Leave it to Marilyn Moore.
Those who know Moore, one of the most influential figures in Lincoln’s public school system and in Nebraska’s education system, know this: The woman has a way with words.
She’s articulate and smart, and her speeches have a literary quality that turn a school groundbreaking into a moving testament to the deep roots education has in the history of the Great Plains and those who settled here.
She’s passionate about kids, especially those living in poverty, making their education and success her life’s work.Â
Moore retired from LPS in 2012, served as president of Bryan College of Health Sciences for another four years, then retired again in June. But she’s still around, still passionate.
So it’s not surprising that she was a part of last week’s Women’s March on Lincoln, along with thousands of others here and millions around the world.
Nor is it surprising that when a friend on her Facebook page asked her why she marched, Moore sat down, organized her thoughts and wrote.
She posted it on her Facebook page, intending to share it with friends. But then those friends asked if they could share it with their friends, and Moore’s words spread across Facebook, shared more than 340 times, commented on by 145, liked by more than 600.
Her words weren't a response to negative reaction to the march, she said. She tries to avoid those voices.
“I try not to read stuff that raises my blood pressure.â€
Responding in writing helped clarify her own thinking, she said, that she was marching to advocate for — not against — something.
Not everyone will agree with her, Moore said, but, ultimately, her words articulate why being a part of American democracy means speaking up.Â
I marched because I care about first amendment rights, like freedom of speech, and freedom of religion, and freedom of the press, and freedom to peaceably assemble. It seems like a good idea to advocate for these rights before we have a proposal for a registry for Muslims, before mainstream professional journalists are moved to the margin, before a threatened tweet silences voices.
She marched because she cares about refugees and immigrants, and she told us why.
She marched for women who live with the reality of sexual assault and sexual harassment, for those frightened by the prospect of losing their medical insurance, for children with disabilities whose education is protected by federal legislation, for people of color, for her gay and lesbian friends, for the planet, for health care, for her family and for her country. And she told us why.
The most important role in a democracy is that of citizen, and citizens vote, they advocate, they speak up, they stay informed, they run for office, they support the hard work of governing for all the people, and sometimes, they march ...
If you marched, her words may articulate many of your own thoughts. If you're struggling to understand why people marched, Moore's is a beautifully written explanation.
Read the entire post at .
Early childhood challenges
Lincoln Public Schools officials are considering piloting two full-day early childhood programs in the district, which led to a debate at the last school board meeting.
The board discussed a proposal for a $200,000 grant from the Nebraska Department of Education to expand existing early childhood programs in the district.
The grants are fairly routine — the district has applied for them for several years, according to Jane Stavem, associate superintendent of instruction. They require a 100 percent match.
The difference in this proposal is that it requests money for full-day instead of half-day programs. Now, LPS has half-day preschool programs in 29 of its elementary schools.
The grant proposal doesn’t mean the pilot programs are a done deal, Stavem said. The money could also be used for four half-day programs. But it's one of the possibilities being discussed as part of the district's strategic plan update.
The debate among board members highlights the decisions facing the district: Begin full-day programs that would serve fewer children, or serve more kids with half-day programs.
The district now serves more than 1,500 children, including about 100 in a full-day Educare program — the partnership with the University of Nebraska and the Buffett Foundation — and home-based care.
But more than 800 children are on a waiting list. Another issue: Space for additional programs is limited.
Board member Barb Baier has been a vocal proponent for full-day early childhood programs.
“We always have to ask the question, 'Are the programs effective?'" she said at the board meeting. “It’s not a good investment if they’re not doing what we need. We need to weigh the waiting list with effectiveness.â€
Other board members, such as Kathy Danek, said they have seen the benefit in half-day programs, and something is better than nothing.Â
“I don’t disagree if we had a perfect world, a full day would be effective,†she said. “But I would question taking opportunities for kids to have half-day experiences to nothing. A half-day at least is an introduction to school life.â€
The board is likely to approve the grant application at its Feb. 14 meeting.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7226 or mreist@journalstar.com.
On Twitter @LJSreist.
