Is education the civil rights issue of our time?
Is education the civil rights issue of our time?
Mayor Kevin Johnson of Sacramento, California posed this question during his opening address at the 2012 Missouri Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Conference in Kansas City recently. In unison, the room full of black elected officials and stakeholders across Missouri passionately shouted, “Yes!”
I was one of the individuals who joined the chorus.
My life is a testament to the power of education and quality teachers.
I overcame many obstacles before becoming councilman for Kansas City’s 3rd District. During a two-year period between 1997 and 1998, my mother, five brothers and I were homeless.
Thanks to the goodwill of others, my family and I were able to get back on our feet.
However, it was my mother’s involvement in my academic success, and a few dedicated teachers at Northeast High School, like Mrs. Verna Guido and Vice Principal Beverly Walker, who propelled me to become a first-generation college graduate, placing me in the position to give back to my community.
Looking at last year’s sobering Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) scores, there is no surprise that education reform is the top priority for the Legislative Black Caucus. The achievement gap in Missouri is a sad reality.
In 3rd grade reading and mathematics, white students outperform blacks by over 25 percent in each category. Locally, the achievement gap in Kansas City is much more depressing.
During the last legislative session of the Missouri General Assembly, many members of the Legislative Black Caucus supported meaningful reform measures that would have ensured quality teachers in every classroom and strong public school options for parents.
One of the measures that was successfully passed by the General Assembly was Senate Bill 576, which expanded access and raised accountability standards for all public charter schools.
But another measure, HB 1526, which received strong support from the Legislative Black Caucus, failed. Had it passed, the legislation would have prohibited forced placement of teachers into schools based on seniority and required that ineffective teachers quickly get help to improve or are transitioned out of their profession.
Too much is at stake to do otherwise.
Unfortunately, those tied to maintaining the status quo blocked this transformative reform, but we must not give up. Across the state, poll data shows that there is widespread support for education reform, proving that Missourians want change.
While there is no silver bullet that will solve the education problems in our state, one thing is certain: we cannot continue to accept the status quo. Nor can we continue the same old policies that do not work and expect new results. The kids in my district, and across the state, deserve better.
Now is the time for action.
As we move forward, we must build on the progress that was made in the last legislative session, and continue to fuel the fire that was set during the Legislative Black Caucus conference. We must challenge old assumptions and embrace bipartisan common sense solutions for the betterment of public education across the state.
I urge our state leaders to continue to stand tall in the face of special interests and push for policies that identify, retain and reward great teachers. Furthermore, I urge members of the Legislative Black Caucus to remain vigilant and continue to be that catalyst for change.
As a councilman, I look forward to aiding you in this fight.
Jermaine Reed, of Kansas City, is the 3rd District city council member. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia.
George Hunsucker
Northland
10 months, 1 week agoMr. Reed,
I find it astounding your support of government schools after the DEMONSTRATED failue of same in KC, your case obviously being an exception. IMO, your support for the government schools is an abdication of the oath you took when you assumed office to represent your district. Do you really think the majority of your district’s parents support government schools not educating their children?
How many billions more do we toss down the rat-hole of government education? Why don’t you support vouchers for EVERY FAMILY in your district and give those with the family support, like you were blessed with, the chance to escape the KC government schools? Did you receive any campaign donations from an educational union?
Finally, you make no mention of the need for the black race to support its children. Where is the call for the 70+% illegitimacy rate to return to the 1950’s level? Where is the call for “fathers” to actually be fathers? Where is the call for parents to demand performance from their children? Where is the call for black “leaders” such as yourself to publicly reject such things as rappers singing degrading tunes?
Black America needs to get its act together, stop being “victims” and hold its people responsible for their actions. Then, as has been shown since the start of the “great society” welfare program, money will not be a problem.
How many TRILLIONS have been spent Mr. Reed?