May 28, 2003

What a Sacrifice 

Reg Weaver
President, NEA

Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children's Defense Fund, said, "Democracy is not a spectator sport."   I would add that education, democracy's foundation, is not a spectator sport, either.  And parents and teachers in Oregon have demonstrated that they will not be spectators in the education of their children. 

The Register-Guard in Eugene, Oregon, recently reported on efforts of parents who were hosting fundraisers to pay for a math teacher at a local school.   Math classes are jeopardized because the current math teacher is retiring ... and there's not enough money to hire another.  The parents and teachers decided to give their blood to fund the position.  Literally. 

After realizing that bake sales wouldn't raise enough money-salary and benefits are $73,000 for one teacher for one year-parents and teachers are selling their blood plasma to get closer to their fundraising goal.  Some have given their blood plasma up to the maximum allowed: five times in three weeks.

Fundraising isn't all that concerned citizens are doing to bridge budget gaps.  Teachers in Portland, Oregon, are teaching two weeks without pay.  In Tulsa, Oklahoma, parents and other community members are becoming volunteer substitute teachers. 

When it comes to education funding, it's parents and education professionals who are scrambling to cover budget shortfalls.  Far from paying for school "extras," parents are providing resources for basics such as school supplies, toilet paper, and, yes, teachers' salaries. 

Actually, this is not surprising: parents, teachers, education support professionals, and community members continuously demonstrate their deep level of pride in and commitment to public education.  Most parents will make any sacrifice to ensure that their children receive a quality education.   And while these incidents are heartwarming and inspiring, parents and education professionals shouldn't have to make these sacrifices-not in the United States of America.  

In many states, public education is subsisting on a bare bones budget.  According to the National Conference of State Legislators, most states have had to contend with three years of deficits.  States have yet to close a gaping $21.5 billion budget gap this year and are struggling to implement the under-funded mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act. School districts, starved of funds, are increasing class sizes, truncating the school year, and laying off teachers and support professionals to try to make budget ends meet.

Parents agree with education professionals about what works: quality teachers, small class sizes, high standards and shared accountability, parental and community involvement, and adequate and equitable funding.

So where are the politicians?

Many politicians say they want the same thing that parents want-a quality public education.  But their actions have spoken much louder than their words.  Our children have a right to a quality public education-democracy's foundation.  And we shouldn't have to oblige our communities to sell their blood to keep democracy's promise.

Reg Weaver

President, National Education Association

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