A couple of weeks ago, I happened to hear a news report of some area principals walking to Washington DC to call attention to their SOLUTION to our present energy crisis. Though it was only a short blurb on the TV, it hit me like a shot. These guys were hitting the nail square on the head, and I wanted in. Emails were sent, phone calls were made, and last night after working a full day, I joined the Principals for Change (PFC, http://www.principalsforchange.org/ ) for the last 6 miles of the first leg of their trip to DC. To find out who these guys are, what their goals are, what this means, and how to help, please join me below the fold.
The Walk to Washington started as the brain child of Aaron Steinly, assistant principal for United High School in Armagh, PA. Mr. Steinly, frustrated by rising gas prices, a plummenting economy, and the lack of "buy in" amongst his students for the NCLB mandated tests, knew that he had to do something. He told his wife that he was going to walk to DC. Funny thing about crazy ideas—they energize and mobilize. The next thing you know the prinicipal, Lewis Kindja was on board as well as other teachers whether they were co-walkers, support vehicle drivers, or making meals for the group to bring with them. A busload of teachers and students left Armagh, PA at 4 in the morning to drive to see the group off! Rich Klindworth, a reporter for WJAC TV-6, walked the whole day (30 miles) with the group on his day off because he thought their cause was that important.
In case you think this is a stunt or some largely symbolic act that has no real substance to it, let me put that to rest right now. These guys believe that education is the key to solving our current energy crisis. Asking questions, researching possibilities, building solutions, getting kids and teachers energized and mobilized is the answer. They are already doing it at United HS. They have begun working on three different ways to run a diesel engine on waste cooking oil (WVO). "We have veteran teachers with 25,26 years of teaching chemistry going back and re-schooling themselves on the trans-esterification of methyl esters," said Mr. Steinly as we walked and talked, "It's fantastic." Next, they want to build a solar and wind-powered dune buggie. As we were waiting to break bread, the group got an email from BP Solar saying that they want in. They wrote the group, "...just tell us what you need..."
Their goals don't end there. They want to get other schools involved. They want other schools to develop their own energy solution ideas. They want these schools to trade their ideas with each other via social networking sites. And, they want to help fund these energy solutions with grants. They have already formed a non-profit foundation to fund these grants. If you would like to contribute, you can donate here http://www.principalsforchange.org/... .
Principals For Change is walking to raise awareness, to raise funds, and to cultivate relationships among elected officials. This morning they will leave Cumberland, MD walking the C&O canal path to Washington DC. They will meet with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi when they arrive on June 13th, and they will meet with Governor Ed Rendell after they are finished with the trip. They would like to meet with as many people as they can. If you could join them for a mile or two or thirty, they would love to have you. If you could convince your elected official to meet and walk with them, they would love that. (BTW, you can tell those officials that Tony Barr biked 6 miles out to meet them and then walked 6 miles back with them in a statement of solidarity.)
I walked with Principals For Change because I agree with what they are doing. The solution to our energy crisis lies within US. During a rest break, I found myself stumping, "...This is how America deals with challenges. We don't go hat in hand begging the Saudi's to solve our problems. We use ingenuity. We get off our butts, and we go to work." At which point a member of the group spoke up, "Yeah, that's how it was done in the past, but is that true anymore?" "Yes," I answered, "It's in our blood...It's who we are." Deer are going to run, cats are going to hunt, Americans are going to step up.
And, I walked with Principals For Change because I believe their ideas will transform their school. I want other schools to get involved. I want MY school to get involved. The NCLB standardized tests have beaten down schools, teachers, and worse, kids. Education is about the future. It is about hope. It should be exciting. When is the last time you got excited about filling in a bubble on a test? How would you like it if that was your sole purpose for your work week? You wouldn't. Tackling Problems. Solving Problems. Look Mom what we did. That is exciting, and the skills and the knowledge that our students gain from doing those type of activities are what we want out of our educational system. So, let's go after what we want.
I walked with Principals for Change. Won't you walk with them? Find out where they are by checking out their website http://www.principalsforchange.org/... .
Let's get excited about possibilities in America, again. Let's put some rubber on the road. Let's do something. Join me... you can do so on my website http://www.tonybarr2008.com