Democracy and Education | Writing My Life

I really do not like the cliche’ “don’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk.” It’s so overused – right along with “put your money where your mouth is,” but last week I decided I needed to heed the messages of both expressions. After venting my frustrations – in rather dramatic fashion – about the conditions in our school district and state legislature, I decided I better join other educators and citizens up on Capitol Hill to voice my support for some bills that could help Jordan School District.

There is something intimidating about walking into buildings of Classicism design because they emanate an air of importance. Add the fervor of a legislative session, and visitors cannot help but inhale the tense atmosphere of decisions in the making. I didn’t expect to feel exhilaration in the face of my frustrations, but there it was: press conferences, interviews, special interest groups, pages, signs, TV reporters and cameras. The sounds of footsteps running across marble floors or climbing up marble steps echoed throughout the rotunda. A mariachi band entertained citizens, lobbyists, legislators, and school children.

Men, women, and children lined the hallways outside the House of Representatives and the Senate Chambers, and they wrote messages to their legislators, urging them to vote for or against this bill or that resolution. It was inspiring to see so many involved. I attended the press conference organized by Utah Education Association to urge passage of House Bill 295 that would ease the financial burdens of struggling school districts like Jordan and Grand by allowing building funds to be used for classroom needs. Next, I spoke to teachers, parents, and education leaders to see what I could do to help. Finally, I added to the stacks of messages being sent to legislators to plead for their help in passing legislation that supports our students’ education. It was a GREAT feeling.

Here a just a few pictures I snapped of democracy in action:

This South Jordan mom joined educators and other JSD patrons to speak out for our children’s educational future. Even HER mother came along to show support for HB 295 that would ease financial pressures, thus forcing a move towards increased class sizes.

These mothers whose children attend schools in Jordan School District are writing memos to their legislators, expressing their concerns and their demands that students come first. TV reporters interviewed the young woman on the far left. I wonder where that footage went. I didn’t see it on any of the channels.

Looking down from the House of Representative mezzanine, I saw Hispanic leaders addressing their constituents. Now, this community knows how to make an impression. Not only did they lay out a catered feast of Latin American favorites, they entertained onlookers with a festive musical program featuring an excellent mariachi band. Instead of feelings of frustration, this group filled the air with positive vibes!

On Thursday, the day after my TRIP to the HILL, I thought all efforts had been in vain as I heard that HB 295 and failed to pass, BUT on Friday, law-makers added an amendment to the bill that enabled its passage in the House. Now it goes the Senate, and “insiders” are optimistic about its success there.

Now I’m not an “insider” and many of the citizens who travel to the Capitol are not big time politicians either, but I feel that our voices did count. I recently learned that the state capitol is also called “The People’s House,” and last Wednesday, I witnessed why that title is so befitting. The experience did more to erase my frustrations than my whining ever did. And as I left, I paused in front of former Governor Olene Walker’s portrait because she was such an advocate of literacy and education. In fact, the painting of her shows that she’s reading A is for Arches – an ABC book about Utah, written by Katherine Larsen

As I looked at Olene’s portrait, I not only reflected upon the events of the day, I thought about all the women I saw there and the evidence of women’s political contributions to the betterment of our state. I’m grateful to them all! Perhaps we should add another nickname to that stately structure on the hill: The Women’s House.

WARNING: This is really a long AND grumpy post! It expresses my opinion, based upon what I’ve read and experienced in regards to the deplorable situation of one of Utah’s oldest school districts. Just thought you should know and then proceed at your own risk!

Remember the Bible story about the two women who both claimed to be the mother of a baby, and so they took their problem to King Solomon. In his wisdom, the king rendered a horrendous decision that called for cutting the infant in half. One mother – and I use the term loosely – accepted the ruling, but the other woman surrendered her claim in order to save the child’s life. King Solomon reversed his edict and granted the second woman full custody of the baby, claiming that only the real mother would make a such sacrifice for the sake of the child.

Unfortunately, it seems that when it comes to educating children, today’s society personifies the attitude of the first and faux mother: “If the child isn’t REALLY mine, then I don’t care what happens to IT.” Now the federal government is TRYING to play Solomon by declaring that “no child [shall be] left behind,” but just as the king dispensed words and/or laws without ways and means – other than threats – so follows the U.S. Department of Education.

Now, it is understandable that states, districts, schools, and parents strongly question the wisdom of the “kings” – present and past, but what is the reaction in Utah? It appears that the legislature, some districts, and many parents have adopted their own mantra: Leave ALL children behind EXCEPT MINE. Gone is the belief that it takes a village to raise a child; gone is John Dewey’s belief that “what the best and wisest parent wants for his own child, that must the community want for all its children,” and gone is the democratic notion of our second president, John Adams, “The whole people must take upon themselves the education of the whole people and must be willing to bear the expense of it.”

