Education
Here goes the future of America!No one is closer to what’s happening in public school classrooms, than mothers. No one is more aware of what needs to be done to improve our public schools, than teachers. Most of them women.
The problem continues to be that District-level administrators, entrenched union representatives and politicians are determining the direction of our classrooms. They are also the least likely to be IN the classroom day-to-day. There is no shortage of self preservation going on in these circles, and that’s why your public school and mine is strangled with one-size fits all directives and expenditures which don’t apply and are wasteful.
Charter schools are ruffling feathers and breaking ground in some of the most dysfunctional and giant school districts in the nation. You might be seeing more and more of them in your own neighborhood. At the moment, they are almost our only hope. Charter schools have flexibility. They are generally opened by non-profit groups or educational specialists with focused missions to help children. Charter schools are different from neighborhood public schools in that they have the privilege of applying for funds directly from the state. They also have the privilege of receiving their school budgets directly from the state. This prevents bureaucratic school districts from siphoning off 25% or more of the school’s allotted money for OVERHEAD. Charter school dollars are supervised and spent directly at the school site, closest to the kids. The State of California leads the nation in charter development, and you might be surprised to know that existing neighborhood schools are now beginning to transition into charter schools, to increase control, money and working conditions for teachers. This could be the future.
Another factor affecting the decline of public schools in our country is the pressure of powerful teachers’ union. The reason large, big city school districts aren’t divided into smaller, more manageable districts , is that teachers’ unions have more clout when their membership includes 72,000 teachers, as it does in the failing Los Angeles Unified School District, instead of say, 300 in the neighboring LaCanada School District. The larger the union, the larger war chests of union dues available for lobbying. The larger the union, the more negotiating power.
The result however is that giant, self-interested teachers unions not only hold our classrooms hostage by demanding lifetime health benefits for their members in an age when such luxuries are obscene, but the unions are also breaking trust with good teachers who see the decline of their workplace because of the shortage of school funds.
Perhaps this background will help you to understand why school principals have limited options in policing ineffective teachers who don’t belong in the classroom. It also becomes clear why classrooms are hungry for basic supplies like construction paper and markers, and why parents are constantly being encouraged to support fundraisers.
As women, what can we do?
When a mother steps into her child’s classroom to volunteer, all the students in the class benefit. There is no more valuable contribution a parent can make, than giving their time. Parents also need to be known on their school campuses and take turns participating in school leadership councils. This is the most appropriate and effective place for parents to hold their administrators and teaching staff accountable for the progress and direction of their neighborhood school.
Good, committed teachers know exactly what the ingredients, or the missing ingredients are in a school that is struggling. The schools you admire most, are the campuses where strong teachers and administrators are partnering with good parents to provide leadership. It is the formula for success in public education.
Finally, as voters, all of us with children, grandchildren, and extended families who are depending on our public schools need to be informed about the candidates we support, especially on local school boards. It is important to know which candidates are being funded by teachers unions and which candidates support reform.
Our children don’t have time for politics. They need good math teachers and essential books and supplies right now.
The fine teachers among us, and most teachers really are committed to their work, deserve to be fully supported. They should be some of the highest paid professionals in our society. Charter schools are beginning to lay the groundwork for such reforms.
One parent willing to work in partnership with talented educators can help to improve or completely change the course of a neighborhood school. Take a look in your neighborhood.
Does your school need you?
