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On Line Education: Access for Equal Education

Thursday, February 22 at 5:30 PM

This Speakout has not been edited

By Rev. Reginald Holmes and Fidel “Butch” Montoya, Community Coalition for Access to and for Quality Education

How ironic it is on the fifty-third anniversary of the landmark ruling (Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas) in 1954 that dealt with the desegregation of public schools that we find ourselves embroiled in what may become a similar legal showdown over online education. There are Colorado legislators in the House and Senate who wish to turn back the hands of time and once again usher in the days of limited access and inequality in education. The names have changed but the tactics are eerily similar to those employed by the diehard “Dixie-crats” of the 50’s and 60’s.

It saddens us a great deal to know that there is an active campaign on behalf of many legislators in the Democratic Party to halt the educational opportunities offered through online education for “at risk” students. The vast majority of these students are from primarily, African-American and Latino communities.

We thought we would never see the day (again) when Democrats would argue against the enhancement of an equal opportunity for all children to get a quality and decent education. We never thought we would ever live to see the day that Democrats would once again lead the charge to block the doors of opportunity made available on full equal terms for the underserved and neglected within our public school system by the promise of online education.

But that is exactly what Colorado State Senator Sue Windels of Jefferson County is trying to do. Windels and others in the legislature are trying to kill the potential online education initiatives that will bring to Colorado ‘at risk’ students an opportunity to shorten the educational achievement gap and reduce the drop out rates.

We have no doubt that the good Senator is being used by the traditionalist in public schools who want to “put down” online initiatives that are sweeping this state. Online has and will continue to offer widespread appeal to both parents and students who have hungered for an alternative to the traditional education format that has not serviced their needs.

The HOPE online initiative seems to be the sole focus of the senator’s fight. HOPE has gained widespread appeal in both the African-American and Latino communities for the educational opportunity it presents to parents of “at risk” and academically neglected children.

For the first time in a long time, parents and students are being offered something more. Not necessarily something better, but something more.

Something more to battle the out of control dropout rates that endanger the very social fabric of America.

Something more to combat the ever-increasing achievement gap that has American kids, in particular kids in Colorado, ranking on an academic level below that of some Third World countries.

We support the HOPE online initiative. We must confess that there have never been any arrogant claims on our part of the superiority of online education over traditional “brick and mortar’ education.

What we are saying is that HOPE offers something more. Our kids should not become the victims of Senator Windells and those who wish to continue to teach our kids in a system that promotes a “business as usual” attitude in education. The educational futures and fortunes of our children are at stake and we aim to offer them something more.

We can not afford to play political games while gambling with the lives of our children. Our children are neither Democrat nor Republican. They are simply our most precious resource. We can not use them as economic pawns whose only real value is helping mismanaged school districts meet their budgetary bottom lines. These are not casino chips we are talking about here. These are our children!

The bottom line must be the opportunity afforded our children to get a quality education from what we consider to be one of the best sources possible.

It was Chief Justice Earl Warren who wrote, “"In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity, where the state has undertaken to provide it, is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms.” (Chief Justice Earl Warren—opinion written in 1954 on Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas).

The same ruling would apply today to the fact that our children must get access to and for a quality education. The advantages of on line education will stagger the mind as this new educational alternative continues to develop and evolve. All children in Colorado should be afforded the opportunity to find new ways to learn and enhance their quality of life.

The concern of the old issue of separation of church and state is an important and one that we have dealt with most of lives. The majority of the churches and clergy involved in this initiative understand and respect the constitutional mandate for that separation.

We are more than willing and able to honor it for the chance to offer our children something more. We also know that the arguments being raised around accountability, oversight, and local control, though legitimate, are being fueled by the fears of economic loss by the tradition school districts.

The educational gains and increased life time opportunities presented through online education for our children have never been a priority in our opponent’s argument. Let us never forget, the argument is, first and foremost, an argument for school funding and, secondly, an argument against equal opportunity in education for all ‘at risk’ children in Colorado.

Having the good of the children as our main priority, we welcome the opportunity to show how online education will add bring educational success and achievement to hundreds of ‘at risk’ children needing access to and for a quality education.

We are all on the same team and everyone knows that the goal of this team is to score. Does it matter who scores as long as our children win? We can not be competitors clamoring for dollars and offering up solutions that limit access and foster continued inequality in the education of our children.

Do not block the door Senator. Step aside and let us all marshal in a new day in education for all Colorado students. Let us not repeat the sins of the past. Our children deserve better.

READER COMMENTS

This letter reads more like a political speech rather than a well thought out appeal for an alternative to the bureaucratic Public Education System. Gentlemen, where are the statistics and analysis that support your claim that Online Education will be of any benefit to at-risk students. In fact, why would an at-risk student expend any more energy toward an online education as compared to the classroom, which offers more opportunity for socialization?

You imply the hint of racism with your reference to the dixie-crats, but it is you who demonstrate your racially-biased motives by inferring that at-risk students are largely from Latino and African American communities.

You state "this new and educational alternative continues to evolve and develop". Why would Senator Windels or anyone in their right mind advocate something that is not proven or established? You are no better than the Public Education edu-crats who are willing to throw money and personnel resources at anything that sounds good, but you apparently didn't do your homework.

Tell me, who ensures these at-risk students participate in an online forum if there is no one that can do it while they are attending classroom-based schooling? Who's money do you intend on spending for this venture, mine? Before we (taxpayers) give you one cent, you and the Hope foundation should demonstrate in quantifiable terms how this program gives the taxpayers a solid return for their investment. If this program is as good as you say, then why not make us an offer we can't refuse? Why not offer to refund one hundred percent of all money if your program fails to achieve stated goals??

It's easy to advocate lofty notions when you are using other people's money, but if you're asking for taxpayer investment, you better come with some facts, and this letter is sorely lacking any facts.

My advice is to stop attempting to bully people with the race card when it comes to education. If you truly believe in education, then bring some facts, figures and real information to the discussion.

What disturbs me the most Mr. Holmes is that you title yourself as a Reverend. I would think a man of God would know better than to cast judgments on other people, especially since you do not know what's truly in their hearts. Stop with the Brown V. Board of Education rhetoric and give us some cold hard facts.....racism doesn't become either of you.

Posted by Ron Wells on February 24, 2007 12:27 AM