Don't Be Apologetic! - Cathy Schmidt, WATG Board Member

Advocacy is defined as the act of pleading for, supporting or recommending; giving aid to a cause.
An advocate is defined as a supporter, backer, promoter, believer, activist, campaigner, or sponsor.

Perhaps you have not thought of yourself as an advocate or one who could make a difference with gifted advocacy work.  Or maybe the words advocacyand advocate have taken on a new meaning and perhaps even a new “feeling” for you as one who parents or works with gifted children.  Or possibly you’ve tried it and you have gotten nowhere with your efforts.  Whatever the case might be for you, we would like to encourage you to begin, start again or keep going with your efforts.

First and foremost, remember that this is not about you!  You are not asking for anything for yourself!  It is about our gifted children.  It is all right for you to “plead for them” and “give aid to the cause”.  You are their greatest “believers” and deepest “supporters”.  If you are not, then who will be?
There are a couple of things that you can do right now. 

1. Parents- Start or keep talking with your child’s teachers.  A new year is beginning in a few months.  This is a great time to start or continue the conversations.  Be polite. Don’t be apologetic.  You are not asking for yourself. 
   
   
2. Teachers- Start or keep talking with you fellow staff members and administration.  Let them know what you need from them to help you support the gifted students in your classroom.  Be polite. Don’t be apologetic.  You are not asking for yourself.
   
   
3. Teachers and Parents- Talk to your local school board.  Educate them about the needs of gifted students.  They do not know the needs unless you tell them.  Share the state laws.  https://dpi.wi.gov/gifted/laws  Be polite. Don’t be apologetic.  You are not asking for yourself. 
   
   
4. Teachers and Parents- Start or keep talking with your state and federal representatives.  They are in a position to help if enough of us contact them.  They are persuaded by their constituents’ voices and needs.  They won’t know unless someone teaches them. Be polite. Don’t be apologetic.  You are not asking for yourself.
   
   
5. Attend a public session on the ESSA Plan.  Parents, teachers, school administrators, board members, business and civic officials, and all citizens will have an opportunity to learn about and comment on Wisconsin’s draft plan to implement federal education law during a series of ESSA listening sessions in June.  This is your opportunity to have your voice heard.  Be polite.  Don’t be apologetic.  You are not asking for yourself.
     https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/news-release/dpinr2017_55.pdf
   
   
6. Let us know that you would like to be included in advocacy emails.  We are working on building a better communication system for advocacy. 
   
   
7. Attend the 2017 WATG conference and learn more about advocacy and a role that you can take. 
   
   
8. Remember that as an advocate you are a believer and a supporter of gifted education.  Be bold!  Be polite… but don’t be apologetic.  You are not asking for yourself!  You are “pleading” on behalf of those who are young and cannot yet do it without your help!
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Margaret Mead sums this up very nicely… “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has”.  Together, let’s be that thoughtful group of committed citizens for our gifted children.