January 12, 2003

Promises, Promises

Reg Weaver
President, NEA

When Washington proposed a revolution in America's national defense and homeland security, it backed up that proposal with tens of billions of dollars of new funding-and rightly so. But when Washington proposed a revolution in American public education, it did not back up that proposal with the same level of support.

A strong defense and quality public education are both essential to our national security. But when it comes to education, Washington falls short of what is required. There's nothing wrong with pronouncements and promises, but where are the resources behind the rhetoric of reform? At best, the revolution in education remains a promise on paper.

Consider if Washington funded national defense and homeland security the same way it funds education. Just imagine if we sent our military to fight battles with starving troops and outdated maps. What if we planned to make our skies safer by forcing air marshals to solicit cash donations from the passengers for basic equipment?

Or, instead of improving security at airports, what if we decided to forgo airport security altogether, slash pilot pay by 90 percent, describe air transportation as a failing system, and offer vouchers to every 20th passenger good for half the price of a charter flight?

Could we even imagine Washington leaving its work incomplete, deciding to delay the homeland security budget until some time next year? Would Uncle Sam, hat in hand, turn to the states and beg for the resources to feed his army, particularly now that virtually every governor presides over a state that is in fiscal crisis?

These ideas seem preposterous, don't they? Of course they are-and we wouldn't stand for it. And yet, we find it all too easy to dismiss our responsibilities when it comes to education.

Many teachers are pressured to make miracles happen daily so that their students aren't shortchanged by a lack of resources. But with the proper resources, we can equip every school with the crucial ingredients that our best public schools already have: highly qualified and fully certified teachers and support professionals; modern, well-equipped facilities; and small class sizes for effective teaching and learning.

Homeland security is more than just providing additional X-ray machines in airports; it's a commitment we have made to best defend our nation. If we truly want to revolutionize American public education, then we must be unafraid to ask: what is the full cost of that revolution?

We haven't hesitated to pay the bill for our immediate homeland security; let's not balk at the bill for the most important weapon to ensure the long-term security of our nation's homeland: a quality public education for all of our children. An educated America is a secure America.

Reg Weaver

President, National Education Association

1201 16th Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036

(202) 822-7200