ROCK SPRINGS – School can be a monotonous struggle consisting of week after week of the same thing for parents, students and school staff. Next week, Sweetwater County School District No. 1 will break that monotony as they prepare to celebrate American Education Week.

The National Education Association was one of the creators and original sponsors of American Education Week. Distressed that 25 percent of the country’s World War I draftees were illiterate and 9 percent were physically unfit, representatives of the NEA and the American Legion met in 1919 to seek ways to generate public support for education.

The conventions of both organizations subsequently adopted resolutions of support for a national effort to raise public awareness of the importance of education. In 1921, the NEA Representative Assembly in Des Moines, Iowa, called  for designation of one week each year to spotlight education. In its resolution, the NEA called for: “An educational week observed in all communities annually for the purpose of informing the public of the accomplishments and needs of the public schools and to secure the cooperation and support of the public in meeting those needs.”

The first observance of American Education Week occurred December 4-10, 1921, with the NEA and American Legion as the cosponsors. A year later, the then U.S. Office of Education joined the effort as a cosponsor, and the PTA followed in 1938.

Other co-sponsors are the U.S. Department of Education and national organizations including the National PTA, the American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, the American Association of School Administrators, the National School Boards Association, the American Federation of Teachers, the American School Counselor Association, the Council of Chief State School Officers, the National School Public Relations Association, the National Association of State Boards of Education, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel explained that one in five Americans attended public school last year whether it was K-12 or college. This totals about 60 million people. There are 3 million teachers nationwide and just as many support staff. Van Roekel said 43 percent of school employees are support staff.

“Our week long event recognizes all of those around us who are working to make public school great for every student,” Van Roekel said.

On Monday, Board Trustee Joyce Corcoran explained American Education Week and presented a resolution for board approval. The week of the celebration runs Nov. 18 through Nov. 22.

On Monday schools will get the week started with Kickoff day. Several activities will be planned to get students, teachers and support staff excited for the week-long event. Tuesday will be parents day. Corcoran explained this is a day for parents to come in and see first hand how their child’s school day really is.

Chairman of the School Board Justin Spicer said there is a huge correlation between student achievement and parental involvement. He added that parents who are involved will not only increase their child’s success rate but also help the district to continue to move forward. He wrapped up his statements saying the district is always looking for ways to get more parents involved in their child’s education.

While occasionally on separate ends of the table on issues in the district, Sweetwater Education Association President Kathy Sisemore agreed with Spicer. She said they are constantly looking to get parents to volunteer and assist at their children’s school.

“You can basically go in and see what happens in the school first hand, not what you hear on TV or read in the paper,”said Sisemore, explaining what will happen on parent Tuesday.

Wednesday will be a day to celebrate support staff and professionals throughout the district, while Thursday will bring community leaders into schools where they will be educators for a day. Finally, on Friday the party will wrap up with a celebration of substitute teachers in the district.

Corcoran presented the resolution for approval and the board unanimously accepted it. On Friday Rock Springs Mayor Carl Demshar will also sign the resolution on Friday at noon at Sage Elementary to show support from the city of Rock Springs for American Education Week.

In closing, Sisemore told SweetwaterNOW that teachers have their day when they are celebrated and while American Education Week does support the teachers, it really recognizes all the other people who are involved in student’s education, from classified personnel, to parents, to substitutes, principals and so on. She said it really does “take a village” to education students and this shows and supports all of those involved.