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March, 2004
Worship is more than celebrating God’s love; it transforms. That’s what happened after the Berkshire Association’s Fall Worship Event honoring teachers and linking public education to justice. The event transformed people’s frustration with public education into passion for public education.
Jan W. Resseger, Minister for Public Education and Witness in the United Church of Christ, began her three-day tour across the Commonwealth in Pittsfield with a forum on public education in January. Her visit was sponsored by the offices of the Western Area Minister and the Conference Minister and President.
Multiple challenges
Coincidentally timed with the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend,
Resseger met with 18 people at South Congregational Church,
Pittsfield, to present the multiple challenges facing public
education today. The group, a mix of school age children,
parents, teachers, and clergy, found a safe space in which
to voice
their thoughts. Everyone present listened as silent nods
of agreement echoed many of the concerns people shared,
including inadequate school funding, too much homework, inordinate
pressures
of testing, lack of preparation time, and forced conformity.
Problems with No Child Left Behind Act
Resseger’s presentation clearly linked public education
with justice. She drew connections between the No Child Left
Behind Act (NCLB) and the increased pressure experienced by
teachers, students and parents. By blurring the distinction
between accountability and productivity, Resseger stated, NCLB
shifts the focus of education from nurturing growth and creativity
to maximizing student performance on standardized tests. Furthermore,
its design is inherently punitive and ignores the socio-economic
factors such as poverty and a student’s cultural identity.
Also, the act is underfunded by $6 billion, which represents
a third of the amount called for in the legislation.
The morning included small group discussions to prioritize 12 issues of importance from a sheet Resseger prepared. These issues included many that the group raised earlier, as well as adult participation in education, preparing students for a globally connected world, and being open to children who differ from the dominant language and culture. Resseger will compile the results from Pittsfield with those from her subsequent stops in Springfield and Framingham and will report back to everyone who attended.
No single, simple solution
As the session drew to a close, those attending had
a clearer understanding that no single, simple solution
can remedy
public education. The participants agreed that public
education cannot
lose sight of children’s growth and development as people
who are loved by God. Resseger provided resource material from
the denomination and encouraged everyone to continue the discussion
in their congregations as a way to build awareness and then
to bring that to the public.
One of the final comments of the session was that Jesus calls us to disturb the placid waters to bring about God’s kingdom rooted in justice for all. After a closing prayer, the room’s ambiance felt calmer than it had been two hours earlier and people left with a better understanding of the task that lies ahead.
—
Quentin Chin is in care and moderator of the Berkshire Association.
Here he gives insights garnered at the first of three Conference-wide
forums on public education led by national UCC’s
Jan W. Resseger.