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Steve Markel Withdraws, Gives Support to Sean Mullally

Thanks to all my supporters, but the reality of a too-crowded race has forced me to withdraw. There are some "not-so-democrats" runing as democrats in the primary race. It is more important that Sean Mullally, an individual who repesents the real values of our Democratic party, wins this race. If I were to continue as I have been, there is a chance an "elephant in donkey's clothing" could win the primary election. Therefore, I have given my full support to Sean.

Sean Mullally's blog entry on this event can be found at http://networkedblogs.com/5CiCO.

Education

Education is critical to the continued success of our country. The passing of knowledge, heritage, and culture are the most important legacies one generation can pass on to the next. This legacy is the key to the preeminence of our country.

Public education has been and continues to be the backbone to the success of the United States. In 1958 when Sputnik was launched and President Kennedy later challenged the American people to have a man on the moon, it was not test scores that motivated teachers and students to rise to the challenge. It was the imagination, inspiration, and heart of a collective effort to meet that challenge. In that spirit of success for our nation, we need to operate as a team of one to meet today’s extreme challenges.

Many individuals want to compare the business world to an educational environment. Schools do not produce widgets. Products are produced in a quality-controlled factory and shipped off to a customer. Factory rejects are put in the scrap bin. Teachers educate children. Educators can't and don't engage in quality control over humans during the 13 year-long educational cycle. Educators do not control the first five years of a child's life, nor do they control activities outside of the school day. High quality teachers use cutting-edge educational materials to guide students to academic success. Test scores are only snapshots of success. True success for America is achieved when our students become productive, creative, contributing and happy citizens of our society. Educational institutions are not widget factories and should not be treated as such.

Like the Wizard of Oz's Tin Man, education needs a heart to teach. Teaching is a 100% people business in which relationships and rapport are at the heart of success. Every school employee is critical to a student's success, including bus drivers, food service staff, custodial/maintenance staff, support staff, administrative staff, and teaching staff. While the teachers in each classroom are at the heart of education, all of the other groups working in our schools provide the support system to keep that heart beating for each unique student's success.

Over my 33 year career as a teacher, I have seen many programs: Mainstreaming, Pullout programs, North Central Accreditation, Portfolios, Highly Qualified Certification, NCLB, Charter Schools, Schools of Choice, RTTT. Each of these brings some merit and pitfalls. But no test or program can bring the imagination, inspiration, or dedication that are the heart to a successful educational program. Teachers provide those critical human elements for the success of all.

Testing has it place and needs to be done. Steps need to be taken to improve our educational system. However, we cannot afford to take the human factor, the heart, out of our classrooms. Teaching is so much more than dumping dates and facts into children’s minds. Such qualities as loyalty, dedication, perseverance, teamwork, independence, creative thinking, work ethic, and dependability are all traits taught from the classroom to the athletic field. Yet, you will not find them on any test. But you will find every employer looking for these qualities in an employee.

Test score are not the only measure of success. If students learn to enjoy success and overcome failure, become leaders and learn to compromise, become independent and work as a team, they will be more successful than most current leaders in Lansing or D.C.

For our educational system to truly be successful, there needs to be a strong emphasis on preschool development and early elementary programs that lift up the challenged, challenge the gifted, and instill in all the desire to learn, achieve, and persevere. At the other end of the educational spectrum, there needs to be the assurance for continuing education beyond 12th grade like the Michigan Promise. One only has to look at the success of the Kalamazoo Promise to see how motivational this is for students and encouraging for their parents. Each child has a unique potential. Let's not cut that potential short.

Please support Steve Markel’s efforts to make sure our children have the opportunities to meet their potential by donating, volunteering, and voting for Steve Markel for State Representative in the August 3 primary.

Photo credits: Jonathan Markel, Tipping Point Photography (for these photos as well as the "Education" image on the home page)