Dell Rapids Public School News
11/06/2007
American Education Week
The month of November is significant for three important events — Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, and American Education Week. November 11-17 will be the 86th annual observance of this important event.
Eighty-six years ago, in 1921, the American Legion and the National Education Association
created American Education Week to raise support for quality education and provide a time
to salute our public schools and the people who work in them.
The driving force behind creating American Education Week was World War I. Both the American Legion and the National Education Association were terribly concerned that 25% of the draftees coming into the Armed Forces were illiterate.
For 86 years these two organizations have led the charge to support public education. This year the theme of American Education Week is — "Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility". The theme spotlights the importance of providing every child in America with a quality public education, and the need for everyone to do his or her part in making public schools great.
With this important week upon us, I would encourage everyone to visit the Dell Rapids School during American Education Week and see today's schools, students and educators in action. Schools are public enterprises and they need parents, grandparents, churches, business leaders, civic groups and everyone to support and lend a caring hand. Your time and your talents are needed!
Showing support can be reading to kindergartners, thanking your child's teacher, telling high school students about your profession or having lunch with your child or grandchild at school. A rather small gesture can go an extremely long way.
Our schools and our staff are there for our children, often under trying circumstances and many times with less than adequate resources and support. Without the hard work and dedication of teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, secretaries, and food service workers, the scientists, artists, and political and social leaders in our country would not have been able to fulfill their dreams.
Finally, visit or call your schools during American Education Week because schools are the backbone of democracy and the community linchpins that bring together adults and children in a common enterprise.