When the pandemic hit the USA, schools were closed, education reimagined; teachers and administrators were scrambling to find a way to make it work. People were praising teachers left and right, some offering millions of dollars in salary. Something unheard of in that career. As a teacher, during this time, I have often thought that maybe this is our time. Maybe people will finally see our value. Maybe society will realize the importance of schools in not only educating students on the curriculum; but, in providing a safe space for students, a place where students learn to communicate. I foolishly found myself being optimistic at the prospect of reimagining education. Well, that bubble has certainly burst; the defeat seemingly highlighted by the comments surrounding the “defund the police” movement.
The idea of defunding the police (which I admit is confusing at first) has people all over the country in an outrage. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has heard or seen the sentiment of “good luck next time you have an emergency when there are no cops”. I mean, aside from the fact that the ignorance is astounding, I am completely floored at the point that nobody seems angry when they “defund education”, something we see constantly when yearly state/city budgets are finalized. In fact, people seem angry when they suggest providing free breakfast and lunch to all students or supplying air conditioners, things that some students wouldn’t have access to otherwise. I’m sure you’ve heard stories of teachers spending hundreds of dollars, yearly, on school supplies for their classroom and students, or the teachers that spend a portion of their salary on food to help keep students fed and focused, or the teachers that stay after school for hours (without extra pay) to ensure their students are safe and stay on track.
I want everyone to imagine, for one minute, what additional school funds could do for communities across the country, especially communities in lower income areas. With added funds, schools could provide appropriate materials, new books, better technology to help keep students engaged. Schools could offer programs like peer mediation, where students learn to work through their problems and talk openly instead of reaching the peak of their anger which often leads to fighting or hurtful exchanges of words. Schools could institute more restorative justice practices which would be effective in preventing more suspensions and expulsions. Do we not realize that kids often react harshly or “cause trouble” as a cry for help? Does expelling them provide any of that help? Absolutely not. More funding could provide the help and guidance that students need by allowing for more guidance counselors, social workers, and other specialists.
You see, we often question how we got here. How we are at the point where civil discussion doesn’t seem to exist, how we are in the year 2020 witnessing extreme acts of racism, how society doesn’t seem to be improving. The answer is simple, school funding. If we want to see people do better, be better, have better chances in life, it starts at school. Kids don’t get to choose the life they are born into; but, a good education, that provides them with appropriate resources, gives them a fighting chance in this world.
I think we really missed an opportunity here. While schools remain closed and discussions around reopening ensue, this time should be dedicated to truly reimagining education in this country. We should be reevaluating class sizes, curriculum, school-wide goals, the needs of the students, and real world readiness. But, we can’t do any of that without proper funding.