What is a Public School?

 A lot of the political divisions in our country are based around large, national questions: who do you want for President? Should the U.S. support Ukraine? Should our government provide a safety net? Most of these issues are covered by the news media so people can hear about them easily if they wish, and often even if they don't want to. And it doesn't take a lot of effort to weigh in on them - just cast a vote every couple of years. But local issues - issues that really affect people's daily lives and can change the structure of our society - those issues are often invisible in the background and take a lot of sustained effort to understand and affect.

If there is one idea in our liberal democracy that holds true to the purported ideals of our nation's founding - equality and opportunity for all - it is the public education system. There is no better way to level the playing field so naturally distorted in a capitalistic society; no clearer signal that every child deserves a chance at a bright future; no system more geared towards true meritocracy. Providing a good, free education for everyone is the cornerstone of what America thinks it is and has the opportunity to become. But that very notion is under threat.

For the very notion of a public school is dependent on the idea of serving the public, which by definition must include everyone. There is no more insidious threat to the public than the exclusion of some people from the definition. And that is exactly what some groups in this country are attempting to do.

While no one may be trying to ban actual individuals from attending public schools, by restricting what is taught, who it's taught to, and who can be represented and acknowledged on campus, certain identities are being restricted. And if someone knows their identity is not fully accepted, then they are no longer welcome or equal. It's discrimination. It cannot be allowed to continue.

If you tell black children that their history can't be taught, not because it's not true, but because that truth might upset white children, then you are telling black children they are lesser than white children. If you can't allow a teacher to acknowledge they are gay, then you are telling the child with gay parents they come from a lesser home and that their parents are not equal. If you ban books featuring minority characters, even if it's just a purple shadow, you are telling all the students that some colors don't matter - some children don't matter. If you do not explicitly offer dignity, humanity, and equality to all of the members of a community, then you have expressly condoned a hierarchy that says some are better than others. And there are always those who will take advantage of that opportunity to spell out who is who.

A public education has to be for all of the public. It has to teach inclusivity and acceptance, even if that is divisive to some, because the only alternative is discrimination, which is unacceptable to the principles of our society. Public school is for all the public, or else it will once again become an institution of segregation and shame. We've made the mistake before and have corrected it. We can't let a vocal minority drag us back to repeat our own failings. Now is the time to show up and stand up for what's right. 

And doing what's right takes getting involved. Showing up at school board meetings. Telling some of your neighbors they are wrong. Telling all the marginalized kids they are right. It requires bringing politics into your local life because it's already there whether you want to admit it or not. If the greater public doesn't support a truly public education system, then we have failed our future generations and our country will fail because of it.