Cast your Vote for Public Education
by Elizabeth Ahlgren, NEA Director District 10, Morse High

Since my election last spring, each article I have written for the Advocate has dealt with NCLB. This onerous law has had a negative impact on our work lives, the lives of our students and our own children. Each of us go to work every day, trying to make a difference for our students and many of us are totally frustrated by the focus on test scores and the feeling that we are stymied by this bad law. At this point in time, it appears that Congress isn't going to make changes in the NCLB law until the next president is elected.

On February 5, we will be asked to vote in the California primary to help select the presidential candidate for each party. All of us have our reasons for voting for one candidate or another. It is imperative that one of our considerations is to vote for a candidate that truly supports what is best for public education. Those of us who attend the NEA Representative Assembly had the opportunity to hear all the major Democratic candidates and one of the Republicans speak. All of them did their homework and spoke to NEA's position on NCLB. But what matters more than the savvy political rhetoric are the actions of the candidates.

Consider carefully what the politicians have already done in their careers.  Who really is the best candidate for education in the United States? Who will support our students and put the funding into programs that will help our students to succeed? The media doesn't tell us the whole story and it is important that we use our resources to elect a candidate that will support our students and our profession.

As the election gets closer, we will be inun- dated by campaign rhetoric and some issues will be played out in more depth or more vol- ume than others.  Our lives will dictate whether  the war, the economy, healthcare or change itself is our reason for voting for a particular candidate. What is important is that, as educators, we keep quality public education in the forefront of our reason for supporting one candidate over another.

The next president will definitely have a role in our classrooms. The impact of the November election may last four years or eight or even through a successor president's terms. The potential of this election is that a child's entire K-12 life could be impacted by the outcome of this election. Perhaps 16 years of your career could be affected. Can you imagine living under the current NCLB law for over half your work life? That's a scary thought!

When you vote this February, along with voting your heart, your pocketbook, your faith and your party, vote for your profession and the well-being of your students.

- Elizabeth Ahlgren