November 7, 2017 “IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU

 

November  7,  2017     “IF  YOU  DON’T  KNOW  WHERE  YOU  ARE  GOING,  ANY  ROAD  WILL  GET  YOU  THERE.”  Lewis   Carroll   Texas  educators,  retired  educators,  and  friends  of  public  education  have  an  opportunity  in  2018  to  do   something  dramatic.  We  have  the  opportunity  to  help  our  profession  and  the  5.3  million  children  enrolled   in  our  public  schools.  While  it’s  not  a  “once  in  a  lifetime”  opportunity,  because  we  have  this  chance  at   least  every  two  years,  it  is  an  opportunity  we  do  not  want  to  squander  this  year.  It  is  the  opportunity  to   educate  ourselves  on  the  platform  of  every  elected  official  running  for  public  office  and  supporting  those   who  value  public  education  with  our  vote!     There  is  a  Bible  story  to  which  many  educators  may  relate.  In  the  Old  Testament,  we  learn  that  the   “Children  of  God”  were  held  as  slaves,  but  under  the  leadership  of  Moses,  God  delivered  them  from   slavery  and  promised  them  a  homeland  “flowing  with  milk  and  honey”.  As  they  began  their  journey,  the   trip  kept  being  extended  longer  and  longer  because  of  decisions  the  people  made.  Some  were  decisions   that  showed  a  lack  of  character  that  displeased  their  God.  Sometimes  the  people  became  complacent   and  just  seemed  to  wander  aimlessly.  At  times  stories  of  what  awaited  them  on  the  other  side  of  the  hill   caused  them  to  divert  from  the  chosen  path.  Regardless  of  the  reason,  the  “short”  trip  to  the  Promised   Land  lasted  over  forty  years.  During  that  period  of  time,  the  wanderers  experienced  highs  and  lows  and   good  times  and  some  times  that  were  not  so  good.  They  were  nomadic  and  homeless  for  a  whole   generation.     Educators  who  have  been  in  the  profession  for  a  while  (forty  years?)  have  seen  public  education  in  Texas   change.  Some  changes  are  good  and  some  have  not  been  so  good.  We  have,  for  instance,  seen  respect   for  educators  decline  over  the  years.  Where  teaching  was  once  a  respected  profession,  we  are  now   called  “educrats”.  We  have  seen  the  goal  of  education  evolve  from  creating  a  “love  of  learning”  within   each  child  to  students  passing  a  series  of  standardized  tests  each  year.  We  have  experienced  the   eroding  of  local  control  regarding  the  best  way  to  teach  the  community’s  youth  to  a  one-­size-­fits-­all   philosophy  with  the  decisions  made  at  the  state  Capitol.  Educators  can  understand  what  wandering  feels   like!

There  are  enough  educators,  former  educators,  and  friends  in  Texas  to  stop  our  wandering!  When  the  1.2   million  educators  and  former  educators  add  their  vote  to  the  countless  friends  we  have  in  the  state,  they   can  elect  the  state  leadership  and  the  House  and  Senate  the  school  children  of  Texas  deserve!  It  is  as   simple  as  (1.)  register  to  vote,  (2.)  educate  yourself  about  the  issues  and  candidates,  and  (3.)  vote  in  the   March  2018,  primary.  After  the  December  11th  filing  date,  Texas  Educators  Vote  will  provide  sites  that   interested  Texans  can  use  to  educate  themselves  about  the  issues  and  the  candidates’  positions  on   them.  While  we  will  never  tell  anyone  for  whom  to  vote,  we  will  provide  the  information  Texas  citizens   need  to  cast  an  informed  ballot.  After  all,  voting  is  every  citizen’s  civic  duty. Regretfully,  not  every  Texan  shares  our  opinion.  Currently,  the  6%  of  the  state’s  population  who  vote  in   the  Republican  primaries  are  making  ALL  of  the  decisions  concerning  who  represents  you  in  Austin.  Over   90%  of  all  elected  officeholders  in  Texas  are  selected  in  the  Republican  Primary,  and  guess  what…the   6%  like  it  that  way!  

