Stand up for public schools
It never ceases to delight me that we are close enough to walk to school every day. A perk of living in a tiny town, and also a dream come true. It’s special one-on-one time with Willy, and Nate and I rotate weeks so we both get that time with him. It is my hope that they look back on these walking to school years with fondness. Each morning, as we get closer to the school, we see all the yellow school buses lined up, full of students. For years, one driver, Mr. Zack, that drives the bus that passes our house every day, twice a day, waves, honks and smiles. Come to find out, he also drives the middle school route too and Jackson gets to finally ride his bus! Mr. Zack attends school functions and community events; we seem to run into him often! Without a doubt, he has influenced the lives of thousands, if not more, students over his time driving the school bus for Scotland County Schools. That marvels me. He’s a servant leader, a bit of a local celebrity and treasured in our little community.
Beyond time with Willy, walking allows me to interact with the teachers and staff of our little rural elementary school on a daily basis and has gifted me the opportunity to get to know them, laugh with them and see how genuinely invested they are in all the kids that attend our little elementary school. The middle school doesn’t have that dynamic, and it’s something I miss with that big transition for Jackson.
The lead pick-up teacher at our elementary school has our pick-up number memorized, which amazes me. Teachers and staff do all sorts of little things daily to make the parents’ lives a bit easier and the learning experience more enriching for the students. You hear the phrase, “It’s in the little things,” and it is absolutely true for public school teachers and staff. They teach because they genuinely love kids. They do so much that seemingly goes unnoticed. But I notice, and I want others to notice too.
I am passionate about education, literacy and our public schools. I want others to pour into our public schools. I want people to take notice of how much public school teachers care about the future of our communities, of our state and the country. They are teaching kids, from pre-K to 12th grade, how to think, how to problem solve, how to interact with others, how to be good citizens, and even more important than academics, they help teach acceptance through the beauty of diversity. Public school teachers, and public schools, are integral to the fabric of our community. The vibrancy of any small town revolves around the school or schools and the life that brings.
What I love most about our local schools is that parents are encouraged to be involved. Parents are invited to attend school improvement team meetings, join school advisory boards and parent teacher associations. You don’t have to be an activist, or a lawyer, or have any experience whatsoever, and you definitely don’t have to go to Raleigh to influence lawmakers. I am part of a Quaker organization that does try to influence our legislators and make an impact at the state government level, but you can start right where you are in your own community. You can make a difference. Donate time, treasurers or talent. Proctor state exams, substitute teach, offer tutoring, attend PTA meetings, go to School Board Meetings or town hall forums dealing with our public schools and ask questions. Ask how you can get involved. Ask what the school may need. There are so many ways to impact and improve our public schools now. There are ways to make your voice heard now. Public schools across America need your help. Simply put, our school kids deserve the best – they, their schools and their teachers need local citizens to care about them. We can do better. We must do better for the future of our local communities, states, and country.
I’ll leave you with a poignant quote from Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, in an article she wrote in 2015 titled “Leveling the Playing Field for Our Kids”: “A high-quality public education can build much-needed skills and knowledge. It can help children reach their God-given potential. It can stabilize communities and democracies. It can strengthen economies. It can combat the kind of fear and despair that evolves into hatred.” Here’s a link to that article if you’re interested in reading more. https://www.aft.org/column/leveling-playing-field-our-kids
I also highly encourage you to read her book, Why Fascists Hate Teachers. It’s an incredible read and will hopefully light a fire in you, much like it did me, to really get involved.
Until next time.
Love, Dr. Amanda
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