The Education Conversation: All Voices Needed

A conversation is a dialogue, not a monologue.
- Truman Capote

I am an educator. 

I say this to affirm it. To stake my claim in the education conversation. Beginning this blog has prompted me to reflect on the reasons why I became interested in the U.S. education conversation and joined the teaching profession. To help kids, to see direct impacts, to be a positive light in educational journeys that might as of yet have more lowlights. To learn about communities and school systems very unlike the one I grew up in - and to become an ally working for Native education in New Mexico.

Joining up, however humbly, was premised on the fact that I could have a voice in this education context. In the classroom, in my school, in my district, and as an advocate for equity. Now that I am an educator, I do feel that my voice is recognized, validated, and valuable. There are thousands of other educators just starting out around the country and sharing my experience - albeit limited - is inherently valuable because it is in part the voice of those fledgling educators. It is also a gesture to other prospective educators, trying to show them that it IS worth the long hours and the struggle.

I appreciate my opportunity to express my voice in ed reform, despite my limited experience, and this is why I get riled by those who would discount any attempt by anyone to add their voice to the education reform conversation. Even though Randi Weingarten and the NEA wouldn't exclude MY views as a classroom educator from this conversation, it riles me that they might dismiss opportunities to innovate in our broken system from others who are not teachers. Randi Weingarten, speaking in 2012, effectively dismissed any voices in education who could not ‘survive’ a classroom:

"What does work is to rely on the professional judgment of millions of educators who have devoted their lives to educating America’s children in our public schools. That should always carry more weight than the musings of millionaires who wouldn’t survive 10 minutes in front of a classroom.” (Randi Weingarten, Remarks At AFT 2012 Convention, Detroit, MI, 7/27/12)

And Weingarten's claim is true for classroom educators, in so many ways. You can't truly know the life of a teacher until your have lived it - taught it - and worked with students, with colleagues, and an educational system busted in so many ways. But others outside the classroom aren't trying to be teachers, they are merely trying to offer their voice. Not everyone is cut out to be a teacher, but it doesn’t cut them out of the conversation.

Classroom educators aren't the end-all be-all of education. Far from from it. In order to have an inclusive, full, consequential conversation we have to have all of the voices. All. Of. Them. Parents, yep. Students, certainly. Administrators. Community Members. The races. The classes. The religions.

And now, the controversial part: we need business representatives, higher ed folks, tech entrepreneurs, other entrepreneurs, new teachers, aspiring teachers - because these groups, too, will or can affect the future of education. Their influence needs to be checked by that of experienced educators, but it can enrich and vitalize our path forward. We might even find some ideas worth trying – and I will be glad to do so.