We are products of public education-me, my husband, our three children, and our daughter-in-law. Each of us graduated from college. Several hold graduate degrees.
Our combined work in public education equals over fifty years. Our varied experiences include band, elementary music, special education, geometry, computers, and administration. Collectively, we worked in many classrooms with different age groups from varying perspectives across several states.
I am grateful for my public education experiences as a student, parent, and employee. Each provided caring teachers, opportunities for creativity and learning, and lifelong friendships. These are things that continue to happen in today’s classrooms.
Were they perfect? No. Are they perfect now? There is no such thing. But they were and are filled with hardworking staff and teachers who love their students. Individuals dedicated to the pursuit of lifelong learning. People who hold dear the responsibility for our future.
They need and deserve our support, as do our children.
What can we do?
We can choose not to perpetuate inflammatory rhetoric concerning teachers and classrooms.
We can choose not to apply broad generalities. History has shown us how detrimental those can be.
We can accept that there is always work to do. And remember the work is made lighter when we join hands.
“I have the right to do anything,” you say-but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything,” you say-but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. I Corinthians 10:23-24
Do everything in love. I Corinthians 16:14
Piano Girl 
I love this Kelley. Sending gratitude to you and all of your family, and of course to all of the amazing humans who were a part of my public education, that of my sons, and now my grandchildren. I stand with all of those who work so hard, against far too many odds, to provide an invaluable, educational foundation upon which many successful lives are built. ❤️
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Thank you, Carrie! ❤️
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My support of public education will never waver. It is one of the best things the USA has to offer. Imagine! Every child able to attend school having all the tools there (teachers, books, supplies, etc.) without paying a single penny….and, in some cases, free meals and after school care. I taught in LA, Santa Monica, and on Long Island for many years and can attest to the skill and dedication of all educators. I continue to support higher pay for what is sometimes viewed by the public as a thankless task. When some folks tell me that teaching is “easy,” I challenge them to spend one day in a classroom! Kudos to those who stay in education for their entire career.
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Yes! Thank you, Dianne! I completely agree! 😊
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What public education needs is teachers like you who do everything in love.
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There are many. 😌
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Well said
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Thank you 😌
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Making public schools better through more teachers, smaller class size, and more differentiation is the key. Thank you for supporting public schools!
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