Encouraging Community Involvement

 Mary Lord, State Board of Education (School Board), in the 2008 Gay Pride day parade.

Getting People Involved in Education

Everywhere one turns today there's something yammering for our attention.  Floss or you'll lose your teeth.  Separate your recyclables to protect the environment.  Mow the tree lane for a nicer neighborhood.  Vote for me for a brighter future.  A new study reveals that people who do a crossword puzzle a day are less likely to get Alzheimer's.

The state of the education system in the District of Columbia isn't good.  Real estate developers are sniffing around for opportunities to wrest prime parcels of land from the school system.  The school system needs money.  It's a dangerous brew of very narrow interests and lots on money.

Most of us have day jobs -- not to mention all that flossing and caring for the environment.  There's little time to go to a meeting, button hole a councilperson, speak up at a hearing, or talk to your kid's teacher.

What We're Doing

Mary Lord with kids from Alice Deal School

This site is one thing I'm trying.  I took a web site course at the Department of Agriculture Grad School (a terrific resource).  When I get a moment I drag my journalist's hat out of the closet and fumble a few words onto this site.  The idea is to give you a window on what the District's State Board of Education is doing — and an easy way for you to share ideas and concerns.

The State Board of Education, with the Office of the State Superintendent for Education, is taking a more formal approach.  We're developing policies and programs to promote parent and community involvement in our children's education.  I don't mind admitting it's slow going.

What can you do?

Use some of your precious time and visit your child's school.  Organize community events that include the school.  Help judge school science projects or art shows.

We need some links to entry points for the various schools who can use volunteers.

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© 2008 all rights reserved.  Paid for by the Mary Lord 2008 Campaign, 2115 Newport Place NW, Washington DC 20037, Woodrow Landay campaign chairperson.  Tadd M. Ruddell-Tabisola Treasurer.  Pursuant to DC Official Code §§ 1-1102.01, 1-1102.10 and as otherwise required by law a copy of our reports are filed with the Director of Campaign Finance.
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