Marilyn Moore: Why I marched
So why did I march? That question has been asked of many participants of the Women's marches in the US and around the world last Saturday. It's an important question--because motive says something about goals, and next steps. ...
I marched because I care about first amendment rights, like freedom of speech, and freedom of religion, and freedom of the press, and freedom to peaceably assemble. It seems like a good idea to advocate for these rights before we have a proposal for a registry for Muslims, before mainstream professional journalists are moved to the margin, before a threatened tweet silences voices.
I marched because I care about refugees and immigrants, and I'm just two generations from immigrant status myself--as are many Nebraskans. I remember the suspicion and disrespect with which German immigrants in Nebraska were treated during WWII, and I thought we were past that. But evidently not, as young people and adults of all ages who "look" like an immigrant are being taunted by those who don't look like "the other."
I marched for women who live with the reality of sexual assault and sexual harassment--who interact daily with men for whom "No means yes," and for whom crude, rude, and demeaning language in the workplace seems to have been given a new nod of approval. Sexual harassment in the workplace has been a violation of federal law for more than 40 years--and it still happens every single day. It seems like a good idea to march for this cause before Title IX is targeted for a decrease in enforcement, and before funding for the Violence Against Women Act is eliminated.
I marched for women and children and families who are frightened at the prospect of loss of medical insurance, or at the prospect of an insurance plan that is so expensive that it's really no plan at all. Nearly 87,000 persons in Nebraska are covered by an insurance plan created by the Affordable Care Act, and more than 20 million in the country. And the best that can be said about its replacement is, "We're working on it." That's a high-anxiety statement. It seems like a good idea to march for this cause before Repeal and Replace become just...repeal.
I marched for children with disabilities, those children whose education is protected by federal legislation that requires a free and appropriate public education for every child, regardless of disability. That's been the federal law for more than 40 years, and in Nebraska, approximately 16% of students in public schools are students with a disability. Those students participate in every aspect of school, and they graduate with academic skills and life skills and a plan for their lives as adults. It seems like a good idea to march for this cause before a nominee for Secretary of Education who doesn't even know about this federal law is before the Senate for confirmation.
I marched for people of color, recognizing my own white privilege in making that statement. On just about any measure, quality of life is not as high for persons of color as for those of us in the majority culture. It seems like a good idea to march now...because, as Dr. King noted, "injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere."
I marched for the poor, for those for whom providing a home for their families and food on the table is a daily stressor, for those who work more than one job at minimum wage and are still unable to provide for basic needs, let alone save for college, or for an emergency, or for the car that breaks down or the unexpected medical bill. It seems like a good idea to march for this cause now, before federal safety nets that are already stretched thin become more so.
i marched for my gay and lesbian friends, who are now, finally, able to marry and to legally protect their relationship and their children. It seems like a good idea to march for these families now, before legislation that would in some way try to turn back the Supreme Court ruling is being debated.
I marched for our planet, for clean air and clean water. We may be able to establish strong and impenetrable borders, keeping people out and banning foreign imports (though I think those are unwise policies), but we share the air and the water with everyone on the planet. The world's scientists are in agreement that we're at a fragile point, and I march for science, for taking action now to assure we have God's lovely green earth for centuries to come.
I marched for healthcare for all, and especially healthcare for women. Basic health services, such as mammograms, family planning, vaccinations, well child check-ups, and pre-natal care, are essential for healthy mothers and health children. It seems like a good idea to march for this now, before proposals to reduce Medicaid funds and services are being debated in Congress.
I marched for my family, for my grandmothers and my mother and my aunts--strong women all, who valued education, who took care of their families and of one another, and who paved the way for my generation. And I march for my nieces, and their daughters, and I can't quite believe we're still having to do this. But we are, and so I march.
Finally, I marched because I care deeply about this country and its institutions--the Constitution, the Presidency, the Congress, the Supreme Court, the international treaties and commitments we have made. The most important role in a democracy is that of citizen, and citizens vote, they advocate, they speak up, they stay informed, they run for office, they support the hard work of governing for all the people, and sometimes, they march...
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