Unite and Bridge Unders tanding for All Stakeholders Through Advocacy . . . . . . Pablo Muirhead

Unite and Bridge Understanding for All Stakeholders Through Advocacy

by Pablo Muirhead, Ph.D., Instructor of Spanish and Teacher Education, Milwaukee Area Technical College

Our society has become incredibly divided over issues ranging from pandemic responses to what books kids should read. It’s truly mind boggling. Sadly , education has never been immune to politics and it’s now in our faces every day.

However, we are in such a wonderful profession, one in which we can help unite and bridge unders tanding. Our work as world language educ ators invites students into new possibilities, spaces in which they can become more globally competent and multilingual.

The many hats I wear speak to my advocacy for education. A proud member of WAFLT since the 90s, I am in my 27th year of teaching Spanish which I have done at the middle and high school levels before moving to the college levels. As my three-year term on the ACTFL Board came to an end, I joined the J oint National Committee for Languages : National Council for Languages and International Studies (JNCL-NCLIS) [languagepolicy.org] Board where I continue my advocacy at the national level. At the state and local levels, I am in my second term on my local school board where I hav e forged relationships with our state leaders to advocate for education.

In this piece, I would like to invite you to consider things you can do, and should know about, at the loc al, state, and national lev els. Let’s continue our focus on our work while keeping an eye on the political landscape.

Local Ideas

The more we can establish ourselves as relevant and integral to the curricular experience of all students, the more we can spread the importance of global competence and multilingualism. Below are some thoughts for ways to have an impact in your school and/or district. 1. Toot your horn! Invite your administrators into your classroom to see some of the great things you are doing. They are struggling with this pandemic as well, and a few minutes in your classroom may give them a boost of energy. 2. Look at curricular requirements in your school. Work to make sure that world languages are a requirement. 3. Join other Wisconsin districts and get your school to join the national movement behind the Seal of Biliteracy as well as Wisconsin’s Global Scholars Program.

State Impact

Governor Evers proposed a budget that was arguably the best education budget Wisconsin had seen in a generation. However, the Wisconsin State Legislature and Senate, decimated it to the point that there was a $0 increase on per pupil expenditure. And there was no increase in special education funding, keeping us last among all 50 states.

These issues clearly have a negative impact on public schools including world languages. If you have seen small pay increases, slashes to programs, or had your own program decimated, then you know what is at stake. Keep in mind that what the state does not cover for special education comes from districts’ general education fund. Yes, that means programs get cut and salaries don’t increase at the rate they should.

You might be scratching your head wondering why education has not been prioritized, especially given the fact that Wisconsin’s general fund is at an all-time high of $3.8 billion (s ee Legislative Fiscal Bureau Memo from Jan. 25, 2022). The original forec ast had been a $1 billion s urplus.

Many educational advocacy groups within the state, ranging from the Wisconsin Public Education Network to local school boards, are asking for the state legislature to convene a special session to address these funding gaps.

In a nutshell, apply any pressure through your networks (unions, boards, schools, etc.) to call for this special session. Stay abreast of these changes and always vote!

National Impact

Recent reports (ACTFL and AAAS) conclude that our country’s language capacity has reached a critical breaking-point with implications for business and government as well as military, diplomatic, and intelligenc e services. Much of this has to do with the national teacher shortage which also impacts world language classrooms.

WAFLT is a proud member of JNCL-NCLIS. Yearly, a delegation from Wisconsin heads to Capitol Hill to advocate for issues related to languages along with delegations from

the other 49 states. We are in our second year of doing this virtually due to the pandemic. JNCL-NCLIS has built a strong network that helps us advance causes more effectively at the federal level.

By the time you read this, our delegation consisting of Dan Tess, Janet Rowe, and myself, will have met with the offices of Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson as well as those of Representatives Mike Gallagher, Scott Fitzgerald, and Gwen Moore.

The following areas of action were part of our ask: 1. Support providing at least $15 million for the World Language Advancement and Readiness Program (WLARA) in FY22 Appropriations . 2. Support forthcoming World Language Education Assistance Program (World LEAP) legislation which would establish a new world language program in the Department of Education. 3. Support passage of the Advancing International and Foreign Language Education Act (HR 2940/S.1453), to reauthorize International Educ ation Programs under Title VI of the Higher Education Act, as part of the United States Innovation and Competition Act – USICA (S.1260).

4. Support passage of the Biliteracy Educational Seal and Teac hing (BEST) Act (S.680/HR 1731) that will provide federal funding for equitable implementation of programs to allow every student in America the opportunity to achieve a Seal of Biliteracy. 5. Support authorization and funding for the Native American Language Resource Center Act (S.989/HR 2271). 6. Join the Congressional America’s Languages Caucus.

For more detail on the bac kground and rationale behind all of thes e pieces of advocacy visit this link.

Conclusion

Advocacy is important work that we are already doing by virtue of helping our students become global citizens equipped with multilingualism. Let’s continue our important work while keeping an eye on broader issues that can negatively impact what we try to do. Advocacy is critical at the local, state and national lev els. Do what you can. Stay informed. Vote. And most of all, thank you for the vitally important work that you do for our students.

WAFLT Statement on Equity and Inclusion

As the state language teac hers' association, WAFLT values inclusion, compassion, open-mindedness, unity, peace, and hope in our inc reasingly interdependent world. So much of our work is predicated on our commitment to these values. We stand united with our BIPO C colleagues and students as we continue to work together to achieve a global society that ensures equity and justice for everyone. We see you. We support you. We stand with you.