Parents Hold Power with a Pen

by Cheryl Lacey, DSJ, Thought Starters On Education, ©2023

(Jul. 24, 2023) — Parents and families continue to be hamstrung by inefficiencies and lack of accountability in schools.

Despite billions of dollars of annual spending on everything from buildings, curriculum reviews and research; to teacher well-being programs, additional tutors and technology, the problems parents and their children face either remain the same or worsen.

No amount of funding, election promises, strike action, or additional legislation will make a difference.

The situation will only deteriorate.

Ineffective elected representatives, a swinging door approach to education portfolios and power play by unions, keep families squarely under State control via the school system.

Taking action to bring about successful reform has been too overwhelming to contemplate.

However, despite the complexities of school education and its problems, there is one glaring omission – a missing element, which, if introduced, will be the game changer.

Governance.

Currently, no government or union can represent school employees and families simultaneously. To do so would be a direct conflict of interest.

There must be an independent authority or Board of Education to review and monitor school performance and to do this, there must also be the reintroduction of School Inspectorates.

Parents have the authority to demand this. They have the right and responsibility to take control of their children’s education.

The truth is parents have always had this authority; in most cases, they simply haven’t been taught how to assert it.

That is, until now.

If you are a parent with children of compulsory school age, all you need to do is write a letter to your State and Federal elected representatives and each of your State Senators, advising them of your insistence on education reform. Most importantly, you don’t have to go into detail.

Here (below) is a letter I have sent. Feel free to use this as a guide.

Senator X

Dear Senator X,

I know that it is my duty to keep you informed of MY WILL on anything that comes before Parliament or that should come before Parliament.

IT IS MY WILL that you take immediate action to introduce a Board of Education as an entity independent of government and to reintroduce School Inspectorates.

Yours faithfully,

Cheryl Lacey

(Insert your full name, address and the date as legal evidence that you are a constituent)

That’s all you need to do.

And there’s nothing to stop you from suggesting that grandparents, friends, and workmates do the same.

Just as I’m sharing with you right now.

Write a reply if you receive an answer that sidesteps the issue you raise or a standard response from a staff member reiterating party political statements and empty promises.

Here’s mine:

Senator X

Dear Senator X,

I repeat that, in accordance with my lawful obligation to keep you informed of MY WILL, I again inform you that it is MY WILL that you take immediate action to introduce a Board of Education, independent of government, and reintroduce School Inspectorates.

Yours faithfully,

Cheryl Lacey

(insert your full name, address and the date as legal evidence that you are a constituent)

That’s it.  It’s about the power of the pen. Use it.

Politicians aren’t used to receiving letters like these. They much prefer to have us believe they’re listening to us via opinion polls.

These letters have nothing to do with opinion.

By clearly stating your name and address and signing your letter, you are advising your representatives of a direct request.

When politicians receive your letter, followed by letters from numerous other parents, grandparents, employers and so on, they will have no choice but to take action. They will have to take the issue of school education to parliament.

Parents have been hamstrung for far too long.

Enough is enough.

Make a start. Put pen to paper (literally or virtually) and have every voting adult you know do the same. 

Schools provide a service. Parents raise children.

Writing a letter is every citizen’s right and responsibility.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Read the rest here.