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Thursday, May 17, 2012

An Open Letter from Former Stand for Children Activists About a Ballot Measure | Seattle Education

An Open Letter from Former Stand for Children Activists About a Ballot Measure | Seattle Education:


An Open Letter from Former Stand for Children Activists About a Ballot Measure

If only the Stand for Children folks in our state had such convictions.
The following is an open letter from former Stand for Children members in Massachusetts.
As parents, teachers, and community members, we are Massachusetts grassroots activists for education. We read bills, testify at hearings, write letters to the editor, pore over budgets, speak at town meetings, make phone calls, and hold fundraisers. Many of us have done so for years.
It was as part of this work and with great hope that we joined Stand for Children.  And—initially—Stand helped us do great work.  We cast a critical eye on education bills at the State House and testified as needed. We turned back ballot initiatives that would have gutted education funding. We closely watched local budgets to keep dollars close to classrooms. We put our voices, time, money, and reputations into building Stand for Children. Because we were united and we spoke from our experience, we were heard.
Along the way, we learned a great deal about the legislative process, education funding, and policy. We learned