#BloggerMarch’s Common Cause: Enough is Enough
On July 30, thousands of citizens who worry about the impact of federal policy upon public education will unite at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. in common cause to say enough is enough.
In the last few years, we’ve seen millions of federal and foundation dollars pour into education nonprofits, charter management companies, and corporate test prep pockets at the expense of children in our regular public schools. Meanwhile, we’ve stepped backward in our efforts to provide pre-school education to even our most needy children. The arts have been downsized and eliminated in many school districts across the country sending a strong message to young people about the value of our culture to the nation. Unlike their parents’ generation, today’s students often are assessed fees to participate in all things extracurricular so that districts can continue to offer athletic, club, and after-school programs. Hundreds of thousands of educational positions have been cut despite an increasing number of students attending schools across the country. Teachers are demoralized by the constant barrage of negative stories promoted by a media that seems to be swayed more by corporate headquarters than the reality of classrooms of dedicated educators. We’ve seen more and more focus