🚀 go-pugleaf

TO: Parents and Educators in the United States of America

FR: Kevin Walker, National Director, Project Appleseed, the National Campaign
for Public School Improvement, applese212@aol.com

RE: E-MAIL THE WHITE HOUSE: SAVE AMERICA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS


At the invitation of the Administration, I  recently met with the President's
domestic policy advisor on education at the White House.  I asked the
Administration to support  our not-for-profit campaign to systematically
organize and fund parental involvement initiatives in local communities all
across America.   As the father of four public school children, I  believe
that parents are responsible for improving our public schools.

Much has been written about the 91% factor: that 91% of a child's time is
spent outside the school and that the role a parent plays is critical in any
systematic plan to improve education outcomes.  Real education reform in
America cannot take place without an effective parent constituency.  If we
don't start making some systematic efforts to address how we get parents back
into the picture, we are clearly fighting an uphill battle with some very
unpleasant long-term consequences.

Project Appleseed is organizing parental responsibility by focusing America's
attention on National Parental Involvement Day, November 17, 1994, during
American Education Week.  By this date, we will organize ONE MILLION parents
to sign the Parental  Involvement  Pledge and we will raise FIVE MILLION
dollars to fund local parental involvement efforts in communities all across
America.

I need your assistance in demonstrating to the Administration and the news
media that the Internet is a powerful tool for school reform and parental
involvement in  America.  I ask that you E-mail  the White House and express
your support for Project Appleseed.

Enclosed is a copy of the Parental Involvement Pledge, the seed of Project
Appleseed.  Please read it, print it, and re-post it with TWO of your
cyberspace friends.  Then E-mail the White House at president@whitehouse.gov
and
vice.president@whitehouse.gov with this simple message:


Your Name:
Address:
City:            State:               Zip
Internet  address:

"I  believe in the Parental Involvement Pledge.  Support Project Appleseed,
the National Campaign for Public School Improvement."


If you have the additional time and interest, I ask that you also copy NBC
NEWS at  nightly@nbc.com,  dateline@nbc.ge.com,
TIME Magazine at  timestaff3@aol.com  and National Public Radio at
totn@aol.com.   This will send a clear message to the White House and the
news media: America is ready to improve its public schools.

If you would like an original copy of the Pledge send us your name and postal
address, Internet address, and/or fax number to applese212@aol.com with the
message "I want the Pledge"  and we will send you, free of charge, a MASTER
COPY of the Pledge so that you can make additional copies in your community.
We will also send you  vital information about how you can become part of
National Parental Involvement Day and the grassroots campaign to improve
America's public schools.

Thank you for believing in America's public schools.


Mailing Address:  Project Appleseed/National Campaign Office/7511 Delmar
Blvd. Suite A/St. Louis, MO  63130-3930/or call 1-800-TO-PLEDGE for more
information.

     #################################################

PROJECT APPLESEED
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT PLEDGE tm copyright 1993

AS A PARENT, I hereby give my pledge of commitment to help our community's
children achieve a truly independent future.  My declaration of
responsibility and commitment to my public schools are stated in these five
self-evident truths as spoken by President Woo
drow Wilson:

 -That I am an owner of the public school system;

 -That as an owner
, I bear a responsibility to participate in the system;

 -That accountability for my public scho
ols and its employees and its funding rests with me and the rest of the
system's owners;

 -That my
child's future depends on the continual improvement of public education;

 -And that this improvement depends on my participation;


THEREFORE AS A PARENT, I take personal responsibility for my child's
 education.

 -I pledge to spend a minimum of fifteen minutes each school night assisting
my chil
d in his or her schoolwork, or we will work together in an enrichment
activity;

 -I pledge to volunteer a minimum of five hours of my time to my public
schools each semester.

             This is my
commitment to our public schools.

Signed,


______________________

STUDENT



 _______________________
PARENT


---------------------CLIP & MAIL-----------------------

This movement needs your financial support.  Our campaign survives on $25,
$50, and $100 contributions from individuals like you.  Individuals are the
core of our effort.  Your contribution will be used to fund parental
involvement efforts in thousands of communities across America.  Your
contribution will enable Project Appleseed to reach millions of parents and
educators across America.  I encourage you to make an investment in the
campaign that is improving America's public schools.

Kevin Walker

YES! enclosed is our contribution to raise $5,000,000 dollars to fund
parental involvement all across America in 1995. You can count on my support
for National Parental Involvement Day, November 17, 1994
.

        Our "seed" investment in Project Appleseed is:

$100____  $75____  $50____  $19.95____$Other______


Name___________________________Address_________________

City__________________________State__________Zip_______

Phone______________Fax______________Internet___________

Mail your contribution to: Project Appleseed, 7511 Delmar Boulevard, Suite A,
Saint Louis, Missouri, 63130-3930.
Project Appleseed is a not-for-profit corporation operating in the State of
Missouri.  Contributions to Project Appleseed are not yet tax deductible.
For a copy of our year end financial report, e-mail Project Appleseed with
the body of the message "financial report".  Permission granted for unlimited
re-posting and recirculation.  To reach Project Appleseed call
1-800-TO-PLEDGE or E-mail to applese212@aol.com
  .