Story Pitch

I want to write about communication from Colorado public schools to families and the misconceptions that are formed through language and unclear distribution of tax dollars.

Public schools are vital in preparing the next generation for making choices on an individual level as well as a governmental level (voting, lobbing, etc.). Preparing children to make educated decisions for themselves is vital. So, what happens when language acts as a barrier? Children can be placed in classes at lower level that may not suit their needs and hold them back. Parents may be misled in making these decisions about their children’s education. This can affect both children and their families in their ability to make decisions about their education, government and life. This issue is important because it applies to a wide variety of people and can shed light to an issue that is deeply rooted in Colorado history. Starting in the 19th century with the creation of American Indian boarding schools, American schools have a history of a traditional education and curriculum that can leave students behind. As our country continues to grow and diversify it is important to make sure every student is catered to and gets the support and education that they deserve.

For my story want to dig into this issue and explore how it effects children in Colorado. I plan on interviewing teachers, students and families. My focus however, will be on an individual family and their struggles. This will add a human element that is relatable and humanizes the issue. This can translate well to social media because I think it’s a story often forgotten and the social media aspect could make it relevant again. In addition, this story has yet to be told in this fashion. I plan to use Facebook to tell my story and YouTube for the live portion because I think this will be the best way to reach the audience that is most affected by this issue.