The city of Bainbridge, Decatur County Association of Educators and all nine Decatur County schools are celebrating American Education Week this week.

American Education Week is held annually on the week prior to Thanksgiving, and Wednesdays are set aside to honor those men and women who work as educational support professionals.

Activities include a proclamation by the city issued on Monday, Nov. 17, recognizing the nationwide kickoff celebration.

Tuesday was “Invite Parents to School Day;” Wednesday is “Education Support Professional Day;” Thursday is “Educator for a Day” when community leaders serve as educators for a day, and Friday is “Substitute Educators Day.”

The first American Education Week was celebrated Dec. 4-10, 1921, with the National Education Association and the American Legion as co-sponsors.

In 1922 the U.S. Department of Education became a co-sponsor. Today there are 12 co-sponsors: the National Education Association, U.S. Department of Education, National PTA, The American Legion, The American Association of School Administrators, The National School Board Association, The American Federation of Teachers, The Council of Chief State School Officers, The National Public Relations Association, The National Association of State Boards of Education, The National Association of Elementary School Principals and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

The theme this year of, “Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and our Responsibility,” highlights the importance of bringing together educators, school staff, parents, students and communities in a unified effort to build great public schools, according to Calvine Rollins, president of the Decatur County Association of Educators and vice president of the Georgia Association of Educators.

She said the theme also reflects NEA’s vision of calling upon America to provide students with quality public schools so that they can grow, prosper and achieve in the 21st Century.