A Reader Writes... Consolidation - Part 3

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In response to the 8/16/12 post, “Consolidation – Part 2,” a LYSSuperintendent writes:
SC,
Great response and I love your answer. But how do we overcome thisdilemma and expose the far right's agenda and their hijacking of a politicalparty to the public?  
After witnessing the 15% rule fall this past spring it looks like"Mad Mommas" are the best way to grab the legislature's attention. How do we get parents to understand how public schools are beingdismantled? Like the original reader, I am frustrated. It feels like thecontinuous effort to fight for public education against this hostile agendacontinues to take away from our mission of ensuring that our students learn andthat they are prepared for their future. 
SC ResponseAs the pendulum continues to swing to the far right I think we havethree choices.
1. Do nothing, say nothing. Which is the polite thing to do. And as a group, educators are polite, to the detriment of theprofession.
2. Assist in the push to the right. You would be surprised at the numberof educators who complain about the current situation yet continue to vote forthose causing the situation. I find this maddening.
3. Purposefully educate and communicate.  Whether we realize it or not, people look to us to explainthings.  When we do, “Mad Mommas”get fired up.  When we do, bondselections are successful. When we do, good things happen for our schools.
Does this take away from the mission to educate students? Dr. RichardHooker would argue that as Principals and Superintendents, not leading yourpublic allows the mission of public schools to be determined by those who carenothing about the welfare of children. He could not be more correct. If only Ilistened to him when he first tried to teach me this back in 1992.
It boils down to this. We, as school leaders, must step up and educatethe adults in our community if our teachers are going to have a fighting chanceto educate the children in our schools.
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