One gift, available to many, is public education. It varies by country and within the U.S., by state, but almost always, not matter how much the school system is struggling, public education is a good bargain. Some education is better than no education, and while the quality of California's schools and the budget cuts the schools are facing are worrisome, the truth is, free education is available.
We live in Oakland and we have kids, so I have spent a lot of time touring schools, talking with principals, teachers, parents, and reading materials specific to schools and on education in general. One of the factors that most illuminates the differences between all the schools I saw was the parent and community support at each school.
The public schools in Oakland all receive the same funding and all have the same core learning program. Anything extra (and that is just about everything these days) is provided through parent and community support, in the form of money and time.
I suppose this means one could argue that this no longer makes public education free. Perhaps, but what it tells me is that to continue to support public schools and ensure that they continue to exist and thrive, we have to support them in any way we are able. The kids going through these schools are the kids who will become our doctors, police, park rangers, and educators. One can never go wrong with learning. Education is empowering.
This weekend, one of the Oakland charter schools (charter schools are also public), the Conservatory for Vocal/Instrumental Arts (COVA) has paired up with Barnes & Noble Books at Jack London Square. From 10am - 3pm, one can enjoy (for free) the music of COVA students. In exchange for this free entertainment, Barnes & Noble will be donating a percentage of money to COVA for all the purchases made using donation cards (being handed out on site by volunteers.) Join COVA on Sunday, November 22nd at Jack London Square, enjoy some free music, buy some holiday gifts at Barnes & Noble, use the COVA card you are handed (no additional charge to you), and support public education. You can even enjoy the Farmer's Market while you are there.
Comments
What a wonderful idea--books, music, children and food--Four of the best things in the world. I look forward to hearing the children entertain us.
What you write about public education, and the need to support public schools is so right and important. I see and read lots of negative voices against the homogenization etc that comes with public school systems, and hardly ever a word about education being empowering, and the necessity to have free public education available to citizens. In my corner of the world, all elderly people born before elementary education became public, free and compulsory are illiterate.
Thank you for that insightful article about public education.
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