Inspiration at Last

It’s our education; it’s our problem!

Almost two weeks, and only one comment, albeit a very encouraging one. This is supposed to be a people's movement. I know you all are reading. I know many of you agree. Unfortunately, it does not end there. We are in this together. Still, hope is not overcome by frustration. This quote, I feel, relates to the situation:

"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." - Jack London, American author (1876 - 1916)

The gears of the political machine will move regardless of words and text. They will move regardless of general dissatisfaction. Action is the only way to put a wrench in the gears. We understand the situation, we understand the reality, but until we make this known, the gears will not relent. I can not do this alone, however.

Political action comes in various forms. The question of how to become politically active is an open-ended one. I can give you the standard answer: write your legislators. It sounds run-of the-mill, but it is truly the easiest action to take.

[ RI Senators ]
Jack Reed (e-mail) / Sheldon Whitehouse

[ RI Representatives ]

Jim Langevin (e-mail) / Patrick Kennedy

If you are passionate about this issue, let it be known. Your Congressmen are in power to represent you, your rights, and your desires. It is their duty to listen to your concerns and uphold them to the best of their ability. The only way this can happen is if they come to understand the reality of the situation as well as we, the students, do.

Phase one is commencing. Take action, however small it may seem. It can and will make a difference. And it will make even more of a difference if you spread the seed. Incite action in others who share similar views. Remember there is strength in unity, so unite, and be heard.

Spread the seed. Spread the change.

(and voice your opinion, leave some comments)

Initiating Change

It’s our education; do we control it?

I’ll admit it; I am relatively new to the “grassroots movement” scene. I have never really considered myself a political activist as much as simply a concerned citizen. However, I do feel that I have a few important qualities. I am passionate and opinionated for what I believe are the right reasons, but that is almost beside the point.

The point is I can understand if you are not so sure about becoming active in your community or even if you feel insignificant in the grand scheme of the system. I, too, have felt intimidated. We must remember though, that some of the most noteworthy movements in the history of the world and the United States have originated by people who seemed to have no power, no say, no rights, and no standing whatsoever. It was only several decades ago that African-Americans and women spoke out and acted out to ignite momentous changes that we now feel in everyday life in the twenty-first century.

Now more than ever, students have the means (ourselves), the medium (the internet), and the drive (our discontent) to make a difference. If there is one rallying cry that can motivate us, it is this important phrase: in unity there is strength.

Individually, we may feel weak and insignificant, but together we can be a revolutionary force. Divided, we are simply the gears that run the machine. Collectively, we are the driving mechanism of the machine, without which the machine would be reduced to futility.

Around the country, school administrations may be the ones who develop the ineffective programs, but the problem is not in their actions, it is in their motivation. Schools put new programs into place in the hopes of best adhering to the federal stipulations in documents such as NCLB. Motivation comes in the form of funding, as those institutions that do follow the legislation best receive the most monetary support. If students render said programs unsuccessful, the schools will have to respond to our demands by exercising their power not downward upon us, but upward upon those who have even more power.

This, in essence, is the goal of our budding movement. However, the only way we can achieve this and other goals is by becoming one. There is truth in the phrase, in unity there is strength, and it is that phrase that we must constantly bear in mind. If change is truly going be initiated, it will only happen with more people involved. That is the first step. So spread the word, and remember the address, ItsOurEducation.blogspot.com.

Mission Statement

It’s our education; it’s our future!

Education is one of the cornerstones of American society. The very future of the country is built upon it. Competition in the global marketplace starts in the classroom. America’s political, economic, and social leaders of tomorrow are its students of today.

Lawmakers understand this significance, as reform in education has been a priority on the minds of politicians for centuries, but change is not always necessary. In fact, it can sometimes be negative, and this is the dilemma we, as students, face today.

Written in 2001, President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) intended to improve primary and secondary schools in America by increasing federal involvement. At its core, it claims to be based on “accountability for results, more choices for parents, greater local control and flexibility, and an emphasis on doing what works based on scientific research.” The plan sounded encouraging to anyone with a stake in the educational system.

However, appearances can be deceiving, because more than anything else, NCLB bred criticism and opposition from numerous directions. Poorly implemented programs have plagued the plan for years, either targeting the wrong problems or not targeting problems whatsoever.

These problems are not the fault of state or local institutions, however. With so much of the legislation left to the discretion of the states themselves, one may be quick to place the blame there. In reality though, this strictly top-down mandate is flawed due to its source: the federal government. It is no wonder school systems around the country are encountering so many problems trying to live up to the requirements of NCLB. After all, the document is so vague and adulterated by its over-emphasis on compromise and bipartisanism that it barely outlines any significant or substantive goals.

NCLB stresses accountability within the educational system, and we as students and citizens must stress accountability within the government and other administrative bodies. Positive change can rarely come solely from the top down, as NCLB has demonstrated over the past several years. Genuine, effective, and progressive change comes from the bottom, the people, and in this case, the students.

It is our education, and this is our outlet to organize on a large scale. If you are unhappy with changes brought down on your education by your government, this is the time and the place to speak out and act out. I urge you to voice your opinion, be heard, and make a difference, and that is exactly what this blog and this movement is all about.