Legislature’s struggle to fund schools nothing new, legendary educator says

As the lack of funding for education in our state reaches a critical point in the Legislature, I thought I’d reach out for some wisdom to someone with a lifetime of experience.

Related: Washington colleges left behind in education funding boost

Dr. Maxine Mimms, an educator in Western Washington since 1953, says every time the Legislature meets, lawmakers are talking about how to fund education.

“It’s embarrassing,” she said. “It’s really obscene.”

As an educator, Mimms has seen and done it all. Serving primarily Tacoma schools, she brought a branch campus of the Evergreen State College to the city. She did so when she learned a barrier to higher education for many of her students was their distance from a university.

She’s retired now but isn’t done teaching.

I visited her at a friend’s home in Seattle’s Central District, and asked her about funding priorities for education, and just how much should we value our teachers.

“The same as a quarterback,” she responded. “That’s what a teacher is, a quarterback in terms of life-changing experiences…”

I argued that if you paid the teachers that kind of money, there would be three in the state.

“We helped develop the Russell Wilsons of the world,” she said. “And then to turn around and say to us you’re not worthy of a tremendous amount of money … if you allow us to deteriorate like this, you’re going to have robots in the classroom.”

She may not be wrong. But if we’re going to pay our teachers handsomely or a king’s ransom, should we expect more out of them?

“Education is a corporation now,” she explained. “What do you expect from General Motors? You expect a top-notch car. If you put enough money and have the right kind of training … you won’t be talking about firing.”

Dr. Mimms may believe that a quarterback like Russell Wilson — or a teacher in the classroom — has the ability to transform those around them, but it also falls on our leaders and all of us. That includes a president who can inspire a generation to think differently or even just folks like you and I. It may be we have different skin colors or different beliefs, but just sitting across the table from one another, sharing dialogue, that’s what creates change.

“I bet if you look statistically at the retention rate and graduation rate, I bet it increased during [Obama’s years as president]…” she said.

But in our state, some things haven’t changed at all — primarily our legislators, Mimms believes.

“Most of the legislators need to get into a classroom,” she said. They haven’t been in a classroom since graduating high school or college, she argues. “They just make up stuff. They just make it up. They just make up bills.

“Go in the classroom and stay a week, then you’ll understand what you’re voting for or against.”

She’s not giving up hope, though — she believes education must, and will, be funded this year. It has to. No matter what sides of the table, or the aisle we’re on.

“We just have to work together,” she said.

Listen to our entire conversation.

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