  A  precinct  chair  in  North  Texas  has  penned  a  letter  to  some  of  his  constituents.  I  am  going  to  share  a  part   of  it  word  for  word  with  you:     “TASB,  Texas  ISDs,  ATPE,  and  numerous  education  establishment  groups  have  created  a  state-­wide   program  under  the  guise  of  ‘civic  responsibility’.  The  program  is  called  ‘Culture  of  Voting.’  It  specifically   calls  on  school  districts  to  inject  themselves  into  the  political  process,  using  taxpayer  funded  resources  to   influence  elections.  They  promote  strategies  targeting  administrators,  staff,  teachers,  PTA  organizations   and  students.  The  overall  goal  is  to  create  a  block  of  over  1  million  potential  voters.  Voting  in  mass,  they   would  influence  state-­wide  races.     There  is  an  initiative  underway  to  stop  the  unlawful  use  of  taxpayer  funds  for  electioneering.  The  Texas   Attorney  General  has  been  asked  to  determine  if  the  state  election  code  has  been  violated.  And   the  Commissioner  of  Education  has  been  asked  to  direct  the  ISD  Boards  of  Education  to  cease   implementing  TASB’s  Culture  of  Voting  program  and,  further,  to  establish  policies  limiting  election   activities  to  encouraging  voter  registration  and  communicating  election  dates.”   Even  despite  the  inaccuracies  in  these  selected  paragraphs,  it  is  obvious  that  not  everyone  wants   educators  to  vote.  The  letter  writer  even  recognizes  the  potential  when  ALL  educators  mobilize  to  vote.   Obviously,  the  6%  enjoy  deciding  what’s  best  for  the  other  94%!     The  primary  is  on  March  6,  2018,  and  early  voting  begins  on  February  20,  2018.  One  size  does  not  fit  all,   and  one  strategy  will  not  fit  every  school  district.  However,  between  now  and  the  primary,  every  school   district  needs  to  implement  a  plan  to  encourage  and  ensure  their  educators  are  registered,  informed,  and   voting.  Without  a  plan,  …no  road  will  get  us  there. EDUCATORS,  DO  NOT  SQUANDER  YOUR  CITIZENSHIP  RIGHTS!  TODAY  IS  AN  ELECTION  DAY  IN   YOUR  COMMUNITY.     TAMS  FALL  CONFERENCE     Each  year  in  early  December,  the  Texas  Association  of  Mid-­Size  Schools  (TAMS)  hosts  a  legislative   conference.  This  year  the  event  will  be  held  at  the  Hyatt  Lost  Pines  Resort  (between  Austin  and  Bastrop)   on  December  7th  and  December  8th.  This  conference  packs  a  heavy  punch  into  a  short  period  of  time.  If   one  of  your  goals  is  to  educate  yourself  on  the  issues  and  the  candidates,  this  is  a  place  you  must  be!     In  two  one-­half  day  sessions,  attendees  hear  from  the  legislators  and  others  who  shape  the  work  that   gets  done  at  the  Capitol.  Look  at  this  line-­up:  Evan  Smith  of  the  Texas  Tribune,  Chairman  Dan  Huberty,   Rep.  Ken  King,  Rep.  Gary  VanDeaver,  Sen.  Kel  Seliger,  Rep.  Ernest  Bailes,  Rep.  Lance  Gooden,  Rep.   Lynn  Stucky,  Rep.  J.D.  Sheffield,  Rev.  Charles  Johnson,  former  Rep.  Marsha  Farney,  and  Scott  Milder,  a   candidate  for  Lt.  Governor.  What  a  dynamic  package…and  you  won’t  know  until  you  get  there  what  other   politician  might  show  up! Everyone  is  invited  to  attend  this  lookback  at  the  85th  Legislative  Session  and  to  preview  what  will  be   important  in  the  86th  Legislative  Session.  For  more  information  and  to  register,  click  here.  Just  scroll  to   the  bottom  of  the  page  to  register  for  the  conference.  Notice  that  this  year  it  is  a  Thursday/Friday  format!     FIGHTING  THE  GOOD  FIGHT     Dr.  Jay  Killgo,  superintendent  of  the  Vidor  ISD,  is  looking  for  some  help  from  the  Texas  Education   Agency.  Vidor  was  hard-­hit  by  Hurricane  Harvey.  Families  are  displaced,  and  his  school  facilities  took  a   beating.  Two  of  their  middle  schools  are  still  closed  as  workers  try  to  make  the  repairs  to  the  buildings   that  are  necessary  for  them  to  foster  learning.  Dr.  Killgo  is  asking  TEA  to  ease  the  accountability   standards  this  year  for  students  in  our  state  who  were  affected  by  the  hurricane.     “They  (students)  are  out  of  their  homes;;  they  are  stressed  out;;  they  are  living  with  family,  many  of  them;;  

they’re  displaced,”  said  Dr.  Killgo.  He  added,  “To  expect  them  to  perform  at  those  high  expectations   during  such  a  stressful  year  seems  too  much.” The  superintendent  is  in  an  on-­going  dialogue  with  TEA  officials  about  the  additional  stress  the  pending   STAAR  exams  are  placing  on  children  whose  lives  have  already  been  traumatized.  He  is  asking  for  at   least  modifications  to  the  way  the  student  test  scores  are  counted  –  if  they  must  be  counted  at  all. So,  far…no  luck.  Jay,  TACS  wishes  you  and  all  the  students  in  schools  affected  by  Hurricane  Harvey  the   best!!