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| All pictures in this post of my classroom. |
As such, this is a sponsored post.
It's sponsored by the sixty students I taught in Baltimore and the 9,000+ I affect each day in my current role.
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| I would love to show you my amazing children. However, it's illegal and I'm not down with putting them up all over the 'nets. |
These 9,000 students have been limited and defined by their income level, race and zip code because of the strangling education system in our country, and the confines of poverty that we allow to exist in housing, health care, transportation, and most of all, education.
I am a 2007 Teach For America Baltimore Alumna, and I taught 7th and 8th grade social studies and English language arts for two years in South Baltimore. I now work in a position where I directly support 40 new teachers who mainly teach social studies and I love every minute of the exhausting, challenging work.
This weekend, I and 10,700 alumni, corps members (teachers), and supporters descended upon the Convention Center in my backyard in DC to focus our energy on bandying around the question of HOW do we take this movement, this belief that all children deserve an equal education, to scale in this nation?
You see, the question is no longer CAN WE or WILL WE, it's now HOW do we do it FASTEST?
There was great discussion around charter schools, controversial laws ending teacher tenure, the effectiveness of young teachers, the impact of race on the enduring achievement gap, who is best to get this all done and how Teach For America teachers, alums, and supporters across the nation can lead the charge.
The best part about this gathering, this anniversary celebration, is that there is no one clear answer. Not from the hundred or so panelists, from Joel Klein, former NY Superintendent, to Beverly Tatum, President of Spelman College; not from the thousands of alumni both in and out of education; not from our CEO and Founder, Wendy Kopp.
There are thousands of opinions on how to accomplish our mission that one day, all children will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education, and we all had the chance to listen and share this weekend.
It will take every single one of us, those part of education organizations like Teach For America and not, to attack this issue and to dismantle the oppressive systems low income and minority children are forced to fight against every day.
Because my students and every single child in this country is a brilliant mind just waiting to be filled with knowledge.
Because my children are just as smart as your children.
Because just because my kids are black and from South Baltimore doesn't mean they don't deserve the same amazing education you and I were given.
Because I know that the 11,000 people at the Convention Center this weekend can't be the only ones who care, and the only ones affected by this civil rights issue.
To say that this weekend was inspiring is an offensive understatement. I have more to do, you have more to do, this country has more to do.
We all have a role to play in ending the severe injustice that plagues hundreds of thousands of American children every day. Insist on better. Please click on that link and read it.
Volunteer. Donate. Join the fight to change policies, laws, and regulations. If you're in health care, serve the areas that need it the most. If you're in school, study this and write about it. If you teach, teach the students who are being left behind.
If you're human, just share this story. It's a movement made of people, and we can grow the tide with our words, stories, and truth.
Get involved.
GIIRRLLLLL STOP! YOU'RE GIVING ME GOOSEBUMPS!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing and sustaining to know that the work we do really, truly, in the grand scheme of things, MATTERS? Knowing that I am doing something truly important every single day gets me out of bed in the morning. We are fighting for a cause and doing something that makes a difference in the world! That is amazing!
Did they say any variation on "this is the greatest civil rights struggle of our time" at the summit? That one gets me fired up every time.
As a teacher in a predominantly white public school (we're in Maine... it's not hard to be...), I sometimes feel that a lot of the diversity we have is thrown out the window because of our racial makeup. We may not have a super diverse background when it comes to the color of our students, but the financial and rural backgrounds our students come into play as well. Many students will not only be the first generations in their families to go to college, but they will be the first generations in their families to graduate high school with a diploma.
ReplyDeleteBut no one sends Teach For America here. No one competes to get jobs here because we are not considered a "diverse area that needs attention." It's frustrating when people call on public schools to "shape up" when compared with charter schools. While I honestly believe charter schools are making great strides, I don't think it's fair to look at their progress and then ask public schools point blank "Well, they can do it. What the heck is wrong with you?" Maine doesn't have charter schools - a lot of my colleagues don't even know what they are - but it is clear that we're not on equal footing. Charter schools can make parental involvement contracts; we can't. Charter schools allow private donors; we can't. It's just frustrating to hear people (not you, but certainly others I have attended school with) say that the only way to matter as an educator or be a good teacher is to work through Teach For America. We all have the same goal, so why make the differentiation in titles?
@Carrie: YES! There was actually a LOT of "this is our Egypt moment" which was interesting.
ReplyDelete@Blogimony: I hear you! Where I grew up in Idaho, many peers struggled because of income level, and it was pretty much ignored in schools, despite many students needing free and reduced lunch. I think that I tried to stress that I, and Teach For America, believe that income level and race are important factors in determining whether or not children are given a level playing field. Sometimes because income level can be less glaring, it's not stressed as much. I tried to edit my post above to be much more explicit that income level is very much a reason for why I say that a zip code determines a child's future.
Charter schools are also completely unheard of where I grew up as well. I'm still thinking about my thoughts on those, so I tried to leave the politics of that idea out of this post. :) Overall, I just love you as a fellow teacher.
And finally, TFA is likely not there because of a number reasons, mainly that there may not be a critical teacher shortage and/or the school districts may not support bringing the organization there. There could be many others, but usually unless those two are present, it doesn't happen.
And finally, I hope I didn't say that the only good educators are TFA- quite the opposite! My point was to stress that it will take all of us- educators and non educators, TFA and non TFA- to make this movement a reality and we can all do our part.
Amen! It's great to see how you and so many people are so passionate about this cause - I whole heartedly agree that we need find more and better ways to educate our country's youth. Thank you for sharing this!
ReplyDeletesuch an encouraging, articulate, and thoughtful post. i'm so glad that someone as committed, smart and enthusiastic as you is working so hard for education equality.
ReplyDeleteI love how passionate you are about this, it's really motivating!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say that your clear passion for what you do is very inspiring, and I'm so glad you love it and inspire others!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, Kate. It's great to see how impassioned you are about such a wonderful organization.
ReplyDeleteI hope you had an absolute blast in DC! I loved seeing all of the FB status updates from fellow corps members, especially the random picture reunions of institute peeps and such! I really wish social networking was around in '02 so I could have kept in touch with more people!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the amazing work and fighting for the kids each and every single day! :) When I see my kids cheering about their college finals, I know that all my work paid off, but there's more kids out there who need driven and insane teachers!