01/19/2024
Recently, the Tulsa World (https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/education/tps-zeroing-in-on-6-200-students-who-must-improve-on-state-test-to-help/article_9a0aec1c-a03f-11ee-a048-572647717f52.html) called for more than 1,000 volunteers to step up and address the urgent need in Tulsa Public Schools. How many Tulsans will answer the call?
The situation in public education reminds me of an old parable of a terrible storm that throws thousands of starfish onto a beach. Soon, a young girl began chucking them into the ocean. After some time, a man approached her and said, “Why are you doing this? You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”
She stood deflated, staring at the sand. Then, she picked up another starfish and threw it. “Well, I made a difference for that one!”
Hundreds of Tulsa educators have been throwing starfish for the past 87 days. Despite seeing a beach full of stars, they keep bending down and finding the next one—every starfish matters. Tulsa educators will keep doing it until the school year is done.
But there’s more. In the story, the whole town is so inspired by the girl that everyone joins in, and the starfish are saved. *Hooray!*
But no one is coming.
Either this little girl gets help or a wave sweeps through this beach.
We need to rush the beach. Rushing the beach means volunteering one hour a week with Reading Partners, donating resources to your neighborhood school, or considering a career as a teacher. Set an alarm to wake up your school-aged neighbor. Pick up a single starfish to help clear our beach. Visit tulsaschools.org/volunteer to learn more.
Photo credit: Newsweek