We Must Demand Equitable Funding for our Schools
We both began our teaching careers working with disadvantaged students. The very first thing we learned is that these children can learn, they can thrive and they can make a teacher’s heart sing.
Yes, they may come from families who are desperately poor and parents who may live in fear of deportation, but their eyes light up when they learn a lesson you’ve been teaching them. And for us teachers, those “I got it” moments are hugely rewarding.
The second thing we learned as young teachers was if the student can’t learn the way I teach, then I have to teach the way he or she learns.
We came to understand that all these children were capable of learning but they might not learn in the same way as students from more privileged backgrounds. We realized that some children need extra help in school — such as individual tutoring in math or reading, or teachers who speak their language and understand their culture.
Others needed services to fill the gaps in their lives — like health care or nutrition — so they could be ready to learn when they come to school. We learned that every child, of whatever background, needs to feel a personal connection with someone who believes in them.
There is no such thing as a standardized student. Each child is different. Each one learns in different ways. Each has different needs and each one needs personal attention.
As educators, we want to meet every child’s needs, and we do our best to do that. Weeks before students returned to school after the summer break, teachers had already been working to get classrooms ready, planning lessons with colleagues and reaching out to parents. Many teachers spent part of their summer taking courses to improve their practice. But our hard work and commitment can only do so much. We need the help of parents and everyone else in the community.
In order to meet the needs of every student, our communities must work together to demand equitable and adequate funding for our local schools. As we visit schools across the Rio Grande Valley this week, including McAllen, we will meet teachers who have a high percentage of students who come from low-income families, who are English Language Learners, and who may be at risk of dropping out of school. We have taught children who faced these challenges and went on to succeed in school, but every child and every teacher needs the resources required for success.
Educators alone can’t deliver these resources for our students. Our students need help from everyone who believes in We Must Demand Equitable Funding for our Schools in Texas: