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Editorials & Backgrounders

Keepers of the Dream...

"I want to give each education employee and each student in this state the learning and work life they deserve. We can by our collective work continue to advance the promise of this nation."

By Christy Levings
October 2005

The men and women who founded this great nation knew that a well-educated citizenry would keep our democracy alive and flourishing.

They believed that if you worked hard and studied hard, the opportunity to create a good life for you and your family would be available to each new generation.

Our founders knew that public education would not only create a level playing field for economic success but would also bring children and adults of all languages, races and religions together and unite our people through education and learning.

The cornerstone of our nation is a strong pre-K through 16 public education system that delivers that promise.

NEA President Reg Weaver calls us the “keepers of the dream” and I couldn’t agree more. The history of both NEA and KNEA is about keeping the promise of our country alive and well for all who live in this great nation. And being the keepers of the dream is a huge responsibility.

You probably do not think about it when you head off to your school or campus each day, but all of you play a vital role in keeping the American dream alive.

Our nation and our state face some very tough issues and decisions right now. Some of those include challenges from those who would deny the American dream to all.

In our nation today, some individuals exist who believe that the dream is only for those who have as much material wealth as they do, or for only those who worship as they do, or for those who look like they do or speak as they do. That is not the dream of this nation; the dream we in public education must nurture and protect.

The last 12 months have been an amazing period for those in the education community.

We followed and participated in legal processes that we had never witnessed in our lifetime.

We saw an unprecedented special legislative session following action by the Supreme Court.

And finally after years of struggle, we saw some additional resources move to a starving education system. It was a first step toward where we need to be.

Sir Winston Churchill once wrote that, “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” This last year I have been so proud of all of you, our members and colleagues. The hundreds of you, who emailed, called and came to Topeka to talk with legislators and other policy-makers about what our education system needed.

You gave your energy, passion and commitment to make a good life for each of our students.

You were not satisfied with the lack of funding those who would damage education were willing to give you. You gave your collective action so KNEA could make a better life for the educators in this state.

Collectively, we will continue to give our energy in actions that will make life better for educators and students in Kansas.

A Request: - Teachers & Katrina

For Kansas NEA members, going back to school has been easy compared to our colleagues in the Gulf region. I was proud of our members as we sent our first check of several thousand dollars and provided thousands of books to displaced children. We make a better life happen when we work together and that work must continue.

I urge you to work with your locals to continue to raise funds for our fellow educators who have lost jobs, homes and all they held dear.

My conversations with the association presidents of those states make me want to grieve with them for their loss and hurt for them in the amount of energy rebuilding will take.

I know however, that we can band together to give a better life to our colleagues. I request that you help in all the ways you can in your local associations.

As Reg told us, we must be the keepers of the dream. As we begin this year, let us be thankful for the steps we have taken and to recognize what our collective action has taught us.

I want to give each education employee and each student in this state the learning and work life they deserve. We can by our collective work continue to advance the promise of this nation.

Christy Levings is the president of the Kansas National Education Association. An elementary teacher on leave from the Olathe School District, she lives in Osawatomie.

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