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For Christ's Sake, Turn the World Upside Down Initiative
In August of
2007, Sherry Sink and Tonya Lanier represented the Western North
Carolina Conference UMW at the National Seminar in Nashville,
Tennessee. The National Seminar is held every four years with
special emphasis on a social justice issue. This year, there
were several social justice issues targeted: Economic Justice;
Community Food Security; Public Education; Health Care;
Militarism, Peace and National Security; Immigrant and Refugee
Rights; and Environmental Justice. Each conference was asked to
determine how they would implement this program upon their
return.
The Western
North Carolina Conference UMW Executive Committee approved at
the November 2007 meeting to make PUBLIC EDUCATION our
Conference priority for 2008.
While
all of the social justice issues are worthwhile, we felt that it
is better to focus on one issue rather than try to spread
ourselves too thin in trying to cover all of them. The work that
we do should not be just a “band-aid fix” but a movement to
effect change in our communities. The Conference UMW Mission
Team has pledged to work diligently to implement this
initiative. The Conference UMW will model ways that local units
can be involved and work for change at all of the Conference
events in 2008 as well as provide related materials in the
Conference Gram and here on our web site.
Why Public
Education?
But Jesus, aware of
their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his
side, and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name
welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent
me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.” Luke
9:47-48
On an average
day in the United States, one-fifth of all citizens are in
school. Current educational policy trends emphasize using
testing to judge the performance of students, teachers and
entire systems. Disparities in the quality of education reflect
the reality of racial and ethnic inequalities within U.S.
society. Taxpayers in many areas consistently reject calls for
increased funding for schools. Parents organize to home school,
or create schools where they have a larger say in the content of
their children’s education, or place their children in charter
or private schools in order to avoid what they consider negative
influences of the public schools. Other parents watch
helplessly while their children fall further behind. We
envision a world where public education names core values that
serve individuals, communities and the nation in the future – a
system that serves the needs of all children.
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Women’s Division has provided a
list of resources for our use. They include:
CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN, Phase III Resource
Campaign for Children
booklet, 2002 (#3223) $5.00 (available through the Mission Resource
Center*)
PROGRAM BOOK
2005, “A Call to Prayer and Action for Public Schools”
(p. 13)
BIBLE STUDY / MEDITATION:
They Will Know You By Your Love,
by Yvette Moore
RESPONSE issues
April 2004 featured Public Education
March 2006, p. 28, “Story of Katie Peterson,” UM
Deaconesses and establishment of after school care
March 2006,
p. 29, Story of Nancy Delaney,
“Kids are falling through the Cracks”
June 2006, p. 15-17, “Public Education Summit”
June 2006,
p. 16, 17, “Summit Inspires” – story of Pat Butler
SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN MISSION Studies
Public Education (2004/5) Study book:
Lyman, Mary Grace. Public Education: Issues and Challenges.
New York: General Board of Global Ministries, The United
Methodist Church 2004. (#3597) $1.00 (available through
the Mission Resource Center*)
READING PROGRAM books
I Choose to Stay – A Teacher Refuses to Desert the Inner
City,
Salome Thomas (2008 list)
Taught By America: A Story of Struggle and Hope in
Compton,
Sarah Sentilles (2007 list)
Schools that Do Too Much: Wasting Time and Money in
Schools and What We Can Do About It,
Etta Kralovec (2005 list)
Will Standards Save Public Education?
Deborah Meier (2005 list)
The Evolution of the American Public High School,
Lyle Schaller (2003 list)
ACTION ALERTS
Reading, Writing and Raspberries
No Child Left Unrecruited
(*The Mission Resource Center, 1-800-305-9857)
There are also some suggested ideas of things you can do for
Public Education:
Explore your own local schools
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Visit area schools
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Talk to people involved (teachers, parents, students,
administration)
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Engage others in conversation
Take action
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Vote
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Participate with local advocates-grassroots organizations
such as PTA, etc.
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Utilize your church for school board elections – “Meet
the Candidates” forum
Volunteer
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Mentor a child in public school
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Volunteer to read or tutor or chaperone a field trip
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Collect school supplies for low income students
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Recognize public school teachers in your own local church
Pursue systemic changes
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Consider running for the local school board or
encouraging someone else
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Sponsor community information events
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Learn about school budgeting and engage in efforts to
improve it
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Engage the local media through public meetings and
letters to the editor
What will your local unit do to work for change in the
area of Public Education?