In the United States, the latest round of budget cuts has severely strained our educational institutions. No one is exempt from this current dismantling of our organizations, which has resulted in massive furloughs of teachers, the elimination of support staff personnel, the watering down or total eradication of programs, the reduction of extracurricular activities, the use of fund balances or reserves to pay for everyday operating costs, larger class sizes, and an increase in tuition rates at our colleges and universities, to name just a few.
In tough economic times, we all understand that we must share in cost-saving measures. However, the low-hanging fruit has already been picked, and the new round of cuts is attacking the core of our programs. This appears to be only the beginning of budget woes that will force even deeper and harder cuts and affect many more educators and students; however, as our legislators battle to control costs and balance budgets, it is imperative they remember that a strong education system produces a strong community and economy.
As educators, we understand and appreciate the many benefits education provides to the individual, the community, and the larger society. A well-educated nation reaps extraordinary economic, civic, and social benefits. Therefore, we cannot sit idle and continue to watch these cuts play themselves out over the next few years without taking strong and decisive action. We must promote the importance of a high-quality education system, because an investment in education will yield a high return that will continue to pay dividends for decades.
We must also promote the positive aspects of our profession and our daily wins while those around us throw darts. Although it is easy to sit back, grumble, or ignore what is happening, it is far more constructive to take a stand against the continual attacks on education and educators.
There are a variety of ways that each of us can make a difference in helping others understand just how important education is to society. Consider becoming involved in one or more of the following:
- Sign up to be an ASCD Educator Advocate to get the latest news about education policy and learn how you can make your voice heard in the education debate. For more information, go to www.ascd.org/educatoradvocates.
- Write an editorial about an educational issue in your area, and send it to several local newspapers. You might be surprised by how often these pieces get published.
- Arrange a phone conversation or a face-to-face meeting with your local legislator to talk about how policy decisions affect your community.
- Work with your school leadership, school board, administrators, and other leaders to craft resolutions and send them to your local policymakers.
- Write your own personal letters and e-mails to legislators. If they don't hear from you, legislators believe there is little or no opposition to the issues they are addressing.
- Consider hosting a legislative breakfast or meeting in your area with your colleagues to provide an open forum of dialogue between educators and policymakers.
- Most of all, be informed, be seen, and be heard.
Our 2012 Annual Conference theme is "A Collective Call to Action." I cannot think of a more fitting theme that relates to our present situation. As visionary leaders did centuries ago when they broke from tradition, let us stand together to elevate education to the top global priority.