Action Steps to be a Public Education Advocate

If you read my letter in today's Journal Gazette, then you probably understand how important public education is to me and the important role of every citizen to be an advocate for quality public schools.  If you haven't read my letter yet, you can find it here.


And, although I posted these action steps previously, I think it is important to get involved.  Have you gotten your ticket for A Backpack Full  of Cash? Would you be wiling to host a House Party and invite some friends, parents, or neighbors to take part so everyone can learn about and discuss issues in public education?  

In case you missed these action steps, here they are again:

Action Steps
 
Host a House Party and view a film about education reform – contact NEIFPE@gmail.com if you are willing to host and would like volunteers to moderate discussion. 

• Education, Inc. A documentary about how money and politics are changing our schools.
• Rise Above the Mark is a documentary narrated by Peter Coyote that brings to light the heartbreaking realities of public education. It’s the story of what happens when politics enters the classroom.
• Race to Nowhere is a film that calls us to challenge current thinking about how we prepare our children for success. Named by TakePart.com as one of “10 Education Documentaries You Don’t Want to Miss”, “Race to Nowhere” brings communities together to spark dialogue and galvanize change in America’s schools.
• GO PUBLIC: A Day in the Life of an American School District is a 90-minute documentary of one entire day in the Pasadena Unified School District. Pasadena is a racially and economically diverse community in Southern California with 28 public school campuses. GO PUBLIC tells the story of one full day from sun up to long after sundown. 

Attend School Board Meetings and Work Sessions
 
Follow the State Legislature, especially the Senate and House Education Committees, and the State Board of Education. Follow bills and write letters. https://iga.in.gov/   http://www.in.gov/sboe/
 
Attend the showing of Backpack Full of Cash on April 14.
 
Attend the Network for Public Education Conference in Indianapolis on October 20-21, 2018.
 
Make appointments to meet your legislators.
 
Campaign for pro-public education candidates.
 
Register to vote, do your research on the candidates and then VOTE. https://indianavoters.in.gov/
 
Spread the word – at the grocery, at the coffee shop, to your plumber, to your mom, at the bus stop, to your realtor, to your barber. Public Schools affect every member of our community. They are our future.

For additional resources, check out my blog post here.

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