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[Jeanette Mott Oxford]

New Year Provides Opportunity to Surround Our Schools With Care
 
Recently a reporter from the Riverfront Times called me to ask if I would
like to contribute a New Years Resolution for the City of St. Louis for a
column they were assembling on that topic. Here is what I told the
reporter: In 2007, I hope the entire St. Louis community (the Mayor’s
office, the School Board, Local 420, administrators, teachers, parents,
students, neighbors, media, ALL of us) will come together to surround our
schools with care. We must make a high quality public education a civil
right for every child!
 
It is time to stop finger-pointing and trying to score points against
those with whom we disagree on some point or another. Let us admit that
there are people of good will on every side of the issues confronting
public education. Let us refuse conspiracy theories that guess at inner
motivations and attribute evil intent, often unjustly.
 
I helped to plan and was moderator for a special program on Nov. 19
called “Surrounding Our Schools With Care.” Jan Resseger of Cleveland,
OH, Minister for Public Education and Witness for the Justice and Witness
Ministries of the United Church of Christ (UCC), was guest speaker for
the event which took place at Epiphany UCC, 2911 McNair in Benton Park.
The afternoon panel to which Resseger responded featured:
·         Lynette White, public school parent 
·         Peter Franzen, former Executive Director, Mentor St. Louis 
·         Carol Hall-Whittier, principal of Shepard eMints Accelerated
Academy, a Gold Star elementary school
·         Rep. Kathlyn Fares (District 91), chair of the MO House
Education Appropriations Committee
 
All of us can do something to help our schools succeed (and no matter
what role the state plays in an intervention or semi-intervention). Here
are a few of the ideas small groups generated on Nov. 19:
 
§         Volunteer in schools - share yourself, your values, and your
skills by tutoring or providing classroom help
§         Attend school board meetings; get on the agenda and speak up
§         Join school task forces, parent/teacher organizations, or
advisory councils
§         Honor teachers by expressing appreciation for their efforts
(take them to lunch, send notes of encouragement, advocate for better
salaries and working conditions, etc.)
§         Urge elected officials to enact public policy that will lift
families out of poverty (affordable housing, healthcare, utilities, and
childcare; refundable tax credits; family supporting wage jobs; etc.)
§         Provide success stories to the media and encourage them to
cover “good news,” not just fights and scandals
§         Attend a candidate forum near you when Board elections are
coming up; get informed, educate your neighbors, and get out the vote
 
I wish a safe and nurturing environment for every student in 2007. May
the residents of District 59 and all our Missouri neighbors have a
joyful, peaceful, and enriching New Year, filled with the blessings of
loving family and friends. I pledge to continue my work for social and
economic justice in the State Legislature and my support for public
policy that helps every member of our communities grow and thrive. Call
me whenever I can be of service. (I am in the State Capitol at
573-751-4567 M-Th from January until mid-May.)
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