When I have a Problem.....I want someone with Expertise to help me

When I have a vehicle running poorly, I take it to an auto mechanic to fix the problem. If I have plumbing problems I call the plumber to use his skills and knowledge to help resolve my plumbing issue. Recently I had a tooth that needed a root canal, and I went to a specialist that their daily practice only specializes in doing root canals. Wanting the experts to work on whatever my specific need is, raises the question....why are we allowing our elected officials who have no expertise in education to write these punitive policies which are written in isolation from educators?? Doesn't it make more sense to have the experts sitting at the table when policy is going to impact the children under our care? If educators were brought in at all levels of representation, and began to collaborate and partnership on our challenges, I think we would get much closer to a more accurate approach to looking at solutions. Will we always have room to grow as educators and as a system? Yes. Aren't we life long learners? Those of us working in the field, are we not the experts on the pulse of what we are seeing and what are our highest priroities are? Why are we not educating our public and fighting back for the right of our students not to be defined by a test? When we are attacked and defend ourselves, who gets lost in our debate? Our kids are the true victims of this punitive attack of high stakes testing, defining student's potential off of a test score, and at worst....deciding which students can move forward in life and not be rejected in the last few weeks before graduation...over a state test score. We have to do a lot better job of educating our public and giving them the knowledge to confront the politicians that want to see public education fail. The end goal would be to have school Vouchers, and Charter Schools that have the authority to reject the students that don't fit their one size all model for acceptance. The ACE Study is the foundation for which we can begin to make a difference in our society and in our schools. Our elected officials can make a difference if they begin to write policy that will focus on prevention so that we aren't spending Billions on punishment. It is going to take radical change. We keep doing the same thing over and over, but we name it something else. No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, different name but with same outcomes....we keep coming back to the same place, NOWHERE. To gain a greater knowledge of the ACE Study, go to acestoohigh.com. A tremendous resource to start making a difference in your own classroom as well as in your own school. The knowledge of Adverse Childhood Experiences is the driver for making radical changes that have significant positive outcomes. Changes that can turn our societal issues around while saving Billions of tax dollars. This is where our politicians need to be putting their focus and making a difference.