Grassroots, Advocacy, Activism? Why? How?
“Montessori education is no longer going to be an option.” This
was the opinion recently shared by a fellow Montessori educator now working in
the world of educational policy.
A pretty dire prediction but it might just be true.
Universal Pre-K with its Quality Rating and Improvement Systems, Professional
Registry/Career Ladders, and Licensing Rules and Regulations; K-12 mandates for
Common Core curriculum standards, student assessments, and School Report Cards
policies- and almost none of it accurately measures or even recognizes
alternative pedagogies.
As people committed to high quality Montessori education,
what can we do? Do we just give in? Do we accept less than we know we have to
offer?
There is an alternative. Together we CAN work for change.
How?
Grassroots-
(gras-roots) noun. A movement driven by the “politics” of a community. It’s
creation is natural, spontaneous, and organic. It is at a local level. It is
common or ordinary people rather than the leadership of a social organization.
It is managed by volunteers to support local issues that can lead to helping
national issues.
Advocacy- (ad-vo-ca-cy)
noun. Public support for a particular cause with a group process that aims to
influence social systems or institutions (like a state agency). Advocacy can
represent a series of actions taken with issues highlighted to change the “what
is” into “what should be.”
Advocacy is a process that:
1. questions the implementation of policy
2. raises issues of significance
3. is inclusive, engaging- providing opportunity for public
conversation
4. proposes solutions
Activism- (ac-tiv-ism)
noun. The action of using a vigorous campaign, or collaborative effort, to
bring about change.
Activists try to
persuade people to change behavior, or impacts, through various means
including:
1. community building
2. cooperative movement
3. voluntary simplicity
4. social media
5. direct action
Everyone one of us can contribute. The time is now. Will you
join the grassroots advocacy activism in support of Montessori education?
