Reframing the Education Debate
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- Published on Feb 01, 2012
- Written by Mary Modder
Last Monday, KEA Board Members and ARs gathered at UAW- Local 72 for an evening of NEA Media Training led by Steven Grant, NEA Public Relations Director. The message of the evening was “reframe the education message!” Although the education message has been “hijacked” in Wisconsin, Steve pointed out that it is up to us to take it back because we are the experts.
Last spring, when Wisconsin and other states changed their political leadership, education and public schools found themselves under attack on a national level. The NEA, along with 20 state affiliates, did some polling and focus groups and came up with some heartwarming statistics:
• 76 percent of those polled have a favorable view of public education.
• 41 percent of those polled felt that schools were about the same as they were five years ago.
• 20 percent feel that schools have actually improved in the past five years.
So who is to blame for the problems facing public schools?
• 30 percent of those polled blame elected leaders for failing to adequately fund our schools.
• 19 percent blame parents who are not involved in their child’s education.
• 5 percent blame principals and administrators for their lack of leadership.
• 4 percent blame teachers for not being properly prepared.
Our critics go to great lengths to depersonalize schools and teachers. We bring credibility to the arguments we make when we share our real experiences as educators; however, we need to share those stories with more than our colleagues, who have their own stories to tell.
We need to write letters, blog, use social media, and tell our stories as simply, warmly, and briefly as possible. Please feel free to contact me at the KEA if you get writer’s block, and I will gladly lend a hand.
