Through Your Lens - A National Photo and Essay Contest!

National Photo and Essay Contest

August 18, 2009 - September 10, 2009

Through Your Lens is a collaboration of The 21st Century School Fund, Critical Exposure, and Healthy Schools Campaign to raise awareness of the need to fund school buildings that support learning and provide a safe, healthy environment for students and teachers.

By sharing photos and stories of what they see every day at school, students and teachers will provide us all with an honest window into today’s school buildings.

Background

Early this year, billions of dollars for public school building improvements were removed from the economic stimulus package. These funds were to be used for basic health and safety updates such as fixing leaky ceilings and for practical improvements such as energy-efficiency upgrades. While Congress did include school construction bond financing in the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act, these funds can only be used in districts with the capacity – and the public will – to pass bond measures.

We must do more.

Congress is responding to its earlier failures to act with a number of proposals to provide the resources for much-needed repairs and updates to school buildings, but rigorous debate is expected. Opponents of federal support for school construction argue that there should be no federal role. However, we know that the lack of federal funds has left millions of children, especially those living in low-wealth school districts, in sub-standard buildings where they suffer adverse health and educational consequences.

Federal funds for school facilities can not only improve school building conditions but also create jobs and help states and districts save money by operating more energy-efficient schools.

Let’s make sure federal legislators have a clear view of our nation’s public schools: submit your photos and take action today!