This week marks NASPE’s Annual Speak Out Day. For those unfamiliar, it is an opportunity for state leaders in our profession to converge on Washington DC and speak with their state representatives regarding any issues concerning our field. I did not get the opportunity to attend this year for reasons other than not always being the best advocate. I have heard from many in the past, however, about the benefits, learning, and connections made on these trips.
I tend to beat myself up over advocacy. While I do a good job locally, as I am sure many of you do, I have been thrust into it on a higher level as an elected leader of our state professional organization (Georgia AHPERD). At the local level, I always trumpet the benefits of health, physical education, and physical activity. Our school program does a superb job and we let our community know about all our students’ activities. We keep our classroom teachers and administrators informed regarding new rules, testing, or initiatives that are on the horizon. Our district administrator also assists by shuttling information down the pipeline to us to disseminate. I have always felt comfortable advocating at the school/community level.
But that is where it ended. I knew about things that occur at the state and national levels. I guess my lack of involvement is typical—we tend to worry about our little corner of the world and don’t feel comfortable branching out into unknown territories, like the world of legislation. As a leader in Georgia AHPERD, I have to get out of my comfort zone and delve into this world. Luckily, I have good support from past and present leaders in Georgia, as well as connections made with AAHPERD. Trying to improve, I attended a wonderful webinar at the beginning of the year with Carly Braxton, AAHPERD Senior Manager for Government Relations, that taught us about how to advocate and current legislative priorities at the National level. Because of this, I gained the knowledge and confidence (with some help from Carly) to draft and send a letter to a Georgia Congressman in support of Senator Udall’s Physical Act. In addition, I am keeping in better touch with what happens at the local, state, and National levels regarding bills and programs that are being introduced, examined, or changed. My expertise with advocacy is far from the best, but I am trying!
The bottom line is that advocacy is a job for all of us. We can’t all be great, but we are all going to have to venture out of our comfort zones to get better. In a time when programs continue to be cut, you have to speak up or you could be the one facing the cut. This is a unique time for our line of work. Legislation is turning in our favor, a focus on childhood obesity, and new programs (Let’s Move Active Schools and Presidential Youth Fitness Program) are being implemented. Let’s capitalize! Take care of our profession and our kids by working to be better advocates.
I am trying……..will you?