Don't Drain the Water

I am a firm believer that all parents/guardians love their children and want the absolute best for them. The desire for them to succeed in life is honorable and self-less; they will sacrifice to no end to ensure that their child have the best opportunities afforded to them. But for so many children, their family's demographics limit possibilities and and shrink the pool of opportunities--particularly in education.

Public education is a far cry from perfect. There is great disparity amongst all public schools. Suburban schools far much better than inter-city schools in terms of resources and achievement.There is still much work to be done--but don't throw the baby out with the bath water!!

Education is still the best neutralizer to poverty. Our public school educate ALL students, regardless of race, economic status, handicaps, religion or language. We don't get to suggest that they would be better suited elsewhere or that we cannot offer the service or resources necessary for success. We show up, day in and day out, to create the best environment for learning that we can with all of our students in mind; every child matters!

Charter schools and private schools are an important part of the fabric in education. We cannot discount the successes that so many of these institutions have celebrated. There is much to learn from their innovative models and rigorous curriculum-- and they have definitely challenged the status quo. But at what cost?

• Public school across the country at receiving less federal, state and local tax dollars to educate students. Some have had to shut their doors. Where do the kids go?
• Private corporations are lobbying for schools that are exempt from many of the same federal mandates as public schools, but receiving funds.
• Students are being displaced when schools are closed for lack of performance in private/charter schools.
• The consistency of program/curriculum implementation is being challenged with different models in different schools.
• The loss of funds in public schools in increasing class sizes, eliminating programs and curtailing innovation.

What we need now is dedication to the success of our public schools! For profit education should not be subsidized by tax dollars. Public charter schools should be held to the same mandates and policies of traditional public schools or lift the mandates from traditional public school so that they match those of public charter schools and can allow innovation in the traditional public schools.

Politicians need to be educated on the various different school models and understand the consequences to buracratic decisions and policies enacted. They need to seek first to understand before they can intelligently make decisions that will affect our students.

Check out this report from a state representative from Texas, Diego Bernal. He visited with educators from 55 public schools in his district; what a courageous act!

Remember it is our duty to ensure that ALL students have access to quality education that makes success possible. Don't drain the water!!