American teachers optimistic, despite challenges
“The NEA must lead the US in transforming public education and rebuilding the middle class of America,” said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel in his opening address. “When half of all poor and minority children face a future without a high school diploma, a future with no hope, no opportunity, no possibility of realizing the American dream, and millions of American jobs are lost and homes foreclosed on, it is critical that educators take action now,” Van Roekel said. “For the first time this century NEA has a partner in the White House, who understands that transformation is something you do with educators, not to them. We welcome this opportunity to transform education.” Better ways to measure student learning – not by a single test scores but through multiple measures – are welcome, he said. NEA also is open to new ways of paying teachers, but “we understand that compensation systems are bargained and negotiated, not imposed!” In a Town Hall meeting, US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan discussed a number of challenges, including the budgetary constraints facing the state school systems, teacher layoffs, the failing No Child Left Behind law and charter schools. Duncan assured participants that the Obama administration fully supports and promotes public education. But he also said he would not favour closing charter schools, which most NEA members believe are undermining the public school system. Preceding the Assembly, NEA hosted a Global Education Summit to discuss international education issues. Teachers’ leaders from around the world shared information and views on the challenges facing teachers and schools in their countries. EI Senior Consultant Bob Harris briefed the participants on the recently-adopted EI policy on public private partnerships in education. EI representatives attending the 88th RA were Founding President Mary Futrell, Vice Presidents Reg Weaver and Haldis Holst, General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen and Senior Consultant Robert Harris. For more info on the NEA Representative Assembly, visit the link below.
[Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:13:16 +0000] | DIGG THIS
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