Editor’s note: This commentary is by Kristin Mack, of Bennington, who is a volunteer with Rights & Democracy VT and with the James Ehlers for Vermont campaign.
[I] recently had the opportunity to speak at the Vermont <3 Public Schools rally held in Montpelier. It was organized by the Vermont NEA and sponsored by Rights & Democracy VT. Here is what I had to say:
When I made my first trip to Montpelier a little over a year ago with Rights & Democracy to attend the People’s Agenda Rally not once did I think that during one of my return trips I would be standing in this spot, but here I am.
I’m here because our public schools, our teachers and support staff need us. Our kids need us.
I’m here because I am the daughter of someone who taught for 40 years in our public school system.
I’m here because my children are now school age.
I’m here because my daughter had a small army of teachers and support staff working for her in her school, trying their hardest to help her find her place, but because they were stretched thin, their resources and our options limited, we’re now homeschooling her.
I’m here because my son is in a public pre-K program where a completely different approach is being taken. Class sizes are smaller, the teachers are fully supported, the focus is on our kids. It’s not about prepping for tests and getting good numbers on paper. And while our son is a different kid I do still worry about his transition into the elementary school, but not because of the teachers.
Our teachers and support staff are our frontline, they know firsthand what our kids need to succeed. Sadly they are the first and often only aspect of our public schools under attack, when they should be the first ones consulted in thinking about how to help our kids and our schools.
In our district, in Bennington, I see some school board members who don’t understand the diversity of our student body, or the challenges our teachers face daily, who think all schools in the district fit the same mold, who are going by what might look good on paper and not visiting the schools.
Sound familiar? Gov. Phil Scott is doing the same thing, he wants to cut teachers because of some numbers that look good on paper and that’s not OK. Too many students are falling through the cracks in our elementary schools. Gov. Scott needs to know that our kids and our teachers are more than some numbers on a piece of paper!
We can continue to speak out and stand up to Gov. Scott’s attacks on our public schools and this year we can choose to put our kids and our teachers first by electing a new governor.
