Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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closeOK, I admit it!
I am becoming tremendously tired of and acutely angry about the attacks on educators and public education. The accusations are phrased in terms such as failing schools, bad teachers, mediocre districts andubiquitous reform.
Unfortunately, all citizens went to school and believe this has given them deep perception into the art of instruction. Again, unfortunately, most people remember bad experiences and tend to forget their positive experiences. Especially, most do not know education has changed. While buildings look the same externally, what happens internally is very different.
These attacks may be poorly construed justifications for budget cuts. They may be recognition that a globally competitive educational system must be rigorous and demanding. They take many forms.
However, they do not state public education takes every child who walks through its doors, guaranteeing a free education. They do not admit many countries only educate the top 10 percent to 15 percent of their entire population, and these students become the competition for international jobs. They do not show the battle professional educators fight each day to keep students safe, to attract and retain teachers and to improve learning locally, statewide and nationally.
Now more than ever, we are in a battle for students, education and the educational profession. Moreover, this has become a political profession. What in the job of a public education employee is not affected by politics, laws, legislative bills or elected and appointed politicians? Every aspect of these positions is directly affected by the political arena.
Who determines the salary of teachers or the per pupil funding for each child (per pupil funding in Washington is now 46th in the nation)? Who decides what changes will occur in teacher certification (there have been three changes in the last four years)? Who wants to cut levy equalization to property poor districts like those in Southeastern Washington?
Many critics are saying we must reform this "failing" educational system. Articles are being written and legislation is being proposed.
How many of these agents of change are school employees who work daily with students? How many are the front line staff who see children at their best and their worst? Whose voices should resonate beyond the walls of schools? Who should be included in decisions about the education of children? And finally, when mandates to reform education are made, should the reforms not be funded?
These are hard times. When the economy is bad, people are frightened and depressed. They forget education absolutely is economic development. They forget the future is in the hands of today's students.
Children cannot wait for the economy to improve. This is the one chance they have. More importantly, education is the only chance Washington and the United States have. If you think education is expensive, consider the expense of ignorance.
"Many things can wait. Children cannot. Today their bones are being formed, their blood is being made, their senses are being developed. To them we cannot say 'tomorrow.' Their name is today."
- Gabriel Mistral
* Jan Fraley is council president for the Washington Education Association SouthEast District.
Editorials are the consensus of the Tri-City Herald editorial board.
Editorial board members are Rufus Friday, publisher; Chris Sivula, editorial page editor; Ken Robertson, executive editor; Matt Taylor, contributing editor; Lori Lancaster, editorial writer; Shelly Norman, editorial writer and Jack Briggs, retired publisher
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