Blogging about Education Issues Not Popular?
In 2007 a funny thing happened. People began expressing their opinion on education issues like never before. (I have no study to back that up, it’s just something I noticed and as I’ve talked to others they have noticed it too.) It probably had a lot to do with the great voucher debate, but I saw more than just a discussion about vouchers. I saw a lot of talk about making our public schools better. I read many voucher debates, but I also read why public schools were good and how they could become better. My kids attend public school so of course I want them to be the best they can be, we all want that. We all discussed that in 2007. Somehow that discussion is no longer taking place; it died with the vouchers. Or did it? Has blogging about issues in education really gone out of style? Is it no longer popular?
Yes, this year is an election year. It would seem that many of the blogs have shifted gears and are talking about the candidates now, but isn’t there still room to talk about and put into action our plans to make education for children in Utah better? Or did we all just blog about it back then because it was the latest craze?
I don’t think so! I think that everyone that wrote about it last year can continue to write about it this year! And they will write because they care! And they care because they’re outstanding human beings that want to make a difference, not just hear themselves talk.
I was curious to see just how dead the subject had become so I went back to many of the blogs that I read during the voucher debate (not all of them because it took me several weeks just to get to where I am now) to see how many of you have continued to keep education issues on your front page from time to time. It would seem that my suspicions are correct because most blogs that wrote about vouchers in 2007 haven’t written one education-based post since last November. The issues are still there, they’re just not being talked about in the blogosphere anymore.
Utah Educatiton Issues is a blog that, even in title, has determined to keep education on the front page. It’s written by a teacher and recently has blogged quite a bit about candidates and parties, but continues to keep issues like class size reduction in the mix. Many of you have participated in the comments there and if we’re serious about making education better the discussion (and more importantly the action) needs to continue. Which brings up a possible answer to my question; perhaps we haven’t had time for blogging but we’ve been out there fighting hard to make education better. Why don’t we take an hour and let others know what we’ve done to improve education this month? By sharing these experiences we can inspire others to do the same. We can continue to keep the debate alive!
I am not beyond reproach. I could have posted my experience in participating in public comment at the State Board of Education in April, or attending a “What Counts?” meeting organized by the Tooele County School District Board and giving input as to how they can do better and what they should focus on. I could (and should) blog more about my involvement with the PTA and our efforts to reduce class size and improve the education of all children in Utah. Why aren’t we all doing this more?
In hopes that it will get people talking again, I’d like to call a few people out on this. As bloggers we’re all quite aware of who is linking to us and why and I’m pretty sure that’s how you might have ended up reading this post, but that’s the idea. Now that you’re here, defend yourself, won’t you? Tell us all why you cared about education last year but this year you’ve fallen silent. Express your awesome opinions once again! Make a commitment today to keep education issues on your front page. If you’re a political blog, talk about the candidates’ commitment to education. Don’t permanently die and never post again when you did so much for us last year! There are a few of you that continue to talk about education and we all thank you!
I hope 2008 will be another banner year for making a difference for our children. We’d all give up our lives for our children if it ever came to that. Let’s do them one better and give up our time and energy for them while they’re young and when it counts the most! Commit today to write at least one post a month on an education related issue. We can do this! We have to do this! If you don’t have a blog, participate in the comments! We can all make a difference by working together! I’ve overused exclamation points in this paragraph so it’s time to end! NOW! 
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