LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reclaim goal of high-quality public education

8/18/2013

Our nation’s public school system represents a commitment to helping all children dream their dreams and achieve them. But if we’re being honest, the aspiration of a great public education for every child has never been totally fulfilled — including in Toledo.

As we begin another school year, I ask the entire Toledo community — especially our teachers, parents, and community partners — to reclaim the promise of public education. In so doing, we can fulfill our collective responsibility to enable individual opportunity for all children.

The promise of public education is under attack by those who think the answer to providing a high-quality education is fiscally to starve our schools. It is under attack by those who see public education as the last frontier to privatize. It is under attack by those who emphasize testing over teaching, ideology over evidence, and sanctions instead of supports.

We can reclaim the promise of public education by fighting for neighborhood public schools that are safe, welcoming places where teachers are well prepared and supported, where they can teach an engaging well-rounded curriculum, and where children have access to wraparound services to meet their emotional, social, and health needs.

With one voice, parents, students, teachers, and community partners can reclaim the promise of high-quality public education for all.

KEVIN DALTON

President Toledo Federation of Teachers South Byrne Road