(The Center Square) – The Wisconsin Public Education Network wrapped up its 10th Annual Summer Summit on Wednesday, entitled “Protecting and Defending the Public Schools Our Kids Deserve – Taking a Stand for Educational Equity and Racial Justice” which featured virtual comments from U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin.
The agenda for this year’s summit covered how to “learn, plan, and strategize around the themes of racial justice, educational equity, and unfair impacts of disinvestment and privatization on students attending Wisconsin public schools.”
Madison Metropolitan School District Superintendent Joe Gothard called for collective action to come together in “new, louder, and more focused ways.”
“Imagine what it would look like if we really win for our students,” Gothard said. “What would student learning look like if we could fully support teachers by providing high quality teaching environments? What would public education look like if barriers were removed, so we could address inequities that have been persistent for far too long in all of our communities?”
Speaker Nichelle Nichols from the National Equity Project tied the strengthening of public schools to the health of democracy.
“Our public schools are for our young people to get their first exposure, their first experience in understanding and experiencing democracy,” she said. “We are at a critical crossroads in our country. Our public schools in many ways–even if it doesn’t say public schools are on the ballot–we’re on that ballot. We’re on the ballot for this democracy. We’re on the ballot for ensuring our community stays strong.”
Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly said the lack of public school funding makes it more challenging for public educators to address the needs of students.
“We’re going to continue to advocate for more resources. We must have more general support for schools. The best way to make that investment–in my view and having heard from many of you – is a significant increase in special education reimbursement,” she said. “Under current constraints, we simply don’t have the funding or the resources to support all of our students.”
Underly listed a lack of school social workers and psychologists, and goals like “fostering cultures of belonging” and increasing trauma sensitivity in every school.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin also spoke about the importance of federal funding for public education via video.
“Public schools are crucial in making education accessible and inclusive for all students, regardless of their background, zip code, or socioeconomic status. With the help of our public schools, Wisconsin children can cultivate creative thinking, make lifelong connections, and build the foundation of fulfilling lives. Wisconsin’s children deserve safe, equitable, and engaging public schools,” Baldwin said. “As some of my colleagues in Congress continue to push for cuts to public education, I want all of you to know that I am committed to stopping these attacks at every turn. Investments in public schools are investments in our youth and our future.”
Other summit sessions scheduled for the day included “Calling it In: What’s at the root of systemic racism and funding inadequacy, and what can we do about it?” and “We Believe in Wisconsin: Using Messaging Rooted in Hope,” which discussed using the “Race Class Narrative” in educational messaging.
The Race Class Narrative includes instructions on how to word conversations about topics on race, such as “nam[ing] racial scapegoating or deliberate division as a tool villains use to profit, harming us all.”
Summit leaders also gave a talk entitled “Lies, Damned Lies, and School Vouchers,” which warned about the growing popularity of charter schools and “the false promises underwriting the voucher movement…seeking to defund public education.”
Since COVID-19, school choice has become a growing political issue but does not rank as one of the top three issues for Wisconsin voters according to polls.
