To the editor:
As the teachers and support staff of the Newton Public Schools risk huge fines and legal retribution for their strike, we must see this not as an isolated event but a bellwether of our future. I once saw a T-shirt that read on the front, “If you think education is expensive,” and on the back side “try ignorance.” In this era of endless false news, students must learn how to discern facts from beliefs, or our democracy risks its demise. To this end, advocating for our educators and the support staff within the system is essential.
When my son, who won The Presidential Internship Award, now holds a master’s degree and is in charge of the humanitarian demining of Europe, the Middle East and Africa for the U.S. State Department, was at Marblehead High School he was an academic failure, and truly hated attending classes. What kept him engaged were the very kind and nurturing women who staffed the front desk and lunch room, and the football program. In middle school, it was a kind maintenance man who helped him stay engaged. Our school system and its potential to support, educate and inspire includes every human who works for it.
Even if it requires a raise in the taxes we pay, isn’t it worth that to support the nurturing of all students to reach their potential, become bulwarks in the defense of democracy and contributing citizens? Let’s get ahead of a teachers strike and make sure that our educators and ALL personnel working at our schools are paid wages and offered benefits reflecting the deeply important work that all of them do.
Sincerely,
Judith Black
Prospect Street
