Always Vote For Public Education, Especially This November

For the past 15 years, South Lyon High School social studies teacher  Toni Simovski has made it his mission to help young people better understand the society they live in and how they can make a difference.

Whether he’s teaching AP Government or U.S. History, he favors creative approaches to introduce his students to some of the intricacies of politics so they’ll never be intimidated about participating. One class favorite is “Gerrymandering,” a video game in which students try to redraw districts to help their party, and in the process learn what is behind redistricting battles in real life.

“I remember back when I was in high school I thought I knew politics and now looking back, I wasn’t anywhere near what you’d call politically savvy,” admitted Simovksi. “I know I’ve improved my students’ knowledge far beyond where I was at their age.”

Simovski knows a lot more about politics these days, and the direct impact that elected officials have on what goes on in the classroom.

He says educators can play a huge role in the midterm elections, simply by speaking with other voters in their communities about making the commitment to head to the polls and elect pro-public education candidates to start the process of repairing the damage done to public schools and the middle class.

“You gotta just get to the parents and say, ‘Look, your kid can’t do band. Your kid can’t do art. Why? Because some of these guys in office are cutting those opportunities for your kids,’” said Simovski.

Those are just some of the immediate effects—felt deeply by educators, students and their families–that have taken hold in Michigan since the 2010 midterm elections.

Governor Rick Snyder and his allies in the state legislature cut funding for K-12 schools and higher education by more than $1 billion to offset more than $2 billion in tax giveaways for the wealthy and big corporations who don’t need them.

Snyder then signed off on expanding for-profit charter and cyber schools without ensuring accountability, and held secret meetings to develop a school voucher scheme that would funnel even more taxpayer money meant for public schools into private schools. He has also spoke about significant changes to public higher education and funding.

Simovski knows that the ballot itself can be intimidating to new voters, and even to those more experienced.

“We not only need people to vote, they need to vote down the entire ballot. As educators, we can help people get to know the candidates who will protect public education.”

“Otherwise, if educators and parents don’t take a stand, these guys in office who are hurting schools and universities go about their business and get away with it. Getting people out to vote during the midterms is the key.”