News Release

National Education Association Marks American Education Week with Nationwide Call for Great Public Schools November 13-19

Nationwide Activities Spotlight the Importance of a Quality Public Education for Every Child

WASHINGTON — This week, during American Education Week, November 13-19, 2005, the National Education Association (NEA)—the nation’s largest educators' organization—is issuing a nationwide call urging everyone to do their part in providing a quality public education to children so that they can grow and achieve in the 21st century. Throughout the week, NEA and its 2.7 million members are hosting events across the country designed to raise awareness about the critical need for educators, parents, students and communities to work together for great public education in America.

"I am calling everyone from coast-to-coast to join NEA in promoting the importance of great public schools for every child and proclaiming loudly and clearly that  all children have the basic right to a superior public education, regardless of where they live or their economic situation," said NEA President Reg Weaver. "By participating in our American Education Week events taking place across the country, everyone has the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of public school students by shedding light on important education issues."

As part of NEA's call for quality public education, the Association is organizing individual celebration days throughout American Education Week to reinforce the importance of working together as a unified community to build great public schools. The week's celebration days include:

• Sunday, November 13 : Student Leaders Day. Hundreds of future teachers convened in Boston, Mass., to participate in an American Education Week kick-off event with NEA President Reg Weaver and other NEA leaders.

• Monday, November 14 : National Kick-Off. From national commemorations to local events such as American Education Week house parties, the nation is celebrating public education.

• Tuesday, November 15 : Invite Parents to School Day. Schools will invite parents into classrooms for a firsthand look at what the school day is like for their children.

• Wednesday, November 16 : Education Support Professionals Day. Education employees who provide invaluable services to schools are recognized for their outstanding work.

• Thursday, November 17 : Teacher for a Day. Community leaders will be invited to teach for a day to experience the challenges of teaching and the needs of students.

• Friday, November 18 : Substitute Educators Day. This day honors the educators who are called upon to replace regularly employed educators.

"These individual celebration days highlight our American Education Week 2005 theme, 'A Strong America Starts with Great Public Schools,'" said Weaver. "The theme reinforces our belief that every child in America deserves a quality education. It also serves as a tribute to the different people who are building great public schools for the nation's 50 million K-12 students."

Celebrated the first full week before Thanksgiving, American Education Week began in 1921 as a way to generate public awareness and support for education at a time when illiteracy was still a major problem in the United States.

To find out more about American Education Week, visit www.nea.org/aew or contact your local public school.
 
 
Nov. 15, 2005

CONTACT:
Christiana Campos   (202) 822-7261, Ccampos@nea.org

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, college faculty, school administrators, education support professionals, retired educator and students preparing to become teaches.