Education: It Matters
What could be more important than education?
We know that for a Democracy to work, we need an educated populous. We also know that education is and should be a pathway to greater equality — and we can and should work to ensure equal access to quality schools for all of our children.
We know too that for many students, educational institutions and educators are their support systems. Schools with publicly funded wrap around services enable hosts of students to learn because they have food to eat and medical/psychological help in addition to educators as role models to follow. We can’t underestimate the value of teachers who believe in their students and their capacities to succeed (this counterbalances high ACEs by the by). Schools are where we facilitate learning and psychosocial development — keys to adult success within workplaces, families and communities.
In a world as complex as ours, where many parents and caregivers cannot afford private education, quality public education is essential for students at all ages and stages. We need a federal government and state governments and local governments that support education. We need this for our present and our future.
Recent Post
In a very recent post titled “Teach Your Children Well,” Dan Rather identifies a set of reasons for the importance of Tim Walz as Harris’ running mate: Walz is not only the product of public education; he taught in public schools — social studies no less. What a statement is that about the power of education to enable success?
Here’s the link to Rather’s piece: https://steady.substack.com/p/teach-your-children-well
Now I can hear the rising snarkiness from others — saying: see what public education produces — a liberal leader? His detractors will say: Look at this example of the product of and participant in public education as Exhibit A for failure.
Well, I am looking at its product and it is remarkable that a teacher and coach — a person who literally worked in the trenches — can help move our nation forward.
Dan Rather contrasts Walz’s march through life with the changes sought and to be wrought by Project 25. I leave it to you to look at Rather’s point by point dissection.
But I conclude with this: eliminating the Department of Education and eradicating a myriad of federal programs that support students at all ages and stages is not the answer to a better America. I get that schools are not perfect and programs need improvement. But, how gratifying and refreshing and powerful is it to see a leader who is a product of and has taught in our public educational system striving to be VP? The answer is VERY gratifying, refreshing and powerful indeed.
And recognizing the power of public education rests at the heart of our future. As Crosby Stills Nash and Young sang and as Dan Rather states: Teach Your Children Well. Those four words are invaluable.
Note: A thank-you to my adopted son Nick and his wife Lanella. We spent a weekend seeing, discussing and promoting the power of the possible through education.
