NAACP hosts forum to discuss issues in education
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JACKSON, Tenn. — The Jackson-Madison County NAACP hosted a forum Sunday evening about education in the community. The goal was to make sure the board of education’s vision isn’t blurred by dollar signs or brick and mortar and that students across West Tennessee remain the focus. Parents, teachers and community leaders join in on a big conversation. “We have to address the needs of the future,” said Myra Henderson, who is on the education and political action committee with the local NAACP. “We cannot continue to rely on somebody else to make sure our children are taken care of.” Citizens talked about the issues they feel need to be addressed by the school board. “Whether it’s more funding needed, we need the courage to ask for it,” NAACP President Harrell Carter said. “If we need to build more schools, then we need to do that for the sake of our children.” Local leaders said “Vision 20/20” is a restructuring plan of the Jackson-Madison County School System’s resources, which is something many at the meeting said is only a focus on the bottom dollar. Many also were frustrated about possible school closings. “Our conversation has been centered upon funding brick and mortar, square footage, closing down buildings, but never a mention of how it will help better educate our children,” local NAACP Vice President Byron Elam said. Sunday served as a springboard not only for future conversations but for action, focusing on what serves the students’ best interest. Leaders hope the conversations turn to better test scores and smaller class sizes for better learning. “Oftentimes I hear ‘we don’t have the money,’ or ‘we can’t afford to invest,’ but it’s just the opposite,” Carter said. The Jackson-Madison County Board of Education will hold the next meeting July 6.
