Our Voices: Schools Opening, DOE Wavering

By James B. Ewers Jr., Ed. D.

I was honored to have been a public-school teacher. It gave me a front row seat and glimpse into the future. That was a long time ago.

Back then, my teacher friends and I were always excited about the beginning of a new school year. Students were excited to see us, and we were thrilled to see them. There were smiles all around.

The smiles all around part began when I was a young boy.

The kids in my neighborhood in North Carolina didn’t dread returning for another school year. Our teachers welcomed us back and that set the tone for the entire year.

It is interesting that I became a teacher because of a teacher. While I had political science as my college major, my future goals changed prior to my senior year.

Going to law school was certainly in my plans, but being a teacher was in my heart. My high school history teacher was the unspoken role model that I had observed as he brought out the very best in his students. After college, I enrolled in a graduate teacher training program in Washington DC.

I became a social studies teacher in the District of Columbia Public Schools. Humbly, as my tenure evolved, I became the senior class advisor and the tennis coach. It’s not an overstatement to say that I enjoyed every minute of my teaching career.

Yes, I enjoyed having to create lesson plans with behavioral objectives and yes, I enjoyed the after-school faculty meetings. And I won’t ever forget being a chaperone for school trips and the announcer for basketball games.

That’s what teaching is all about in my opinion. It is being an intricate part of the school and students seeing that you care about them.

So here we are today, and another generation of young minds is starting their educational climb. I know that students are still excited and want to learn all they can.

Proudly, I have been in enough schools to make that assertion.

Parents and grandparents like us are going to get those school supplies and to sign up to become volunteers. That is the way it should be. Nuclear and extended families must be a part of a child’s education. When we set the foundation, they will have the building blocks to succeed.

Education standards and tests have changed over time.

However, the one thing that hasn’t changed is teachers’ commitment. Like the song says, “and you can’t change that”.

With all that is happening in the world today, teaching our children is still a high priority. They represent the future and all that is good about it.

Unless you have been without communication for the last several months, you realize the United States Department of education is slowly sinking. How can that be?

Once upon a time it was called the Office of Education. I received my graduate degree in education because of funding through a program called the National Teacher Corps. It was based upon the Peace Corps model.

The Department of Education is the umbrella that covers every level of education. Critics who say otherwise don’t know and don’t care. However, we the people do care.

Talking and writing to our elected state and federal leaders letting them know that shuttering the Department of Education is a horrible idea. We must use our influence in a mighty way.

Teachers must teach our students and not have to worry about losing their positions. Nor should they worry about their schools closing or budget cuts. Students must not worry about having different teachers every week or having long-term substitute teachers.

These days ahead are way too important to play around with a venerable fortress like the United States Department of Education. Education is a key to a strong and sustainable society. Wouldn’t you agree?

Dr. James B. Ewers, Jr., Ed. D. is a longtime educator who hails from Winston Salem, N.C. Ewers is a life member of the NAACP and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.