Last week I traveled to Washington, DC for a family vacation. While we were there we visited the Washington DC Martin Luther King National Memorial, which opened since our last trip to DC. As I walked through the memorial, I paid close attention to the quotations on the inscription wall. One of the quotes spoke to me and got me thinking about its meaning in 1963 and its meaning in today’s world. Here’s a photograph of that quote from the inscription wall:
Dr. King’s words came during the civil rights movement in the ’60’s. Nearly fifty years later, I think it’s safe to say that these words can guide us in other aspects of American life. I paused and took a picture of this part of the inscription wall because Dr. King’s words made me think about what’s happening in the American education system today. Things are pretty bleak. You know the story: budget cuts, overcrowded classrooms, riffing, emphasis on test scores… However, we cannot lose hope. Doing so would be unfair to do to the children in our presence.
When we see things happening our our districts, our states, and our country, it’s incumbent upon us to use our voices to speak up (especially when the things that are happening are harmful to children’s educational lives, self-esteem, etc.). It’s easy to be the person who agrees with everyone else. What’s harder is speaking up when we know our opinions will cause dissonance. In addition, making a choice to speak up is a risk, especially when there are bills to pay and mouths to feed. I’m not saying teachers should become insubordinate to their administrators. Rather, I hope Dr. King’s words will inspire you to be a voice of reason, even when it’s unpopular, at staff and school board meetings. If each of us uses our voice in a way that will persuade others to think about kids first, then perhaps we will can all start to bring about positive changes in our corners of the world.
Are these words from Dr. King inspirational to you too? Please share what they’re making you think about.
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I have this quote up on my classroom wall, Stacey. Interestingly, kids always seem puzzled by the quote at the beginning of the year and “get it” by the end of sixth grade – now that’s a maturation I love to see! Glad you had a chance to get away for a bit!
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I just wrote a recent post about standing up for what is right and kind, focused on bullying, but I believe one could connect the way teachers are being pushed around as if they have no rebuttal is a kind of bullying. We need to be our own allies in presenting what we do know is best teaching practice. Thank you for connecting Dr. King’s words to the challenges in education, Stacey.
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I have long admired this quote by Dr. King. It is so true. My husband frequently notes that tough times are “tests of our character” and I believe this is what Dr. King means. We show our true selves during times of challenge and controversy. It is time for teachers to speak up, to dare to confront the mistruths about education, to dare to oppose ideas that do not put children first. I also like this quote from Dr. King: ”The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” I think this emphasis on teaching to tests challenges a teacher’s ability to have children think intensively and critically. What are we doing to our children?
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Dr. King has always been one of my heroes. His words always speak to me. He was the embodiment of someone who stood tall at times of challenge and controversy. These words can be applied to everything that is going on in our country right now: education, politics, the economy, health care, you name it. We need more individuals like him in our nation; individuals who stand by their convictions, not just pander to those who can do something for them or to advance their own agendas.
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Yes! Dr. King’s words speak to me in a very profound way. I believe we are at a crossroads in the future of education and the future of teaching as a respected, dignified profession. As educators we know the value of what we do day in and day out, and it defies being quantified because we teach children not objects. When we are comfortable in our position we coast along but when controversy abounds we need to take a stand no matter how unpopular it may seem. Popularity is overrated and not based on matters of substance. We need to be fearless in our stance and unequivocal in what we see that’s wrong and what we know works. We can only do this because we are educators and our voices need to be heard, loudly and clearly. Remember Helen Reddy? Here’s my teacher version: “I am a teacher. Hear me roar in numbers too big to ignore.” We can and do make a difference. Shout it from the mountaintop!
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