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May 2003 Dear Fellow Educators: Like so many of you, I have always struggled to find new ways to motivate students, parents, and teachers, and encourage more and more people to get involved, achieve, and enjoy each and every school day. But this past year has been the most rewarding in my nineteen years as an elementary school principal. What has changed for me? What's made a difference? Simply, It has been accepting the basic reason for my work – to prepare students to grow into good citizens. I too have been swept up by high test stakes, getting results, and leaving no child behind. I have also been BUSY dealing with the daily "life" and strains of a large elementary school. But what I've learned through my involvement in the First Amendment Schools project is that by encouraging the involvement of all stakeholders, by stressing both individual rights and community responsibilities, and by making my school a laboratory of democracy, my relationships with students, parents, and teachers have greatly improved. I have so many rich stories that have occurred because of my commitment to creating a model democratic school. The most recent story involves a boy named Cameron. Cameron is a sixth grade student who has been video taping the evolution of our school in the First Amendment Schools project. Although he'll move onto middle school next year, Cameron recently asked me if he could stay involved in this work. Mind you, Cameron is an average student, and historically he has been a reluctant learner. Yet since he's had the chance to exercise more power and demonstrate more responsibility for the rights of others, he's evolved to the point that he's come to me asking for more! He wants more time practicing the five freedoms in his work as a student documentarian. His story doesn't end there. Cameron heard from another classmate, a radio station reporter, that the Junior High School was interviewing next year's students for a select ‘college-bound' core class. Immediately, he marched into my office and asked, “Can you help me? I want to be in this class. I need to learn more.” Even after the interview, which by all accounts went perfectly, Cameron begged me to call the principal and ask if he had made the cut! That's what the First Amendment Schools project has meant to my students and my school. And to think they pay me each month to do this job! If you'd like to hear more about my experiences, I'd love to talk to you. Until then, all best wishes to all of you in your own work. Sincerely, Rob Williams |
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