or seniority.  Once again, this anti-worker measure will be concentrated in all-black districts. One exception is the Hawkins Street School in the East Ward, which serves most of the students from public housing projects like Hyatt Court, Terrell Court, and Riverview Court.
Misleaders Ignore Racism
In typical form, none of the union leaders — from the AFT to the New Jersey Teachers’ Union (NTU) to the Newark Teachers Union — will criticize Anderson’s boss, Governor Chris Christie. Nor will they acknowledge the racist nature of these school attacks. After Anderson’s letter was released, the NTU’s main complaint was that reduced truancy would result in fewer arrests of Newark students!
PLP has a different point of view. We have always said that fighting racism is essential to the fight for communism — and to the schools struggle here as well. Our communist leadership has won both teachers union members and students to make anti-racism a key element in our fight.  In addition, we have recruited Newark parents and students to join our communist study group.
The Limits of Reform Struggles
A few days after the rally, our study group discussed “Reform and Revolution,” one of PLP’s core documents.  Although it is over 35 years old, and some aspects of our politics have changed since then, it remains relevant for anyone who wants to organize within the reform movement for a communist revolution.  
When we discussed the Dream Act, the immigration reform backed by the Democratic Party, one comrade emphasized the limits of any reform victories. The bosses simply reorganize, he said, and come back with a vengeance to take away temporary any gains. This is today’s reality for millions of workers who have been stripped of pensions, health benefits and decent working conditions.
The education struggle in Newark is no different. We may keep some schools from closing for a time. We may prevent some teachers from getting laid off, at least for now. But as long as the bosses have state power, schools will serve the profit-based system of capitalism. Until we win millions to fight for communism, the bosses will eventually win out every time.
In our study group we have friends who fear alienating students by talking about capitalism and communism. There are workers who hold back from the mass movement because they think workers are “out for themselves.”  Through friendly struggle, we’ve made progress in convincing some of these workers to get involved in the mass movement, raise communist ideas and expand PLP’s base.
Growing PLP
Over the past two weeks, the schools struggle has definitely sharpened. Our work within the reform movement gives PLP the potential to grow and provide communist leadership to the thousands of workers fighting back. It won’t be easy, because the union bosses and community groups are competing for the minds of the working class. But if the Party keeps fighting, building relationships, and getting CHALLENGE to those around us, we can realize that potential. We are on our way.