November 19, 2009

Gov. Nixon's remarks to Missouri State Teachers Association Annual Conference

Thank you, Ruth.

It's nice to see that another product of a Jefferson County education has turned out so well.

Good morning.
It is an honor to be with you here today.

From the day I entered Mrs. Kisler's kindergarten class in DeSoto, I've spent most of my life striving to surpass the expectations of my teachers - in grade school, in high school, and at the University of Missouri where I was an undergrad and a law student.

And today is no exception. I may be the Governor of Missouri, but as I stand here - with the eyes of hundreds of teachers upon me -- I'm really feeling the heat.

So let me get right to the point.

If there is one thing I'd like you take away from our meeting this morning, it's this: What you do matters. It always has.... and it always will.

It seems to be fashionable in some quarters these days to bash public education. We hear a lot of sweeping assertions like: "Our public schools are failing." "Our teachers aren't up to par." Or ..."Our kids are falling behind their peers in other countries."

There are some vocal critics out there who believe that private schools are the best option for preparing America's children to compete in a global economy. Well, that's just fine - for those who can afford it. And there are those who say that high-priced consultants and for-profit educational outfits will give us the competitive edge. Some districts are giving that a try, and the results so far have been mixed... at best.

Where I'm coming from, I see things a little differently.

Maybe that's because my entire family and I are products of Missouri's public schools.

My mother was an elementary special ed teacher in Columbia, and the first woman to be president of our local school board in DeSoto. My dad was a World War II veteran, and the GI Bill was his ticket to MU, which led him to a career in public service. He went on to become the Mayor of DeSoto, and a community judge.

My wife, Georganne, is a product of the public school system, too. She earned her degrees in education and law from the University of Missouri, and has taught in the public school system in Jefferson City.

Her father, the late Hubert Wheeler, was a school principal in Aurora, and later was the commissioner for education in Missouri from 1946-71. Her mother began her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse, and also taught in Aurora.

And our two sons are products of public education. Both of them are now students at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

That is why, as Governor, I have made strong public education one of my top priorities. And I give you my pledge today, that as long as I am governor, you can count on my commitment to public education -- and to YOU.

And that's not just talk.

This year, I worked with the Republican-led General Assembly to sign a budget providing record funding for your K-12 classrooms, even in the face of our current economic challenges.

We also passed a budget that protected Missouri families from a tuition increase at our two- and four-year public colleges and universities. While students in other states were facing double-digit tuition spikes, Missouri youth went back to school this fall without an increase in tuition or academic fees.

Just two days ago, I negotiated another agreement with the leadership and faculty at our four-year public institutions. For the second year in a row, in-state, undergraduate students at Missouri's four-year, public colleges and universities won't see tuition or academic fees rise by a single penny.

All across our great state, our public schools are strong - because of what you do every day.

And I'm not just talking about all the hard work you do from 8 to 3:30, while you're in your classrooms.

I'm talking about the hours you put in before class, giving kids extra help with their algebra, or waiting for parents to show up for their teacher's conference.

I'm talking about the time you spend after class listening to kids' problems with bullies, or boyfriends.

I'm talking about nights you sit at your kitchen table, drinking coffee and grading papers into the wee hours, long after you've checked your own kids' homework and tucked them into bed.

I'm talking about the weekends you're out there selling brownies at the football game, while your toes and fingers go numb. Or taking a busload of rowdy kids to a band competition, or painting the scenery for the Thanksgiving Day pageant.

I'm talking too, about the money you take out of your own pocket to buy pencils and notebooks, Kleenex and construction paper. Not to mention the winter coats, sneakers and canned goods that somehow find their way to needy kids.

What you do is not easy.... But it is a high calling.

You are heroes - each and every one of you.

And you don't hear that enough. So let me say it again.

You are heroes. Our children, our families, our communities and our state depend on you.

So whenever I hear someone running down public education - bad-mouthing my heroes -- I take it personally.

