A Restoration of

Principal Philip Brown By Principal Philip Brown, Ph.D., North Oconee High School

Our school leadership team was recently of public education is distorted due to the percharged with reviewing the school mis- spective of the lens. In Phi Delta Kappa’s recent sion, vision and crest. Divided into four annual poll, 53 percent of Americans gave public quadrants, the crest signifies the importance of a schools within their own community a grade of comprehensive education. After some discussion, A or B. Conversely, 72 percent assigned a grade one teacher twisted the meeting like Herschel of C or D to schools outside of their community Walker running through a defensive line in the (Bushaw & Lopez, 2013). Apparently, negative 1980s. The teacher asked, “How can we have this stories of the failures of America’s public schools crest without including a Scantron bubble sheet have blurred the lenses of Americans. with A, B, C and D multiple choices?” Educators have the power to greatly influence

A laugh or two filled the room followed by the viewpoints of others, although we often fail intense silence. The teacher’s poignant question to acknowledge it. We say things such as, “I’m pushed back against the low-level discussion and only one person,” or “that is above my pay grade.” transformed the conversation. It required us to Instead, we must tell the accurate stories of our focus on essential questions that are often over- students who succeed against the odds and of the looked: educators who work diligently to provide students • What is the purpose of America’s public with a first-rate education. Speaking together, we schools? have a powerful narrative filled with teachers, • Do our current practices match the purpose administrators and community members working of America’s public schools? to build stronger communities.

Recent research unveiled that Americans’ view

It’s tIme to Refocus and

We must tell the accurate stories of our students who succeed against the odds and of the educators who work diligently to provide students with a first-rate education. Speaking together, we have a powerful narrative filled with teachers, administrators and community members working to build stronger communities.

collaboRate

During a visit to Yosemite National Park, I was awed by the beauty of our country and by our nation’s work to preserve it. While there, a National Park Service ranger reminded me of the story of the giant sequoia trees. For years, park rangers, along with scientists and firefighters, worked tirelessly to protect the massive trees, especially from fire. Later, researchers discovered that their efforts were having the opposite effect. The trees were dwindling in number precisely because they need fire to reproduce. To germinate, a sequoia seed must be opened—

the heat of fire opens the seeds and generates new trees.

The story reminded me of our fight to save public education. Are we focusing our efforts in the right direction? How can we build bridges among politicians and business, industry and media members to spotlight the importance of public education in Georgia?

PAGE and others are asking educators and community leaders throughout Georgia to hold “Community Conversations.” The goal is for citizens to work collaboratively to support their local public schools. Such a conversation should start with a macro perspective of the classic purpose of public schools: to prepare youth to participate in a democracy. With the push for economic development, it often feels as if some citizens believe that our schools should, first and foremost, serve the needs of a community’s business interests. Business is critical, of course, but preparing our youth to be responsible citizens must remain our overriding mission. With that understanding, communities can then narrow the conversation to the programmatic needs of specific communities.

educatoRs must speak up and Vote

In a time when austerity cuts have reduced education funding in Georgia by more than $8 billion in the past decade, educators must be the most vocal advocates of public education. Boys and girls in Echols County in south Georgia, as well as children in downtown Atlanta and throughout Georgia, deserve an education equaling that of America’s most privileged private schools. The health of our republic depends on it.

But the truth is that fewer than half of Georgia’s public school educators are even registered to vote. Until many more Georgia educators participate in this critical civic responsibility, the governor and legislators will continue to insist that we need to do more with much, much less. Furthermore, how can educators who are not registered to vote encourage students to vote? The best educators have always practiced what they preach.

My prayer is for public education to continue to be the great equalizer of the haves and have-nots. I desire for our students to receive the same education provided to the children of the wealthiest families in our nation. My wish is for us to preserve public education in the same way that our national park rangers work diligently to protect the beauty of our fine nation. And yes, Georgia In a time when austerity cuts have reduced education funding in Georgia by more than $8 billion in the past decade, educators must be the most vocal advocates of public education.

educators, I expect us to continue to stand on the front lines. We may have been burned a time or two, but the fires have opened new seeds that allow us to refocus our energy on our most important resource: our students. And in the end, I hope that our school crests display a broad view of student achievement in the classroom, in the arts, on the athletic fields and in our communities. Maybe next time we can leave out the answer bubble sheet. n

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