Quality Education: The Civil Rights Issue of Today

Fifty years ago the Civil Rights March on Washington For Jobs and Justice was attended by at least 250,000 people, who represented several civil rights organizations that focused on different approaches and agendas. In August, this significant moment in history celebrated its 50th Anniversary. Many people reminisced on what they were doing on this day and how the importance of the Martin Luther Kings Jr., " I Have A Dream" Speech was to them. Many questioned if we have reached the dream that once was a vision.

 

Recently Michel Martin, the host of "Tell Me More" on NPR News, had the U.S Secretary of Education Arne Duncan as her special guest. During this interview, they discussed the biggest challenges educators, parents and students face in today's society and how quality education is the civil rights issue of our time. Duncan discussed how he was raised in the inner city of Chicago's Southside,which has been portrayed in the news as a area "plagued by violence."

 

"We need to do everything we can to help those students overcome those very real obstacles of poverty, of violence, of hunger and then [ how to] be successful academically." Duncan explained that "the way we break the cycles of poverty is through high quality education." Click here to listen to more of Duncan's interview on NPR News.

 

At the Jacksonville Public Education Fund our mission is to inform and mobilize the community to advocate for universally high-quality public school for all children. We believe that an informed and active citizenry, together with attentive and aligned community leadership, will move our schools forward to prepare students with the skills they need for future success.

 

Our organization along with engaged community members are working to ensure that the purpose of the Civil Rights March on Washington will become a reality. Learn about all of our initiatives to help serve our parents, students and teachers in Duval County!

-- Ciara Walton