by Janie Hydrick
Thank you, AEA members! We’ve been bombarding you in October with requests to call, e-mail, and write letters to tell Congress to slow down on reauthorization of NCLB and get it right this time. At times, it seemed to us that the train had left the station, and that kids and public schools would be left behind yet again. But you did it! You did it! Never doubt the power of a vocal constituency! Your phone calls, e-mails, and letters derailed the train, giving us another opportunity to impact the futures of our students and the crafting of our jobs.
On November 7, Chairman Miller issued a statement on education funding and reauthorization of No Child Left Behind that sounds to me like a tribute to the power of our members’ voices: “All across the country, teachers, school administrators, school board members, and parents are voicing their concerns with the law. They don’t think it makes sense to stay the course. They don’t think it makes sense to preserve the status quo.” It wasn’t just Miller’s Californians voicing their opinions!
Miller’s statement continues, “It is difficult to see how we get a reauthorization bill done in this Congress as long as the President continues to oppose both common-sense improvements to the law and additional education funding.”
The fight has just begun, but at least we’re in the ring! We’ll continue our work on the national and state levels, but remember: although we have the best - the most dedicated, tireless government relations staff - to represent us collectively, it is your individual voices that count the most. It is your voice back home in the Congressional district that ultimately sways politicians and policy. Chairman Miller’s statement is testimony to that!
Thanks again for every call, every e-mail, every letter. Each word from you helped to make the difference. Each word from you brought us closer to leaving a flawed law behind and reauthorizing one that could really hold the promise of great public schools for every child.
Janie Hydrick
John Hartsell :: 12. November 2007 @ 10:22 -
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