powerpac.org [powerpac.org]
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I typed what I typed and I’m going to type it again. Our education system EXPLOITS unpaid women’s labor.
And the ugly system is only getting worse.
How do I know? Because I give that unpaid labor. Every volunteer shift I take under the guise of “parent involvement helps our kids succeed” is part of that ugly system. And every hour our teachers spend at their schools not getting paid is part of that ugly system. And every paraprofessional who is there for the kids but not being compensated fairly is part of that ugly system.
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Our system is broken. We already know that. And no amount of test preparation will tell us otherwise. The heavy reliance on unpaid women’s labor is an injustice that often goes unnoticed.
While our nation's educators work tirelessly to nurture the minds of our future generations, it's disheartening to see the extent to which our system depends on their unpaid and most often unacknowledged efforts.
So what can we do about it? As part of our mission to build power and seek justice, here are three solutions we can do to rectify this problem.
**Compensate Parent Volunteers:**
One glaring example of unpaid women's labor in education is the countless hours volunteered by parents in our schools. Mothers, in particular, often bear the brunt of this responsibility. It's high time we recognize and compensate their contributions. Implementing a fair system of stipends or tax credits for parent volunteers could help alleviate the financial burden on many families while valuing their time and efforts appropriately. This would also encourage a more diverse group of parents to get involved, fostering a richer learning environment.
**Invest in Professional Development for Paraprofessionals:**
Another area where unpaid labor is prevalent is in the ranks of paraprofessionals, many of whom are women. These dedicated individuals play an integral role in supporting teachers and students but are often underpaid and lack opportunities for career advancement. By investing in robust professional development programs, we can empower these educators to grow in their roles, providing a higher quality of education for our children while ensuring fair compensation for their hard work.
**Advocate for Comprehensive Education Funding Reform:**
Our public education system is chronically underfunded, which often leads to a reliance on unpaid labor to fill the gaps. We must advocate for comprehensive education funding reform at the state and federal levels. This should include adequate funding for teacher salaries, classroom resources, and support staff. By addressing the root cause of the problem, we can reduce the pressure on educators, parents, and paraprofessionals to pick up the slack.
I know that none of these solutions will happen overnight. And I’m not highlighting this problem because I hate volunteering at my kids’ school. I simply want women to get what they are owed.
Our nation already burdens women with so much patriarchal sh*t. It’s about time we strive for a more equitable and sustainable model that values the contributions of ALL those who work to provide a quality education for our children. We can take significant steps toward creating a fairer and more inclusive education system.
Our children deserve nothing less.
A progressive mom’s musings.
Edil Mari De Los Reyes
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PowerPAC is a social justice organization that strategically directs financial and human resources to local and state organizations working to deliver wins in legislative fights, ballot initiatives, and more. For years the money we've raised has, dollar for dollar, been given back to the communities we work with. We've made sure that your investments were being used to build power for our communities because too often we are underrepresented and ignored.
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