Following is an a article I would like to share with you. Jamie Vollmer, once a harsh critic of public education and now an articulate champion of America's public schools, told MASA members at their Midwinter Conference how they can build support for Michigan's public schools. Vollmer, a former corporate CEO and attorney, said the key is for educators to build thoughtful, organized and on-going conversations with their communities. Schools can't do it alone and if we don't structure a coalition of allies the entire system will be at risk. He says we have a prime opportunity because education has the attention of the nation.
Education is important because the workplace has changed.
The educational system was originally designed to create a few thinkers and a whole lot of doers. But in a generation the economy has changed, and now it needs highly educated individuals who can think. And, education has become the most important issue in the community. As the percentage of people age 65 and older grows, there is a direct relationship to decreased funding for education. And, everybody has to remain a part of making our schools successful, including retirees.