Public Education Is Not Going Anywhere
Public education is under assault by the reckless dismantling of the US Department of Education, and educators everywhere are grappling with a new level of despair.
We are here to tell you that public education is not going anywhere. It has long been valued in the United States, even before the colonies broke away from British rule.
A brief history of public education in the United States
The founders of our country were clear that an educated populace was necessary in order for a democracy to function and succeed. As Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.”
Horace Mann agreed. He was an educational reformer and politician committed to the idea of universal public education. He urged communities to create common schools where children would learn the basics (reading, writing, and arithmetic) from a male teacher. (Mann also encouraged the creation of normal schools to train teachers.)
Almost immediately, progressive communities embraced common schools. As schools proliferated, the costs to maintain them increased. The solution? Train women to be teachers, because they could be paid less and knew how to care for children. (Despite his good intentions, he was a flawed product of his time: the early nineteenth century.)
Where we are today
Public education faces serious headwinds from decades of spending cuts, the recent politicization of education, and the sudden and drastic dismantling of the US Department of Education.
Not only do state budget cuts leave educators scrambling for resources, but they adversely affect students. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that spending cuts mean lower achievement for students.
Arguments over who is using what bathroom and what is being taught in history class have distracted from learning. Rahm Emmanuel’s recent op-ed in the Washington Post sums it up: “While we argue about stuff that doesn’t matter, our schools are failing.”
And that brings us to the Department of Education fiasco. As the NEA wrote, “Stripping the department of its resources and mission would be catastrophic for the millions of students in low-income communities who need educational services and support.”
If you feel like public education is in dire straits, you are far from alone. So in this time of crisis, let’s turn to Mr. Rogers.
A lesson from Mr. Rogers
During a recent Ohio Education Association board meeting, our Executive Director Dan Burkhalter had to do something to address the anguish that had consumed everyone.
Dan realized he had to recenter their thinking, and he thought back to a lesson he had learned from Mr. Rogers.
“I want to invite you to spend a minute with me in an exercise,” Dan told the board. “We’re going to be silent for one minute. During this minute, reflect upon any teachers who, during your elementary, middle, or high school experiences, changed your life for the better.”
The response took him by surprise. Some people smiled as they remembered a favorite teacher. Some started to cry.
After the one minute was up, Dan continued, “It’s important to do an exercise during a time like this, because everyone deserves a teacher who has a profound impact on them. And you might be that teacher for your students. You might be transforming lives. Let’s step up and be those teachers.”
Almost everyone has a story about a teacher who saw them when they felt unseen and heard them when they felt unheard. Educators touch the lives of people in meaningful ways. On the hardest days, don’t lose sight of that.
Words of encouragement from past Teachers of the Year
In 2022, we shared advice from three Teachers of the Year: Natalia Benjamin from Minnesota, Leah Porter from Michigan, and Sara Russell from Iowa.
This seems like the right time to re-publish their words of encouragement.
“Build a network of support,” Natalia said. “Education is not achieved by a single teacher. Who are your support people at school and outside of school? You will find knowledge, empathy, and solutions to challenges from your network.”
“Ultimately what you give kids each day is enough for that day,” Leah offered. “Regardless of the things that are hard, focus on the kids in front of you.”
“This is difficult to do when you’re struggling, but ask for help,” Sara said. “There’s a good chance other new teachers in your building are struggling, too. We all need support - new and veteran teachers - so find your group.”
Public education may feel particularly bruised and battered right now, but it is not going anywhere.