My regular readers have heard me drone on about education time and time again. I sound like a broken record because....well....I repeat myself a lot. So, instead of bitching, moaning, and complaining, I will let you know what you can do to help. Last night I had the good fortune of listening in on a conference call with two candidates for the State Board of Education (SBOE). Dr. Rebecca Bell-Metereau and Dr. Judy Jennings are both running for different seats on the SBOE.
Now, let me fill you in on a quick fact about your SBOE. Everyone knows about their proposed changes to social studies curriculum. No, they are not taking Thomas Jefferson completely out of the textbooks, They are simply removing him as an enlightenment thinker. He will still be the third president of the United States and he will be the author of the Declaration of Independence. I know you are all relieved. They have also done some serious damage to the science curriculum, but that is neither here nor there at this point.
Our SBOE has the distinct pleasure of offering no one that has worked in public education nor anyone that has had a child go through public schools. Yes, I was appalled when I heard that. My wife and father (who rarely agree on politics) agreed that this fact should bar you from evening serving on the board. I'm not inclined to agree that people like that should be ineligible from running, but I can't fathom why anyone would vote for someone like that. Along with the legislature, these people have more power to affect the education of students than any single person in the state. Fortunately, local boards still wield more power in individual districts, but I am appalled.
Both of these candidates have doctorates in teaching fields. They have both worked in education and they both have children (and grandchildren) that have attended public schools. Most school are not adopting textbooks until 2011-2012, so we can get this ship turned around. Both said something that was music to my ears as an edcuator: the state board should not be writing curriculum. Of course, those of us in education have been saying this for years and when you think about it, it makes perfect sense.
We undoubtedly have political animals making decisions on budgeting for NASA, farm subsidies, the CDC, FEMA, and even the military. Those political animals do not dictate science at NASA or the CDC. They don't carry out policy for the military or FEMA. Education is the only business where experts don't make the day to day decisions. We wonder why education is so messed up. I don't mind political animals dictating my budget. Just let me spend my budget the way I know how.
Both candidates said something I have believed for years. These so-called members of the SBOE really want public education to fail. They are shilling for the interests of private and parochial schools. I'm sure they believe in their heart that those schools were the best options for their children. I have no qualms with that as my wife and I will have to cross that road in a couple of years ourselves. However, I don't have the power to change the lives of a million teachers or millions of students. Even if I did, I have a vested interest in seeing public schools succeed because I work in them. People that don't have a stake either way can't be trusted. I'm not questioning their honesty or integrity (at this point). I just question their interests. As a Roman Catholic, I have no business sitting on a pastoral council at a Methodist Church. My heart might be in the right place, but I ain't a Methodist. These people aren't educators and have never benefitted from public education. They need to go. You can help out by getting these two elected and more people like them. Often we focus on the top of the ballot. The races near the bottom can be just as important for our future.
Thanks for bringing up this important topic, and thanks for the endorsement. I like the Marlon Brando imitation (above), but seriously, we can't repeat the importance of education often enough. Until everyone truly gets it that this is the foundation of our democracy and of our society, we need to keep hammering the idea that education is our most important tool in shaping a well functioning society. It's not an expense, it's an investment, because it builds the future.
Rebecca Bell-Metereau
voterebecca.com
Candidate Texas State Board of Education, District 5
Public education has been sabotaged.
The people who use public education as a political tool or religious battleground should be treated as traitors to humanity. Why? because that is what they are.
I was reading about the 504 options. I was impressed with the effort and services offered under that auspices. I also think that who better than a counselor to be 'master scheduler' because they should be sympathetic to the situation of students and teachers. Seems like to me more counselors on staff would be in order to solve many of the dilemmas you cited in your book. I think a good counselor/bad counselor approach to problem students might be effective. In my high school years I dealt with both types and honestly the 'bad' guys can really make an impact, as long as there are good guys to lend a sympathetic ear.
(Insert Marlon Brando impression from the Godfather here)
I think we need to encourage dese people to withdraw their candidacy in favor of more qualified persons.
'Dere are any number of ways to "convince" people to take actions they might not utterwise consider. You can reason with 'dem. You can explain how dere failure to deviate from this particular path could be hazardous to dere health. Or, the health of dere family, family pets. Nobody wants to see 'dat happen.
Education is very important to the community. Perhaps dere contribution could be on some utter level.
(Insert Marlon Brando impression from the Godfather here)
I think we need to encourage dese people to withdraw their candidacy in favor of more qualified persons.
'Dere are any number of ways to "convince" people to take actions they might not utterwise consider. You can reason with 'dem. You can explain how dere failure to deviate from this particular path could be hazardous to dere health. Or, the health of dere family, family pets. Nobody wants to see 'dat happen.
Education is very important to the community. Perhaps dere contribution could be on some utter level.