For Educators

What does grassroots organizing in Providence mean for local school teachers and leaders? As a practitioner in education, how can you stay informed and perhaps get involved in the community issues and organizing directly affecting your students? The following are articles written by practitioners for practitioners of education. Their perspective is valuable and their message is powerful.

In an article titled, “Have Educators Been Bystanders for Too Long?” Peter DeWitt Ed.D. begins the conversation around the role of educators in grassroots movements by first assessing why teachers are less involved than one might assume. DeWitt claims teachers are so overwhelmed by rhetoric blaming them and their curricular models for faults in public education that the teachers themselves begin to believe it. Consequently, teachers loss their self-efficacy and even divide amongst themselves on important school decisions. Instead of getting down on themselves and feeling victimized, DeWitt calls for teachers to take back their voice and speak out for their students and communities. In this way, teachers need to not only help their student and community families but also their fellow teachers regain confidence in the competency and power.

In 2014 a group of Colorado Moms from across the state had a bill presented to the Senate to delay the implementation of the Common Core State Standards in Colorado. Like the teachers referenced in DeWitt’s article, these mothers in Colorado had to overcome a sense of lack of control and believe that their activism could actually get politicians to listen. Well their Senator did listen, and presented the grassroots organization’s bill titled the Colorado Mom’s Bill. In addition to rallying membership and drafting the bill, the group also urged community members to contact their legislators asking them to support the bill.

The involvement of educators and parents in grassroots efforts undoubtedly has a trickle down effect on students. If students see school leaders acting caged and feeling inferior to outside pressures, so too will students believe they are stuck in a system they cannot and should not attempt to challenge. On the contrary is students see school leaders and their parents rallying together or separate but for what they believe is right, students will be inspired by these role models in their lives and potentially involve themselves in youth grassroots or later as an adult with their own children enrolled in schools.

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