We asked our Educators Rising members what they wish the public knew about schools.
The crucial role of families
When discussing the challenges schools face, it’s easy to overlook a vital element: the role of families in a child’s education. Many people think it’s solely up to teachers and school staff, but education starts at home. From an early age, children learn essential skills and values from their families. Parents are their first teachers, instilling lessons in language, behavior, and social skills. When families engage in their child’s learning — reading together, talking about school, encouraging curiosity — it lays a strong foundation for academic success. Active family involvement fosters a sense of partnership with schools.
Teachers guide and instruct, but it’s at home where lessons are reinforced and applied. This collaboration creates a supportive environment where children understand the importance of education. Research shows that students with engaged families do better in school, attend more regularly, and have better behavior. When families and schools work together, they can address challenges more effectively, ensuring every child gets the support they need. By valuing family involvement, we help build a better, more supportive environment for every child’s learning journey.
Shae’Aunna Johnson
Freshman
Bossier Parish College
Bossier, Louisiana
The problem of violence
I wish the public understood how often our children are witnessing or worrying about school violence. It’s easy to not think about these issues when you’re not in school, but our students are frequently witnessing fighting and bullying and are afraid of mass casualty events happening at their schools. It’s important for the public to know how these issues deeply affect students and their mental health and behavior daily.
Lexi Lieb
Freshman
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio
Learning beyond school
I wish the public fully understood that school is only a portion of the way we receive education. School is not the only place that provides learning opportunities or encourages different levels of thinking and reasoning. School-age children and teenagers need more than classroom instruction to acquire knowledge and build skills. Schools cannot be the sole place where students receive social, emotional, cognitive, and academic support.
Ivy Grace Smith
Freshman
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
How hard teachers work
I wish the public knew about the immense effort teachers put into each student’s success. People often think teachers just follow a set curriculum, but they actually spend countless hours planning lessons, grading, and supporting every learner. Understanding this dedication is crucial because it leads to more support for policies that benefit both teachers and students. This awareness fosters respect and cooperation between the community and educators, enhancing the overall quality of education.
Char’Tayvious Edwards
Freshman
Meridian Community College
Meridian, Mississippi
The importance of education
Everyone knows that education is important, but I don’t believe enough people realize that without education there is nothing else. Every job in the United States and the rest of the world is built on the foundation of a decent education. Too often, education is pushed to the sidelines, when many issues can actually be solved by addressing a problem within education. Last fall, I did a research paper about how paying teachers more can not only lead to more students graduating but can also stimulate the economy and help ameliorate the teacher shortage.
Calvin Plante
Freshman
American University
Washington, DC
Grades aren’t everything
I wish more of the public knew that schools are more than just testing and grades. Kids learn so many important life and social skills and get to know themselves at school. It’s important to know that kids can benefit so much from school, even if they don’t get the best grades.
Sarah Steeves
Freshman
West Chester University
West Chester, Pennsylvania
A shared effort
I wish the public knew that it takes a village to help students academically, socially, and emotionally. Teachers can’t be the only resources to help students become successful. It takes a community to show these students that we care because most of the time they just need to be encouraged and someone to believe in them so they can be successful. If the public understood this more, I think there would be fewer students dropping out of school.
Elbert Thomas
Freshman
Copiah Lincoln Community College
Wesson, Mississippi
The value of clubs
I wish the public had more knowledge of the clubs and programs that are offered in schools. During my high school career, I was active in many clubs, one of them being Educators Rising. EdRising prepared me for my next step in life after high school.
I feel that if more people knew about the programs and promoted them, we would have more participation and more opportunities to build students’ foundation of success.
Kali Sieger
12th grade
Lafayette County High School
Stamps, Arkansas
