“How was your summer working at the National Education Association?”
“Great, except I spent my summer working at The Center for Education Reform.”
Although my dad was misinformed about how and where I spent my summer, I am confident that my dad will not be misinformed of what the Education Reform movement entails when the time comes to answer all his inevitable questions about my summer internship. One of which I anticipate to be, “what did you learn?”
When I think about how responding to this question, I can name a million and three things I learned this summer, but the most prominent was the importance of communication of correct information and knowledge.
This small conversation with my dad parallels a prominent aspect of the Education Reform movement; the power and importance of knowledge and information. Before my summer interning with The Center for Education Reform (CER), I thought that being on the ground was the only way to enact change and progress. Nine weeks later I realize how misinformed I was about the different levels of work being done to propel the education reform movement forward.
Although I could go on for hours reciting and recounting all the things I learned this summer about the education reform movement, one of the most important things I learned was that this movement would be nothing if parents and community members were not accurately informed about their options of education for their children. I gained a new appreciation and understanding of how knowledge encourages and fosters change and progress; without information or knowledge movements can’t change and children can’t be given the quality education that they deserve.
I am not the same person I was walking into the doors of CER as I am walking out. I am not only much more informed about the education reform movement, but I have also learned the importance of information in fostering change and progress. I have a better understanding of what it takes to ensure all students have access to a quality education, which I have also learned is a lot easier said than done. I also have seen and experienced first hand the dedication and countless hours that constitute this movement. The words I have heard on an almost daily basis, “The work in this movement is never done”, inspire me to continue work with the education reform movement long after I exit the office of CER for the final time this summer.
Elizabeth Kennard, CER Intern