Schooling in Alberta is a $6 billion per year business. That’s how much an oilsands plant costs to build. That’s about half or a third of a pipeline to the Arctic Ocean.
Schooling across North America is a $600 billion-plus enterprise. Perhaps only armed forces is bigger….
I have written before that it is an act of courage for parents or community members (or even politicians) to just walk alongside such a “beast”… let alone stand in front of it and say “Halt!” With no resources available, really… certainly no resources equal to the resources of that $6 billion enterprise. No lawyers (every other “partner” has lawyers). No one even whose full-time job is “parents” or “parent advocacy”.
Running with the bulls has nothing on running with government schools.
Even for experienced parents. Even for experienced volunteers. Quite simply, their role in schooling… their place as reformers or questioners or “traffic cops”… never feels welcome, never feels comfortable and never feels appreciated (”It sure would be nice if you weren’t here.” — Charles Grodin).
Whitney Tilson’s blog captured that feeling recently in this quote from Natasha Kamrani regarding attendance at a Houston authority meeting where significant changes were enacted:
“It was an emotional and action packed evening with a packed house at HISD. Houston Federation of Teachers members made a strong showing, filling many seats and identifying themselves with buttons on their jackets. However, when it came to speakers to the agenda item, and I believe there were approximately 64 speakers registered, supporters appeared to out-number those opposed with most support coming from parents, community activists and business leaders. Union members made up the opposition.
The auditorium was so packed that folks were ushered in to watch the proceedings on TVs inside the administration building lobby and cafeteria and the crowd in opposition was often times openly hostile, booing speakers for daring to state their opinions. A real debt of gratitude is owed to those who showed the courage to stand up in front of such open aggression to speak their mind. I have been on the receiving end of it and I know, regardless of how passionate, determined and committed you are to an ideal, it NEVER feels good to put yourself so far out there. It is downright scary and it is often hard to negotiate the wisdom in doing something so scary. I am so thankful to the many brave men and women who took a stand. We were lucky tonight to have so many supporters present to not only speak, but to support one another.”
Parents deserve support for their courage. A $6 billion per year government enterprise in Alberta has a duty to provide strong support and a legitimate place for “other voices”, with a share of lawyers and a share of resources to legitimize and embed their role and place in that “oilsands plant” or pipeline. It should not be taken for granted. It should not be neglected. It should be a priority.
It is, quite possibly, the only way such large government enterprises learns. That such strong, independent, legitimate entities do not exist… shows how eager schoolers are to learn themselves, from anybody who is not them. Ironic.
And unjust.
And more than a little scary.
GLO
gordotto@parentsnschools.com
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