As NH public educators face two more battles, vouchers and having to carefully navigate topics like sexism, racism and ableism, they are going to need the support of community members. Here are five action steps to consider:
1. Write a letter to your school board letting them know your hopes for learners. What do you hope students will know and be able to do by the time they leave the schools in your district? What are your hopes for the kids in your schools after they graduate high school? Ask how they think you could support them in their fight for public schools.
2. Write Letters to the Editor for the news outlets in your communities, letting teachers and administrators know you support public schools. You may not agree with everything they do, AND you can support the work they are trying to do. It's OK to be critical, AND be clear you're being critical to make it better, not to dismantle it.
3. Attend school board meetings. Make public comment if you can. Take notes. If you have the opportunity, introduce yourself to board members and superintendent and other educators letting them know who you are and that you support public school students and this institution that is so important for our democracy and the creation of community.
4. Attend and support student games, performances and exhibitions. As pandemic restrictions ease, more of these opportunities will become available. Go cheer on a team. Get to know your neighbors. Check out public science fairs, the art shows or robotics competition. Many schools have dynamic websites where you can see recent student work and read newsletters. Get a good understanding about what is happening in the schools in your community, so you can offer informed support AND can offer critique of those in our communities who are not telling truths about our schools.
5. Join public committees your district might have. For example, my school district has a Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) that is open to anyone in the community who is interested in ensuring all students in our district get what they need to be successful. Many schools have regular opportunities for serving on volunteer committees, and some communities have operationalized separate organizations that support public schools from the outside, such as Friends of Mascoma.
This recent budget is a one-two punch to schools. We need teachers to know we're in their corner.
“We should have a widespread, diverse set of student and parent voices from around the state providing honest feedback about what’s working and what’s not in public schools. And we should use that information to improve a system that is so vital to democracy.”
#education #courageovercensorship