Profiles in Courage – Public Education Advocates

I’ve written a few blogs recently acknowledging the heroes who are leading the fight for public education in Texas under the banner of Profiles in Courage.  But in light of the criticism that they continue to receive from Empower Texans (by any name), Michael Quinn Sullivan, Tim Dunn and others whose deep pockets are trying to change the face of education in Texas, I thought it would be relevant to laud the public education advocates for their efforts and the successes achieved every day in classrooms across Texas. 

If anything, the constant barrage of negativity from ET and others has served as motivation for public education advocates.  With efforts ranging from Texas Educators Vote to the #blowingthewhistle campaign as a response to an ET mailing to educators across the state, educators and those who support public education and the constitutional requirement for the state to provide an “efficient system of free public schools” are coming together to ensure that the public is aware of the tremendous impact of public education on more than 5.4 million students in Texas.

The easy road would be for educators to say, “oh, well”, and focus their efforts solely on what goes on in the classroom.  But they recognize the implications of efforts by ET, MQS and others and the absolutely demoralizing impact it can have on the future of public education.  Instead of worrying about how to use deep pockets to make their pockets deeper by funding and influencing legislators as some do (by any name), public education advocates are using their “teacher voice” as a powerful tool in telling their story.  Instead of falling prey to the attacks on public education in general, and teachers and board members in particular, they are exercising their civic responsibility to speak out publicly and at the polls.

The commitment of public education advocates is to the students in our Texas public schools and that is as it should be.  What is truly rewarding is to acknowledge their commitment and conviction to do what is right for students.  While it would be easy to focus on the negativity from groups like Empower Texans, that would only serve to reinforce their “race to the bottom”.  The real heroes in the discussion about the future of public education should be on those who dedicate their efforts to students every day to making public education a priority. 

The best way for all of us, as public education advocates, to ensure that it remains a priority is to go to the polls and to cast a vote for those who support public education.  Do your homework but, most importantly, please vote!

Observations on Day 1 of early voting

First of all, I have voted ... and I hope that you have either voted or have plans to do so over the next few days.  It was the first time that I ever took a “cheat sheet” into the voting booth.  I chose not to even cast a vote in some of the races but several of these were a no brainer starting with the Lt. Governor race where I was privileged to cast a vote for Scott Milder. 

Voting is getting a lot of attention in the press and we’re getting barraged with campaign ads, both print and TV/radio.  I have watched with interest (and disgust) the ads by the LG in which he tries to portray himself as a friend of teachers and public education.  Sadly, without understanding the hollow nature of his promises, most will see him as someone that they can support.  Having a big war chest doesn’t hurt as evidenced by the full page ad in today’s Dallas Morning News touting his support from the Texas business community. 

One other area that drew my attention related to the propositions on the Republican primary ballot, specifically Proposition 5 relating to vouchers (by any name).  If you haven’t seen it, it reads, “Texas families should be empowered to choose from public, private, charter, or homeschool options for their children’s education, using tax credits or exemptions without government constraints or intrusion.”  Kind of like motherhood and apple pie for many who will vote. 

What is truly striking is the reference to “without government constraints or intrusion” to which I would add “or accountability”. I wonder how many people who support this proposition understand that forms of school choice other than our public schools do not face the same rigor and accountability as our public schools.  Would they be happy with the Lt. Governor’s statement that accountability lies with the parents and not the state?  But, of course, that would never be part of any public statement he would make.

There are other races that will have a direct impact on how public education is viewed in the 86th Legislative session when it convenes early in 2019.  And while the outcomes of some of these will not favorable to “our side”, one positive that has come out of this is that public education is a key part of the conversation now.  With efforts like Texas Educators Vote and the efforts of Texans for Public Education to define where incumbents and candidates stand on public education, the grassroots public education advocacy movement has left the station.  And that can only be good news for the more than 5.4 million Texas public education students who are asking us to make education a priority.

Have you voted?

Profiles in Courage – Laura Yeager

How do you change a dismal record of voter participation and how does that impact public education?  For Laura Yeager, Director of the Texas Educators Vote program, the answer to the first question is “one voter at a time”; the answer to the second question is that more than 5.4 million Texas public schoolchildren are counting on us to step forward and focus on their needs, not the needs of donors who back many in Austin supposedly elected to serve us.

A little more than two years ago, Laura began an effort to create a culture of voting in the education community.  She had been shocked to learn that Texas was last (or near last) in voter turnout, and that primary election turnout was especially low.  It shocked her that the number of people voting (and determining the outcome of many key statewide elections) was smaller than the number of people working in Texas public schools!  Laura studied the reasons for low voter turnout and found that citizens don’t always know why their vote is important or understand which elected positions make decisions that directly affect them.

Teachers might be frustrated that their schools are underfunded, that their students are over-tested and more, but not make the logical connection that by voting, they choose the people who make these decisions.  Laura thought that by teaching educators the importance of (1) registering to vote, (2) researching candidates and the function of various elected officials, and (3) encouraging them to vote and model civic engagement for students, Texas Educators Vote could help improve voter participation among educators and students alike, thereby strengthening the Texas democracy.

What Laura recognized and acted upon is that the more than 700,000 educators in the State, including teachers, administrators and board members, have the power to dramatically impact the outcome of the next primary and general elections.  Because many races are decided in the March primary, she felt a sense of urgency to begin changing this trend … one voter at a time.

Over the past couple of years, many organizations have come together as partners in the Texas Educators Vote initiative; click here for more information on TEV.  Laura, being idealistic, thought everyone would support increased civic engagement, a stronger democracy, and the Texas constitutional obligation to provide and fund public education.  She did not anticipate the pushback and challenges from Sen. Bettencourt, Empower Texans, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and their allies.  

Texas Educators Vote is a grassroots movement and if we have learned anything over time, it is that those movements have the potential to have the greatest impact.  Through establishing the TEV web site to participating in meetings with various groups and individuals to periodic calls among TEV partners, Laura’s has consistently been a voice for our children.  As one of the partners in this grassroots movement (Make Education a Priority), I am proud to call Laura a friend and to acknowledge her tremendous contributions to public education advocacy. 

The pro-public education movement continues to gain ground and mind share among those impacted by our public education system.  But the ultimate need is for a strong turnout at the polls to elect those who support public education.  Laura clearly has seen the opportunity to promote a voting culture and her efforts  are certainly focused on making education a priority.