Talking Points on Increasing Public Education Funding

Yesterday I went to an amazingly useful and efficient conference on children’s advocacy: the third annual statewide summit of Stand for Children in Massachusetts.

One piece I want to pass on to other children’s advocates is how to frame appeals for increased public education funding. The lunch presentation covered this topic in depth. A pollster from a Washington D.C.-based research firm explained that the most persuasive talking point is that Americans have a “right” to a “decent” public school education. Another quite effective message is that most people cannot afford private or parochial education for their children.

Unfortunately, Americans are less motivated by arguments about the importance of public schools as places where “students develop good values” or as places where students explore art, music, and other electives.

All of the workshops I attended at this conference were well-organized and led by dynamic facilitators. The participants were men and women from across Massachusetts, including a number of people who hold elected office in their communities. There was a high level of interest in debating the pros and cons of specific policies that impact children, and in deepening concrete organizing skills. One woman I met told me this is her third year working with Stand for Children, and that all the conferences are this efficient and useful. Wow!

Stand for Children also has branches in Tennessee and Oregon—so if you are nearby, check them out!