Who will fill Elizabeth Warren’s shoes?
By Matthew Tuttle
As a teacher, I know the importance of preparation. There are plenty of charismatic teachers out there who excel at walking into a classroom and teaching a lesson off the cuff, but the teachers who really impress me are the ones whose meticulous and thoughtful plans create a seamless learning experience. That’s what I see in Elizabeth Warren.
I teach at a fully inclusive school with students who come from diverse racial, cultural and economic backgrounds. Warren’s plans for public education excited me, but it was seeing all of her other plans that captivated me: an agenda for black Americans, and then a separate one for black women specifically; the most comprehensive plan for disabled Americans I’ve seen from any candidate; a plan for affordable housing; a plan for healthcare and a transition to Medicare for All; a plan for creating jobs and raising wages. I see the needs of my students — not just their educational needs — reflected in her plans. I see my school’s families and communities benefiting from her ideas for investment in them.
To get an idea of how thorough these plans are, some of them have tables of contents and all are available as distilled “one-pagers.” What is remarkable to me is that these abbreviated versions of her plans are more comprehensive than some of the very aspirational, and often very inspirational, promises and plans other candidates have made.
I’ve had a lifetime of candidates making promises; let me judge how serious you are by the amount of thought you’ve put into making those promises a reality.
Warren’s departure from the primary was a loss for America, but understand that it was more than just Warren leaving the race. In February, Warren discussed on a radio show how she had reached out to other candidates who had suspended their campaigns and incorporated their plans into hers: Kamala Harris’ ideas about reproductive justice and freedom, Kirsten Gillibrand’s plans for paid family leave, Cory Booker’s baby bond plans, and Jay Inslee’s ideas about protecting the planet all became part of that platform. This is what I’m looking for in a candidate.
The Democratic primary stage has seen brilliant leaders with brilliant ideas come and go. Who is going to make the most of this untapped resource of political and policy genius? Who is going to build the coalition that brings the progressive change we’re desperate for? Who is going to attract voters — not by their personality or their promises, but by the viability of their plans?
For the presidency, we can’t gamble on the teacher who leans on their charisma and hopes to land at the lesson’s objective. We need the teacher who has prepared, collaborated, troubleshot and practiced for the most important job there is.
Who is going to step up?
Matthew Tuttle is a member of United Teachers of New Orleans, Local 527. He teaches fifth grade at Morris Jeff Community School.