That's not to say that things are perfect in our public schools. They're not. Especially in this tough economy, with unemployment above nine percent and state revenues far below what we had anticipated.

Every one of your school districts is feeling the pinch, cutting things you wish you could keep.

In our impoverished schools, whether they are in rural districts in the Bootheel, or urban schools St. Louis or Kansas City, the challenges may seem overwhelming. Attendance and classroom discipline are chronic problems. Dropout rates are unacceptably high. Reflecting the slumping national economy, even more students are slipping over the brink into poverty.

But public education is not the problem. Poverty - and all that goes with it -- is the problem. Public education is the solution.

Criticizing public education is easy - and cheap. Educating children is hard - and takes serious investment.

Missouri public schools need more supporters and problem-solvers, more partners willing to work just as hard you do to help children learn, achieve and succeed.

I pledge to be your partner.

As all of you know, our state and our nation are facing historic economic challenges. But here in Missouri, we aren't letting those challenges define us. Instead, we're working together - with our public schools, community colleges and universities -- to meet these challenges head-on.

To turn this economy around, Missourians must be trained, educated and ready to work, and that's why it is vital that we preserve K-12 funding and keep tuition flat for Missouri families that have been hit hard.

One-hundred years ago, Missouri's economy was based almost exclusively on agriculture and heavy industry. But in a new century built on micro-chips and nano-technology, agriculture and heavy industry alone can't sustain our economy. To compete - and win -- in the 21st century, we must embrace emerging science and technology as critical industries of tomorrow.

Developing a 21st-century workforce requires a serious commitment to education - at every level. By helping keep higher education affordable, we are taking bold steps to prepare the workforce that will move Missouri forward.

Affordable higher education is a value that links our generations - and moves society forward. Education is key to an individual's earning power and success in life, and it is the single most important factor in the success of a state.

I am certain that each of you can recall a student you once taught - one from a modest background - but one with ability who went on to college.

Perhaps that student was the first in her family to go to college.

Maybe that student could not have afforded an Ivy League school, but found a way to enroll in an outstanding university or college in Missouri.

Thanks to good public school teachers and affordable colleges - that student is now a contributing member of our economy.

Today, that student is a doctor, or an engineer, an attorney or a teacher.

Many of you can probably recall an equally able student whose family just could not make ends meet; there are more of those than ever in this economy.

In the past those students could often find good-paying factory jobs or they had the chance to take over a local family-owned business or farm.

No more. The global economy has changed the rules of the game. Schoolchildren today will have to compete with their peers from India, China and Europe for the best-paying jobs. And without a college education, their opportunities to succeed are greatly reduced.

I am doing all I can to keep our youngsters on the path to good careers - and that path is good education.

According to research done by The College Board, the value of a college education - not just to the college graduate himself, but to society as a whole - is clear:

• Higher levels of education correlate to higher earnings for all racial/ethnic groups, and for women and men.
• College grads are more likely to have health insurance and employer-paid benefits.
• And the income gap between high school grads and college grads continues to grow.

Our society also benefits from an educated populus:

• Higher levels of education correspond to lower unemployment and poverty rates.
• College grads have lower smoking rates and healthier lifestyles than those who don't graduate from college.
• Higher levels of education correlate with more civic participation, including volunteering, voting and even giving blood.

At the end of the day, there is really nothing magical about what it takes to make a good public school.

It takes these four things:

• A state that supports its schools financially, and sets high standards. We're working on it.
• An army of dedicated and well-trained teachers. I'm looking at them.
• Parents who make sure their kids stay on track and do their homework. They're out there, from Milan to Madison.
• And kids who are willing to work hard, and take responsibility for their own success. We've got them, too.

With your continued hard work, I know that our partnership will be stronger than ever, even as we ride out these tough economic challenges.

Of the many wise things said about the value of education, this, from the great Irish poet William Butler Yeats, is one of my favorites.

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."

The fire you kindle in the hearts and minds of Missouri's children today will light the future for generations of children to come.

Thank you.