Parents must demand excellence in education

By Staff
September, 29, 2002
Meridian public schools are not immune from the stunning mediocrity that threatens the foundation of public education across the nation. To fight this unfortunate trend, a group of concerned citizens is forming locally to fight for something that is far too lacking in public education today excellence.
When Parents for Public Schools holds its first local organizational meeting Tuesday night, there should be no excused absences. Every parent has a vested interest in the quality of education and every parent should attend the meeting to hear more about how excellence can be achieved. Then, very vocal voices need to be raised as parents get more involved at every level.
Meridian businessman Jim McGinnis, chairman of the East Mississippi Business Development Corp. education committee, is helping organize the meeting. McGinnis, an energetic advocate for public education, concedes he is one of the parents with a vested interest he and his wife have three children in Meridian public schools.
He also recognizes it is impossible for him to fight this fight alone. In fact, it is impossible for any one person or entity to fight this fight alone. A combined effort is essential if a clear message is to be sent to the government officials, school board members, administrators, principals, and, yes, even teachers and students, that this community will no longer settle for mediocre schools.
Ideally, Parents for Public Schools can be the catalyst that forces all of us to realize education is a major component of economic development. Education holds the brightest promise for lifting families out of low income, dead end jobs and to lift our community to new heights of opportunity and prosperity.
We urge parents to join in the organization of a Parents for Public Schools chapter in Meridian. We urge parents to buy into a plan of action that demands excellence, keeps the pressure on and does not relent in this critical pursuit.