When Good Is Not Good Enough: A Quest for Quality in Illinois’ Schools

Education is important to everyone. And, this project gave me the opportunity to express a lot of vital points regarding the topic of “Education Reform.” Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States of America, led the fight that resulted in public education becoming a hallmark of our democracy. He saw ignorance as a form of bondage, stating that if America was to remain free, she would need to enlighten her citizens through public education. The American people embraced these ideals, and ultimately the U.S. became the global leader in education and secured its position as a world power. Based on our history, one would think that America would proudly equip every generation of students with the necessary and relevant academic skills to compete in a global world. But, oh, how we have fallen! After decades of decline and a range of reforms, we still find that even our good schools are not good enough. Fortunately, there has been a growing chorus across the country, calling the U.S. back to its original commitment to being the global leader in education. With the launch of the Statewide Action & Grassroots Education Campaign in Illinois (SAGE), we add our voices to that chorus. For more information, visit Here

As the citizenry of the great State of Illinois, we hold the responsibility of defending our right to freedom and quality education. May God give us the courage to meet these challenges with insight and determination as we present ourselves to inquiry, learning, and action on behalf of all Illinois students. –Dr. Patricia Watkins