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By Anita L. Sherman
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
Myra Sawyers is an elementary school teacher. She teaches first-grade students at The Wakefield School in The Plains and she is passionate about her profession.
But through her years of teaching, her passion has been quelled by a nagging frustration that she believes she shares with many teachers — that they have little voice in shaping what and how they teach.
“We are constantly hearing how wonderful teachers are, how important the work we do is, but there is very little evidence of that in the mandates that pass through our classrooms,” stated Sawyers.
“Teachers must have a greater say in the decisionmaking process if reform is going to bring about significant change.”
Sawyers, sitting in the quiet of her living room, has weighed the risks and rewards of how best to take her passion beyond the classroom and has decided to take the path of activism.
“Our organization is called EPIC — Educators for Progressive Instructional Change,” stated Sawyers. “I do believe that with determination and commitment that we can do amazing things.”
In October, Sawyers held the first meeting at her home in Haymarket. It wasn’t just a meeting of disgruntled educators; also present were John Taylor Gatto, author of “Dumbing Us Down,” and Roland Leagardi-Laura, producer of the films “Azul” and “The Fourth Purpose.”
All in attendance were encouraged to take action on some level and since then, Sawyers has launched a Web site where teachers across the nation can log on and share their angst, their successes and
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