By Tolly P. Salz
"We must howl against the insanity going on around us day after day after day." Initially speaking to an audience of young, eager college students, author Ernest Gaines implored them to follow the models of thinkers and writers such as Henry David Thoreau and to howl about the various injustices in our world. Simply sitting idly by will not beget a brighter future—for anyone.
In his "Civil Disobedience," Thoreau states that if we are wise, we will not leave what is "right to the mercy of chance," and that if we are to have a truly "just" government, then "it must have the sanction and consent of the governed." As adults active in the political process, we understand these concepts. Yet what do we do when we see the government making decisions that we feel are not right, that we believe are not just? Do we howl? Or do we simply go about our business, as usual?
Whether we want to admit it or not, Texas (which certainly is not alone) is facing a crisis of pandemic proportions. And sadly, its victims are those with no legal rights, of no means to self-advocate and howl for justice in the legal system. These victims rely on us, as parents, educators, and community members, to advocate on their behalf. We must howl for them—and if not now, then when?
How can we sit by when the leader of our state seriously considers rejecting $830 million dollars in federal education funds—while simultaneously proposing to cut billions from an already underfunded public education system? How can we sit by when our own governor refuses to tap into the $9.3 billion in rainy day funds—funds that could ensure a brighter future for residents of our states, citizens of our country? How can we sit by when Perry plays political footsie with his friends, promising millions in grants and programs that will have no positive impact on future generations of this great state?
I refuse to sit by and watch our state suffer from such poor mismanagement. Yet I cannot fault Perry alone. If I refuse to howl, I also have to fault myself.
Thoreau states that "Unjust laws exist"; and then asks, "Shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?" And while I'm not advocating the transgression of one particular law that has been passed, I am advocating the need for each of us to recognize the constitutional rights provided for all children in the state of Texas.
According to the Texas Constitution, Article 7, (Education), Section 1 (Support and Maintenance of System of Public Free Schools),
"A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools."
Arguably, the Legislature has a duty to ensure that all children in the state of Texas have access to public schools that are supported and maintained by the very government who recognizes that knowledge is essential if we are to preserve the rights of the people. And this is a right I'm willing to howl about. For if we deem that children are not worthy of this knowledge, of this support, of this "efficient system," then essentially we are denying them an essential constitutional right. And that is not a "right" that I am comfortable leaving to the "mercy of chance."
As a mother, I demand these rights for my children. As an educator, I demand these rights for all children. And I'm not alone. Thanks to the efforts of Aledo School Board member Bobby J. Rigues, school boards and community members from school districts all over Texas can get involved. To find out more about Rigues's efforts, visit his site (http://www.schoolpriority.com), and find out how you can begin to howl. If you are not convinced that we need to howl, then visit our own state's website that details clearly where our state stands in education, nationwide—before these proposed budget cuts have gone into effect: (http://www.window.state.tx.us/comptrol/wwstand/wws0512ed). If things are this bad now, how much worse can they get?
Marie Curie stated that "You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end each of us must work for his own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity." By howling, by exercising our constitutional rights so that we can ensure the constitutional rights of others, we can be proactive in sharing in this general responsibility for all of humanity. To do anything less almost seems inhumane. At the very least, to do anything less certainly seems unjust.
These children in our state are our future. What, exactly, do we wish to be educating them? That personal favors should override ethical decisions? That interests of big business outweigh the importance of an educated populous? That it is right to have your constitutional rights ignored?
It is time to howl for justice. It is time to howl for advocacy. It is time to howl for constitutionality. It is time to howl for humanity. It is time to howl for what is right.
It's time for all residents in the state of Texas to get involved. Write your local state legislators. Meet with your local school board members. Draw a line in the sand, if you will, for if we refuse to educate the next generation of leaders, then what will this state, this nation, this world become?