This week, a 69-year-old great-grandmother, Lynda Faye Wilson, and I represented ourselves during oral arguments before a Connecticut state court judge to oppose an effort by the Gov. Dan Malloy to dismiss a lawsuit we filed earlier this year. And during that hearing, we confirmed why all families â especially those who are people of color who will always be judged by the color of their skin as well as the content of their character â must access high-quality data and knowledge in order to aggressively advocate for our children so they can get the high-quality education they need.
One of the most-amazing aspects of American public education is that families are compelled by state laws to send their children to school regardless of quality, yet they are denied their reciprocal rights as families and citizens to shape education decision-making. This is especially true when it comes to state boards of education, which are often influenced by affiliates of the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers, who use their campaign dollars and political pull to make sure that governors and state officials do not represent families properly.
So parents and caregivers such as Lynda and I (along with another mother, ShâKeia Dickerson) must work zealously â including in courts of law â to make sure that all families are represented. This is what we began doing in September, when we filed suit against Malloy and the state to seek the removal of Erin D. Benham, president of the AFTâs Meriden Federation of Teachers and executive board member of the AFTâs Nutmeg State affiliate, from the state board of education due to ethics violations by Malloy as well as Benhamâs conflict of interest as a leader in a teachersâ union. And Malloy, who appointed Benham to the board earlier this year after the state legislature ended its session, has fought to dismiss our suit ever since.
The latest step began on Monday at 9:30 a.m. with a straightforward hearing. That morning, an official from the state attorney generalâs office, on behalf of the governor, began explaining to the judge why Benham, a teachersâ union leader who doesnât represent families, should be allowed to sit on the state board like any other âAverage Joeâ. From where the governor sits, neither Ms. Wilson nor I offered a sensible argument against Ms. Benhamâs appointment, and in fact, were wrong in alleging that our civil and constitutional rights were violated by the appointment of what the lawyer tried to call a humble educator. In our minds, our we wondered how could anyone call a teachersâ union leader with millions of dollars (as well as other political influence) at her disposal an Average Joe. But we didnât worry. Because we had spent months talking to legal experts as well as gathering evidence. So we were well-prepared to counter-argue.
After Gov. Malloyâs legal representative finished his oral argument, I stood up and presented or case. We laid out the statutory language that outlines the appointment process to Connecticutâs board of education while the legislature was in and out of session â to the shock of the assistant attorney general. It is a look I have seen on the faces of teachers, school leaders, legislators, and even my fellow school reformers before. This was the look of shock that a mother, an Average Jane like I, a black woman, could speak for herself, do so eloquently, and with the knowledge that in their minds should belong to them alone.
Then I laid out the details of our lawsuit. I presented evidence that Benhamâs appointment by Malloy was a clear conflict of interest because she was an AFT local president, a leader in a union that contributed $10,000 to his re-election campaign through a donation to the Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee and $250,000 to his campaign through the Connecticut Forward Super-PAC.
Furthermore, we as parents allege an AFT leader cannot be an impartial member on the state board of education because of the unionâs well-publicized opposition to the Connecticutâs Parent Empowerment law, the nationâs second Parent Trigger law. Over the past four year, AFT and NEA opposition has led the state to refuse to enforce the law. This has left more than 100,000 children trapped in low-performing schools. AFT Connecticutâs efforts to quash the Parent Trigger law was exposed three years ago when Dropout Nation revealed its presentation on how it took action to first “Kill”, then âDiffuseâ the law at a national AFT conference. The revelation was so embarrassing to AFT’s national leadership that its president, Randi Weingarten, came to Connecticut to apologize to me and to politicians who backed its passage.
After our presentation, the assistant attorney general was given a chance to provide rebuttal. But instead he proceeded to tell the judge that he was not aware that Benham was an interim appointment. Why wasnât he aware? He said it was because âthe parentsâ didnât tell him. Throughout his rebuttal, he confirmed that he no longer viewed us as mere bystanders and that he could no longer downplay our presence as a mere nuisance.
When parents have access to high-quality information and resources, we can challenge efforts by politicians and others to protect the few at the expense of the rest of us. When families of color and those from low-income households have access to high-quality data, they can disprove the notions of so many that communities of color and low income are unable to work aggressively on behalf of our children. Well-informed parents are powerful â and no one should underestimate them. School reformers should especially be ready to join common cause with Parent Power activists to help all of our children get the best they deserve.
But it isnât just about data alone. The fact that we parents, who were well-educated enough to navigate the world around us proves how important it is for all of our children to be provided high-quality education. When our children are highly-educated, they can go far as adults in ensuring that future generations of children can grow up safe and well-educated.
When families have high-quality data, they can be champions for all children. We should work to empower every parent and caregiver.