Instead, this is what has happened over the past few years:

The legislature tried to undermine public education by pushing through a voucher system that would give tax breaks to those who want THEIR children educated in private schools – of course, the breaks wouldn’t help enough for low or most middle income families to take advantage of the system.
The legislature listened to entities that wanted to create their own districts, and so they passed legislation that allowed areas within districts to do so without voter input from the portion of the district “left behind” and without considering the financial impact upon ALL taxpayers and the affected districts.
In spite of the fact that the law was flawed and other districts – Granite and Alpine – saw the folly in dividing their districts, Jordan School District’s east side city mayors AND parents decided
- they did not want to fund the growth on the west side of the district any more
- they did not want year-round schools any more
- they wanted sports in middle schools – thus turning them back into junior highs
- they wanted to create their own district – Canyons – and would do it through
  - bamboozling the “old” Jordan District School Board to adopt a neutral stance until it was too late
  - very little public disclosure of what such a move would entail – 100s of citizens claim they didn’t hear anything about the split – of course, these have to be individuals who don’t read the paper or watch the 10:00 news
  - scheduling the vote in conjunction with the special election ordered by Gov. Huntsman for Nov. 6, 2007; low voter turn-out (6% of the citizens) barely passed the measure
The “new” Jordan District School Board often misreads teachers and patrons because …
- they aren’t good at informing their employees or the public of their vision
- they need a complete college education – not just a course – in public relations to build a better perception of our district
- they listen, but they DON’T hear – with few exceptions – and then it’s perceived as bitter REaction instead of the best and/or needed course!
The current Jordan District coulda, woulda, shoulda …
- seriously considered legitimate concerns of eastside parents who complained long and hard about schools in need of repair and air conditioning (Btw, there are also westside schools without air conditioning, too, and I taught in one for a long time!)
- looked BACK instead of FORWARD when procuring offices for the new Jordan boundaries
  - late 1970s JSD size was similar to current district size – How much room was needed to house employees at that time?
  - decision to procure 2 large buildings, probably based on forecasted growth, was made BEFORE the impact of the current recession
  - Note: wouldn’t have a need for new building(s) had the split not forced eviction
Because of the legislators’ poor law regarding district splits, the GREAT RECESSION that hit in 2008, and the infamous Jordan District “split,” Jordan School District is faced with
- a $30 million deficit
- laying off 500 employees, including 250 teachers and 250 district personnel – that will most likely include me
- raising class sizes by 4+ students
- eliminating programs
The results have been
- Salt Lake County school districts have to “help out” Jordan by diverting money to this district, which upsets their citizens, and who can blame them?
- a legislative committee that could have voted to ease Jordan’s burden and its lower per pupil allocation because of lost revenue due to the split was defeated
- a law suit on behalf of Herriman City went to lower and high courts and lost – good try, but more money needlessly spent
- west-side taxpayers rose in arms against the Jordan’s school board when asked to pay a 40% tax hike – understandable, but it seems they missed the mark when they failed to see the real culprits: the legislature and Canyon’s mayors with personal agendas
- teachers AND students picketing against Jordan’s proposal to cut teachers and raise class size
- a divided Jordan District in terms of teachers and staff vs administration
- a GRAND CANYON divide between Jordan District and Canyons
- and oh, so much more.

So my questions are these:

Does anyone remember the goal to do what’s BEST for students?

Does anyone know where the legislators are who say ALL of Utah’s children deserve a great education? Not just rich children, city children, east-side children. Those magnanimous law-makers are somewhere on the hill – like Rep. Jim Bird, but there are NOT enough of them.

Where are the School Board Members – like Rick Bojack – who are willing to TRULY do what’s best for students? – It CAN’T be best for students to raise their class sizes and eliminate teachers and programs.

Does anyone remember that Dr. Doty announced to Canyons’ patrons that he voted AGAINST the split?

Does anyone remember when Baby Boomers started first grade, and schools had to be built by the hundreds, and grandparents, who survived the Great DEpression and sacrificed for the war effort on the home front, forked over money from their limited incomes to help pay for the education of future generations? (I know that’s a REALLY long sentence) They did it WITHOUT whining or protesting because they saw it as their duty.

Does anyone know where the “mothers” (those who truly care about ALL students) are? Those individuals like the mother who agreed to sacrifice her greatest desire for the good of the child. Fortunately, they do exist in the form of those PTA moms who said, “I’ll pay the extra taxes for the education of our children even though it will be a sacrifice. We have been silent, but no more. We will do what needs to be done. Join us. Sign these petitions to present to the school board to assure them that we will fight for OUR children.”

I wrote this for me, to reflect upon my frustration and my sadness. I’ve never seen education in such a wretched place. I had to stop reading public comments in newspapers because I was beginning to believe NO ONE is well informed and teachers are the most disrespected professionals in the state and nation.

But I am not feeling totally hopeless, and I doubt that I’ll leave the field, even though I have no idea where I’ll end up. Why, because I am HOPING FOR A BETTER DAY!