As I speak with concerned parents from coast to coast, I am immediately struck by the common theme to their individual concerns: children are not being challenged to develop a solid academic foundation in the core disciplines of English, math, history, geography, and science. Over and over I hear of parents who are spending increasing amounts of family time and money to provide at home the education that has traditionally taken place in school. The emphasis of parent involvement at home has gone beyond that of basic enrichment, and now consists to teaching the basics! Precious family relaxation time has now become academic "catch-up" time, and it is taking its toll on parents and children alike.
Parents are looking for answers to simple questions such as:
PRESS is proud to be a part of the changing landscape of school reform. We will continue to be a resource for parents in Wisconsin, and we are now excited to share information with parents in other states as well. I am optimistic that together we can achieve what would otherwise be impossible to accomplish individually. As the education establishment drones on about one new fad and innovation after another, a new clarion is sounding: It is the strain of common sense arising from the heartland of our country. It is the parents, the ultimate stakeholders of their children's education, who are sounding the alarms. It is the parents who will ultimately effect the needed changes to bring our nation back on the right track. It is the parents who must lead the way.
As we enter 1996, it is important for us to take a moment to look back and reflect on the events that have brought us to this point in time. How did PRESS form? What are our future goals? What changes are necessary to improve academic standards in our schools?
To answer these questions, we must look back to August of 1993 when approximately 12 parents from different southeastern Wisconsin school districts met for the very first time. I don't think we could have anticipated the events that followed. We met on a monthly basis sharing our concerns from our individual districts. In March of 1994, we decided that there must be other parents throughout Wisconsin with similar concerns. We gave ourselves a name - hit the airwaves, hit the newsprint, and hit the road with our message. Now, after two years, we represent not 12 communities, but 135 and our quarterly newsletter is read in over 1000 homes in Wisconsin, and is also sent to concerned parents in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Vermont, Kentucky, Montana, Iowa, Oregon, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Illinois, Arkansas, Alabama, Ohio, Texas, Florida and Virginia not to mention England, Canada and New Zealand. Who ever said parents aren't involved in their childrens schools??
Today, PRESS is committed to three goals. First and foremost, to be a resource and advocate for parents throughout our state. We will continue to print our newsletter, offer our annual conference, and speak in local communities to groups of concerned individuals.
As we evolved, we realized that a second and vitally important goal of our organization was to work closely with our legislators in Madison as well as the Governor and Lt. Governor's office. The unions and other special interest groups have long recognized this avenue to achieve their goals. Parents and citizens are just beginning to realize the importance of this civic responsibility. We encourage each and every one of you to take an active role in the very process which the Founding Fathers of our nation envisioned for us all. Call your legislators, write to the Governor. Let these individuals know your opinions on important matters in your own local districts.
A final emerging goal which I have personally taken on as a pet project during my tenure as president, is to reach out to the professors of education in our teaching colleges in Wisconsin. We can talk about school reform until we are blue in the face but, until we open the lines of communication with the individuals who are responsible for molding our future teachers, it will be to no avail. PRESS is fortunate to have a working relationship with professors of education from UW-Eau Claire, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Madison who agree with many of our concerns about education. Through this partnership, parents and educators can work together to influence curricular choices for future generations.
These three goals will continue to be central to our mission at PRESS. The clarity of our vision would not be possible without the countless letters and calls we have received from you, the parents, grandparents, teachers, school board members and citizens who have expressed concerns about trends in education that threaten our children's future. Your message has been clear as you have consistently called for three key changes. They are: 1) meaningful parental involvement and choices in both public and private schools, 2) proven methods and standards of teaching, and 3) greater local control of schools by the individuals who know the specific needs of their schools and communities. These changes will only be realized with your continued help and support. Let your friends know about this Web site. Encourage others to support PRESS today. (Partnership Information) Let us work together primarily as parents -- the common denominator that ties us all together -- to ensure a bright and successful future for the children of Wisconsin.
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