September, 2005

Public Education is inherently political, often based on the critical issue of the day. Somewhere in all of the rhetoric, though, we have lost sight of the fundamental need for an appropriate education for all of our children.

Our free public education system is the cornerstone of our country. Throughout our history each generation has provided the support necessary so that the next generation of students receives an education that allows it to take its place as both economic contributors and active citizens. It feels like we are losing that commitment and what a terrible thing it would be to lose.

For the first time people are questioning the need to provide for the education of "other people's children." As we look to the future there are no "other people's children." "Other people's children" are our future. They are the leaders and creators who will give us a better country. But most importantly, they need to be strong, caring and thoughtful adults who pass on and improve our country's legacy for their children.

The fulfillment of the dream of our country's past with all of its promise depends not on us but on this year's kindergarten student who will enter a world very different to ours. This student is the one that the continued diminishing of our commitment to a high quality free public education for all will ultimately handicap. And in handicapping him or her, we handicap us all.

Are there problems in our current system? Absolutely! Our current public system of education serves the vast majority of our children incredibly well. The answer to serving all children well lies not in one size fits all testing and punishments. Rather, it calls for careful analysis of the underlying causes of problems and attention to addressing those causes by the whole community. Certainly our public schools own a share of the solution and must change in many ways. However, many of the causes are beyond our ability to affect change and must be a wide community effort.

Through our state constitution the schools belong to all of us -- not to parents, or students or superintendents, but to everyone. Not only our community, but all communities throughout the country have to accept the challenge of providing the best possible chance for every child to have the opportunity that our country promises. "Our children" are all of the children, the mathematical genius and the child who is just learning English; the child who has the latest computer and the child who doesn't know where he or she will sleep tonight. If we fail any of them, then we fail all children.

Other Articles by Superintendent Rainwater