Separate The Rhetoric From The Realities

Education advocates from suburban, rural, and urban schools have a common goal. We all want the very best for our children. It is imperative that this common thread is used to tie together all education advocates within New Jersey.

New Jersey, like all states, faces the challenges of educating and education reform. We, however, face an additional problem. Our Governor, our Legislature, and probably most of the state’s adults want the problems of public education off the table. The burdens of funding education have taken their toll. The court battles to protect our most disadvantaged and our most challenged students have worn people down to the point that doing our best is not the primary concern. The concern is to make the balance sheet appear so very efficient. Standardize education, create uniform district types, standardize how we evaluate success and failure, but most of all, get these problems behind us.

The effort to meet today’s challenges has to separate the rhetoric from the realities. A vision for us all comes from our Governor. If only his deeds matched his words.

“I have always believed that no state investment does more to promote long-term economic growth and prosperity than the investment in our public schools. On the whole, New Jersey students are among the top performers in the country according to the NAEP scores, but there is room for progress. My commitment to education is driven by the need to ensure that this progress is made and that our high performance continues. A highly educated and skilled workforce is critical to keeping and attracting businesses to New Jersey.”

The key to this vision is education. The problem is many equate educational efficiency with fiscal efficiency. The Governor speaks education but acts finances. He offers the lead, and the Department of Education and the Legislature follow. The results are the School Funding Reform Act and the Accountability Regulations.

The challenging economic times make fiscal solutions very appealing. As education advocates, we recognize the need for fiscal solutions, but we see the need to look long term. We want all children to be all they can be. That is an easy thing to say, and many do say it. The difference is they want the problems behind them. We want the problems in front of us. We see the need to look ahead.

Looking at the challenges of our vision, we know that all education advocates, individuals and organizations, must be on the same page. The membership of Our Children/ Our Schools will try to facilitate this. We will conduct a forum October 17th, at a location to be determined. The purpose will be to educate advocates about educational challenges and the politics required to accomplish our goals.

The very first of those goals is unity. Years ago, former Education Commissioner David Hespe gave advice to some of us. He said that the way to change the minds of the Governor and the Legislators was to create a movement. This is what we hope to build at our October forum.

Advocacy groups look to correct the wrongs individually, armed with facts and figures, and stories of where the bleeding occurs. We make a little noise, we are recognized as meaningful, and we achieve small successes. This isn’t enough these days. A dramatic change in mindset is needed to meet the challenges of our time and the demands of our global society. Our communities have needs and remedies that are very different, but our fundamental belief is the same. We must put children first and we must work hard to assure that our mindset reflects our priorities.

Can we put our differences aside for the long term benefit of all children in all schools? Imagine the force of a movement that joins all of the member organizations of Our Children/Our Schools, the NJEA, NJSBA, NJASA, NJASBO, NJPSA, GSCS, NJSNAACP, NJBIC, ALI, and all of the others that would take too much space to list. Each organization is always seeking new faces to carry our message. It is time to consider seeking new alliances. Trenton knew it was their responsibility to fix things. It is our responsibility to make sure that things are fixed right.

We all believe in accountability and transparency. We all recognize the need for fiscal efficiency. Let us all get past that. Based on recent legislation and current regulations, it is clear that we don’t all recognize the need to educate all children in all schools to the highest possible level. Governor Corzine speaks of the Executive County Superintendents as the “education leaders” in each county. He goes on to say, “The ECSs are expected to play a much larger role in education in their counties than the former county superintendents did. They are expected to review and approve the contracts of district superintendents, assistant superintendents and BA. They have to undertake a much more thorough review of districts’ budgets. They have to oversee the implementation of NJQSAC, which is much more detailed that the old district monitoring system. And finally, they are charged with developing and recommending a plan for regionalization and consolidation within their counties.” He speaks of education leadership and playing a “larger role in education”, but his job description for the ECS says nothing at all about the education of our children.

The Governor and many of the Legislature truly believe that they are doing the right things. They are being fiscally prudent, politically correct, and they speak the rhetoric that most want to hear. We know where the rhetoric ends and realities begin. Does anyone doubt that it will take a major effort to move that mountain?

There are common beliefs that we can all stand up for. These need to be the basis for the rules and regulations if we are to achieve our vision.
“Standardization and uniformity may work with cars and computers, but it doesn’t work with humans. Today’s student body is the most diverse in history. An education system that treats all students alike denies that reality.” ( Ronald A. Wolk, Education Week, 4/09)
“The key to graduating is learning; the key to learning is motivation. There are innovative public schools that graduate most of their students because they personalize education, encourage students to pursue their interests and build on that enthusiasm, and offer multiple opportunities to learn instead of a one-size-fits-all education.” (Ibid)

Will you join our effort to redefine the mindset in Trenton? Will you help us plan for an October forum that will establish the priorities that we share; accountability, transparency, and the best possible education for all children?

We hope to hear from you! Post a comment in reply to this post and share your thoughts or let us know you will help us!