The Power of We

In celebration of Blog Action Day 2012, I started thinking about #Power of We in the K-12 education community and what immediately came to mind is the book It Takes a Village by Hillary Clinton. The idea behind the book, which is obvious from the title, is that outside forces, groups, society and culture impact a child's well-being. And in order to do right by children we must, as a society, create a culture that not only values children, but supports families through the process of raising adults.  The children, cliche and song lyric worthy as it may be, really are our future.

While the book has been out for some time, I think it is imperative in the current political and economic period to consider what this means as we move forward. Unfortunately, educators are currently being portrayed as "on the dole" part-time workers with little or no interest in student achievement. Union members can't possibly be negotiating for interests other than their own, right? Lawmakers have passed national standards, reforms that are not based on proved methods and instituted legislation limiting benefits that will deter our brightest and best from pursuing education as a career. Parents feel polarized and left-behind in a sea of failing schools, if we are to believe Waiting for Superman and Won't Back Down. Somewhere, in the middle of all of this finger-pointing and blame, there are still children. Failing. Without Resources. Or succeeding, while few notice.

What if "we" acknowledged that some students aren't getting the education they deserve? That if children come to school without their basic needs being met the school may not be able to overcome all of the obstacles to achievement? What if legislatures valued teachers (not just say it, but put support and finances behind the rhetoric), making them a part of reform? What if teachers were willing to be less defensive and respond professionally to criticism or reform? What if parents decided that they were going to support the efforts of the school instead of placing blame? What if the children really came first.

There is no way as a teacher that I can meet the need of every student that I teach. It isn't humanly possible. That doesn't give me an excuse to not challenge each student and champion them to the highest standard of achievement that is individually possible. But if "we", all of society, stopped blaming one another and became the village described in Clinton's book, maybe we could accomplish what is best for children.