West Monroe Hosts Forum on Education Problems
By: Nick Lawton
Updated: February 26, 2013
WEST MONROE -- Some local educators are claiming our education system is at war with the state government.
On Monday night, they and dozens of community members met in West Monroe to make their voices heard.
At the Louisiana Association of Educators Forum, there was no shortage of problems to address and no shortage of grievances voiced by the community.
Dozens of community members gathered at the West Monroe Convention Center facing a panel of local teachers, superintendents, students and even state representatives.
The hot topics were more students dropping out at a younger age, teacher evaluations believed to be unfair and also what educators call unfair blame being placed on teachers for these problems when other factors like poverty and child hunger are parts of the equation.
Many residents came out Monday night just wanting answers to these problems.
"Our state is ranked 47th or 48th in education and to me that's not acceptable, so anything that I can get involved with that will change that or make it better, that's what I do," West Monroe High School Teacher, Mitzi Murray, said.
"Some of the solutions that we may have are not one day, one month, or one year solutions," Louisiana Association of Educators Executive Director, Michael Walker-Jones, responded. "You can't be 47th or 48th."
Some state representatives spoke on how any possible education solutions developed for Monroe or West Monroe must be unique, saying what works here won't work in cities like New Orleans.
They said a new transition must come now or the current system will erode, but many residents said near the end of the forum that they were still wanting answers.
On Monday night, they and dozens of community members met in West Monroe to make their voices heard.
At the Louisiana Association of Educators Forum, there was no shortage of problems to address and no shortage of grievances voiced by the community.
Dozens of community members gathered at the West Monroe Convention Center facing a panel of local teachers, superintendents, students and even state representatives.
The hot topics were more students dropping out at a younger age, teacher evaluations believed to be unfair and also what educators call unfair blame being placed on teachers for these problems when other factors like poverty and child hunger are parts of the equation.
Many residents came out Monday night just wanting answers to these problems.
"Our state is ranked 47th or 48th in education and to me that's not acceptable, so anything that I can get involved with that will change that or make it better, that's what I do," West Monroe High School Teacher, Mitzi Murray, said.
"Some of the solutions that we may have are not one day, one month, or one year solutions," Louisiana Association of Educators Executive Director, Michael Walker-Jones, responded. "You can't be 47th or 48th."
Some state representatives spoke on how any possible education solutions developed for Monroe or West Monroe must be unique, saying what works here won't work in cities like New Orleans.
They said a new transition must come now or the current system will erode, but many residents said near the end of the forum that they were still wanting answers.
