Jackson Free Press

JACKSON — Ron Clark, founder of the Ron Clark Academy, a private, nonprofit school in Atlanta, says he wants education to be "young, fun, sexy and hot."

"One of the biggest problems we have in schools (is that) kids don't want to come," he said during his keynote speech before a crowd of educators and administrators at the Jackson Convention Center Complex Friday morning. "There's no excitement, magic. We have to put magic back in kids. If they're excited, you've got to go with it."

Clark, a seasoned educator and motivational speaker, gave the keynote speech Friday to kick off the two-day summer education forum "It All Starts With Education," organized by Rep. Jay Hughes, D-Oxford. Known for his innovative and high-energy approach to teaching, Clark spoke about the importance of teachers being passionate about their work and going above and beyond what's required of them in order to ensure the success of their students.

Though Clark's words might have inspired educators to express themselves inside the classroom, Hughes said the forum's purpose was to empower educators to speak up outside of it.

"There was not a voice for teachers and principals in the legislative session being heard when we were passing all of these bills about education reform," he told the Jackson Free Press. "I wanted to hear from them. I want to hear ideas that they have from the battlefront from being in the classroom. And this is an opportunity to do that."

Hughes also said certain legislation chilled free speech for teachers. "We want them to understand what their rights are and what rights they have to speak out about change and the quality of instruction."

"Right now it seems that public education is under attack with the efforts to privatize it," Hughes said. "Teachers go to work every day not for the money or the fame, they go to work every day to make a difference in a child's life."

During a panel featuring bipartisan support from Rep. Steve Massengill, R-Hickory Flat; Rep. Kabir Karriem, D-Columbus; and Rep. Tom Miles, D-Forest, the legislators gave advice to the crowd on how to communicate with their state government leaders in order have their voices heard.

Dr. Andrew Mullins Jr. was a panel member who retired in June of 2013 after more than 43 years in statewide education leadership, including advising former governor and education champion William Winter and co-founding the Mississippi Teacher Corps. He said the "worst thing you can do is not have done your homework," when it came to contacting legislators with complaints.

But he was sympathetic to the plight of teachers. "Nothing upsets me more than to hear public officials bash teachers as if they're the root of society's problems," he said.

Jim Keith, the lawyer representing the plaintiff in the case against the State of Mississippi regarding Initiative 42, an education initiative that would have effectively punished the state for failing to fully fund its education budget, gave a presentation about teachers' First Amendment rights at the forum. Though he warned against teachers as state employees using their time at work to post their personal opinions on social media, they still have the right to express themselves.

"You didn't lose your First Amendment rights just because you became a teacher," he said, encouraging educators to "propose legislation, study" and use social media in order to speak out—on their own time.

Hughes, who is very active on social media, said he encourages educators to speak to their representatives whenever they get the opportunity—whether it be Facebook, Twitter, email or running into them at the grocery store.

"We're always on duty, whether or not we're paid for it."

Sierra Mannie is an education reporting fellow for the Jackson Free Press and The Hechinger Report. Email her at [email protected]. For education coverage visit jfp.ms/education.