Action #2 Get Political

The two following articles are from Education Sector:

"Education Sector is an independent education policy think tank devoted to developing innovative solutions to the nation’s most pressing educational problems. We are nonprofit and nonpartisan, both a dependable source of sound thinking on policy and an honest broker of evidence in key education debates throughout the United States."


L.A. Story: Can a Parent Revolution Change Urban Education's Power Structure?

The first article talks about Steve Barr and his efforts to rally thousands of mostly Latino parents to the cause of school reform and how he can use that to enforce changes in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He is the chief executive of a nonprofit network for the Los Angeles charter schools and is taking his education entrepreneurship to the working class parents, hoping to start some change in the public school system. At the time that this article came out, Barr hoped to be the newly appointed charter school operator and do the following:

"Barr, however, claims that he will not use the power if he receives it, at least not immediately. Instead, he is using the threat to create new charter schools, publicly funded but largely autonomous elementary and secondary schools, to persuade the politicians, bureaucrats and union leaders who run LAUSD to reorient its 858 schools around six principles—small, safe schools with no more than 500 students, high expectations and a college-preparatory curriculum for all students, local control with extensive professional development and accountability, more dollars directed into the classroom, parent participation and keeping schools open later for community use. These are the guiding tenets of Barr's Green Dot charter network, which now numbers five high schools and will double to 10 this fall, bringing the total number of charter schools in the city to 105."

The article goes on to discuss the various organizations and unions that Barr started to submit change for the needs of the LAUSD's students. A "parents union" was started and this is something that is not uncommon in American education. The one difference in this situation is that a massive amount of parents have risen to the tasks of actually challenging the school system's basic principles. In my experience, parents are always complaining about something at their child's school and that they will never be satisfied. But through this article, I have learned that there are some places in this country that are in dire need of change. Not only are the Latino students suffering major in this situation, but the other students are as well. A child's curriculum should prepare them for college and the later years of life and it shouldn't be up to the parents to fight for that in the school systems. Teachers and faculty should also have a say in what their students are learning. As a future teacher, I should stand up for what I believe is right and what's best for my students.


Eight for 2008: Education Ideas for the Next President

The second article is about eight possible education ideas that can be used for the 2008 presidential campaign. The article states how important the education system seems to be in the various presidential elections and how if it is a "top-10 priority," than why aren't we upgrading our education systems to their potential. The eight ideas were made up by Education Sector and they are "pragmatic solutions to real problems that both parties can get behind."

The following eight ideas are proposals that could possibly make the public schools the "engines of equal opportunity they should be."

1. Unlock the Pre-K Door

2. Offer Teachers a New Deal

3. Create a National Corps of "Super Principals"

4. Open New Schools in Low-Income Neighborhoods

5. Launch Learning into the 21st Century

6. Reward Hard-Working Immigrant Students

7. Give Students a Roadmap to Good Colleges

8. Help Students Help Others


Each idea comes with a description of the problem, a plan to fix it, and the politics behind the situation. After reading about all the ideas, I've come to the realization that there are so many more problems in the school systems that I have never been aware of before. I made it through all of my schooling with flying colors and had the opportunity to attend a University on various scholarships and funds. This is not an equal opportunity for all the students in this country and it is definitely something I wish could happen for all. In order for something drastic to happen in the education system, you have to go to the highest authorities and try and evoke a change in what they want for the education system as well. As a future teacher, I must being willing to stand for change in the education system and possibly get political myself. I can do this by joining a professional organization, write to legislators, or stay involved with local educational groups. I have the power to evoke change and if I want to see change, I must put in the effort to make it happen.