I remember growing up and starting to see commercials on TV about back to school. To this day, I do not understand why my parents needed to buy me new sweaters and pants for school when it was still 80 degrees outside. I think it was just part of that “back-to-school” routine we experienced. The new clothes, new pencils, pens and markers along with a plastic pencil case to hold them in when I was in elementary school. Going into Junior High, it was spiral bound notebooks, loose leaf paper, and Trapper Keepers. Regardless of the grade I was entering, the beginning of the new school year promised the opportunity for new things.
When I became an 8th grade Social Studies teacher, I saw things from a different perspective – setting up my classroom, meeting my students for the first time as 8th graders and planning the much-anticipated 8th grade trip to Washington DC.
As a mother, I get to relive the thrill of a new school year with my three sons. For the first time, this year I had the start of a new school year by bringing my oldest to college in Arizona – it was a different type of start of school.
I know it can be tough to muster the same sense of enthusiasm for the beginning of this school year, when we’re worried about what’s happening to our schools, our students, and our profession. It is tempting to, once again, provide you with a litany of challenges we face as educators. But you, most of all, already know what they are. Instead, what I want to talk about are those things that give me hope for the future. These hopes are grounded in recent events in New Hampshire.
I am talking about a new Commissioner of Education for New Hampshire. Caitlin Davis was appointed and accepted to replace former Commissioner Frank Edleblut—whose anti-public education and anti-educator tenure leading the NH Department of Education brought a plethora of challenges. I believe Commissioner Davis respects public education and will work to strengthen our public schools using data-based research and not a personal political agenda. I have already met with Commissioner Davis to discuss how she and NEA-New Hampshire might work together for the benefit of students and educators in our state. While we may not always agree with her, I know we will be able to disagree respectfully and collaborate when and where we can. We will still need to contend with the well-organized and single-minded politicians who want to take down public education, but having someone who respects your work and your dedication makes a huge difference.
I am also talking about recent events in the City of Claremont. Just before the school doors opened for students, and after educators had already gathered to meet each other and hear from their administrators, the district announced that it had a significant unexpected budget deficit. Immediately, the district terminated new hire contracts, laid off maintenance workers and secretaries. They considered ending all extracurricular activities and voted to close one of their elementary schools. As discouraging and disrupting as these developments are, as all this was unfolding, we saw the residents of Claremont rally for their schools and educators. They started fundraising to support school extracurriculars and sports, they went on school supply shopping sprees, and during public meetings they focused on how to save their beloved schools—not how to get their students out of public school. Some residents immediately began their own efforts to raise funds to support school programs. Educators received broad public support and parents and students talked of the need to keep their schools open and their educators in the buildings. The community stood by their students, by their schools, and by their educators. Too often, elected leaders who should know better, but don’t, ignore the actions such as those of the residents of Claremont. While some anti-public education politicians push to dismantle public schools, the vast majority of Granite Staters continue to speak out and stand up to protect those same community schools.
It is important for us to remember that the roots of public education run deep in our communities. You are part of that. NEA-NH is part of that. YOU are NEA-NH! What happened in Claremont demonstrates what we have always known to be true – even if it is not always felt: the work you in is important; it is noticed; and it is appreciated.
You don’t hear it enough, so let me say it loud and clear. Thank you all for everything you do –every day for every student and every educator you encounter. Your work matters. You matter.
I wish you all the best as you start your new school year.
