Letter Leverage

Remind Your Local Newspaper About American Education Week

By Dave Arnold

It is a fantastic feeling to see a letter you've written printed in your local newspaper. It's not that your name appears at the bottom of the letter. The thrill comes from knowing that your views are being distributed to a vast audience. And when you happen to be extolling the virtues of American Education Week (AEW), nothing is better.

The following letter is one that I will be sending to newspapers in my area. It's written in general terms so that maybe you can print it out and send it to newspapers (dailies, weeklies) in your city.

You may want to write your own letter. Either way, be sure to sign your name and furnish your address and telephone number. Some editors will call to verify you as the writer.

Don't be disappointed if parts of your letter are changed. The editor is the final judge of length. Be sure to keep a copy of your letter for future reference.

Model Letter
 
Letter to the Editor
Newspaper Name
Street Address
City, ST   Zip

Dear Editor:

This November 13-19 marks American Education Week. This week is celebrated in different manners all across our nation. Some schools plan special events, such as a dinner for teachers. The way in which it is celebrated doesn't matter. What matters most is that it not go unnoticed.

Regardless of who we are, we can agree that we would not have obtained this position if it were not for the care and guidance of those who instructed us throughout our lives. Therefore, we should take this opportunity to honor educators for their time, caring, and guidance over the years.

Teaching is far more than just a job. It is a commitment to students. Teachers don't teach to get rich. When a former student is successful in their chosen field that is the payback for teachers. It is reward on which you cannot place a monetary value. When students take the time to thank their teachers for their efforts, then it becomes a reward that is absolutely priceless.

During American Education Week, we should also honor those that work behind the scenes. We seldom take time to think about the Education Support Professionals, such as bus drivers, cooks, custodians, teacher aides, bus monitors, nurses, clerks, secretaries, security guards and others. These individuals are  "the foundation upon which the school operates." Without them, children wouldn't be delivered to school, wouldn't receive a hot meal, wouldn't have a clean and healthy environment, and their records wouldn't be kept in order. Support staff are the heart and soul of our schools.

This year's theme, "A Strong America Starts with Great Public Schools," highlights the importance of bringing together teachers, school staff, parents, students, and communities in a unified effort to build great public schools. In addition, the theme reflects the National Education Association's vision of calling upon America to provide students with quality public schools so that they can grow, prosper, and achieve in the 21st century.

Our nation's children are our most valuable resource. There is nothing more precious. They are our nation's future and their future depends upon the education we give them today. Therefore, I urge you take advantage of this time to give these individuals a well-deserved THANK YOU for their commitment to their profession and their contribution to the future of our country.

Yours truly,
Your Name
Address
Telephone

Optional Enclosure

To Honor & Remember      

There cometh a time every third week of November
A time, which we have, set aside to honor and remember
Those who worked with us and the best in us did seek
Those educators we honor on this American Education Week

The teachers that gave us guidance, instruction, care,
Theories of science and principles of mathematics did share
Encouraging us to do more than follow the crowd like the rest
But to seek new pathways and to always do our very best

Whether it came from a big school where nothing is of lack,
A small school, or an old one-room shack
Regardless who we are or what may be our position
We all owe a debt to those who gave us our education

But let us not ever forget those of the support staff
For the school couldn't operate without their skill and craft
Whether they are a bus drive, secretary, custodian, cook,
A nurse, or maybe an aide, they teach by example rather than from a book

But first of all, there are the fathers and mothers
The grandparents and even the sisters and brothers
For it is within the family that education truly begins
Let's also remember that education is eternal and never ends

For within our soul dwells a thirst that does relentlessly burn
That is the desire to gain more knowledge and continually learn
For it is this wisdom and knowledge that helps through our strife
So upon this week, we ask God's blessing on the educators in our life.
                                                  By Dave Arnold

Set the Agenda

To help promote AEW, NEA provides an online toolkit at www.nea.org/aew/toolkit.html. The toolkit contains a variety of activity ideas, templates, "how-tos," and downloadable promotional materials to help make your AEW planning easier. Also, in addition to the AEW activities outlined below, NEA is encouraging members to host a "House Party" during AEW 2005. That information can be found at: http://www.greatpublicschools.org
 
If you write a letter to the editor, it can be as long or short as you like. Newspapers have the power to set a community's agenda. Be sure that AEW 2005 is included in your city's agenda.  

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(Dave Arnold, a member of the Illinois Education Association, is head custodian at Brownstown Elementary School in Southern Illinois. He can be contacted at dparnold@csuol.com.)

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NEA or its affiliates.