With the news that our beloved Sid Glassner passed away yesterday, I wanted to take this opportunity to mention what a blessing he was to those who knew him.
Back in 2010 when the State Board of Education voted to adopt the Common Core Standards, I sat here wondering who knew this was not going to be good for public schools in New Hampshire. Most people, including parents, teachers, and legislators had never heard about Common Core. I began criss-crossing New Hampshire to attend any meeting to explain the flaws and the federal government’s overreach with this latest education reform.
I attended a State Board of Education meeting and happened to be there the same day as Sid. He spoke before the State Board of Ed as an expert on public education. He had a career of working as a teacher and public school administrator and could see the problems that were on the horizon if we followed the federal reforms that had been laid out by the Obama administration. He had seen all of the government intrusion throughout his career and how much of that never helped the teachers or children. I immediately went up to him and introduced myself. I could see Sid was someone I needed to get to know.
From that point forward, he became a valuable resource to me and joined me several times at public meetings. We filmed videos and would be guests on local radio shows like Girard at Large. We would explain to the problems with the federal education reforms so parents could understand what they were seeing in their public schools. Sid was well respected in the education community because everyone knew that he had the credentials and genuinely put children, teachers and parents above all else.
In education, there are many factions out there trying to protect their selfish interests. Sid made sure that the children were the focus. He knew that a quality education was the priority and the parents and teachers needed to be “heard” in order to elevate public education. Bureaucrats who didn’t know the history or the challenges that teachers face everyday, had the real potential to add barriers that prohibit public schools from succeeding.
But Sid was even more than a strong advocate for public education and children, he was a kind-hearted soul. Everyone who encountered Sid knew he was the real deal. He was a gentleman and a friend to everyone he met.
This is why it’s difficult to say goodbye to Sid. He not only helped elevate the discussion on improving public education in New Hampshire, he was also a person who was loved by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Sid, you will be missed but your legacy will live on. We have the gift of your archived radio shows, videos and memories that will continue to bless all of us. I ask everyone to say a prayer for Sid’s soul if you happen to be reading this. May he rest in eternal peace in the arms of our loving Lord and Savior.
Ann Marie Banfield began volunteering as Cornerstone’s Education Liaison in 2009. As an education researcher and activist she took her decade long research on education to Concord to lobby on behalf of parental rights and literacy. Working with experts in education from across the country, she offers valuable insight into problems and successes in education. She holds a B.A. in Business Management from Franklin University in Columbus Ohio. Ann Marie and her husband have three children and reside in Bedford, NH
http://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20130724/OPINION/307240349
The tangled web of the Common Core …by Sid Glassner
Portsmouth Interviews:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymNEYxxuUiU Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRz0SAzUG-Y Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq8E4CMGgHE Part 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH5kJx-ED-c. Part 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJij-szviaM. Part 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsfejErmFvg. What Can we Do?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jqf87h7xlso Tell It Like It IS: Detusking the Common Core Elephant
