2002 Tomorrow's Teachers: Call to Action

No excuses. When it comes to educational reform, who knows what works better than teachers? Don't let politicians and pundits presume to speak for you. Act now for our schools.

When the California state legislature mandated smaller class sizes in a landmark education bill a few years ago, NEA Student members like Sophia Monroy watched their job prospects and future brighten. "Smaller class sizes not only meant more manageable classrooms for teachers," says Monroy, a student at Cal State Long Beach. "They meant more job opportunities and better opportunities for students like me."

These days, however, those education reforms are being threatened. As school districts struggle to make their budgets, many of them are considering abandoning their commitment to smaller class sizes. At the same time, well-trained pre-professionals like Monroy have watched other districts hire unqualified individuals at an alarming rate, just to meet the mandate. What's a student to do?

"Organize," says Oklahoma member Donya Simer, who helped her state Association organize town hall meetings to talk about teacher shortages, salaries, and classroom conditions. "You can't get anyone to act on your behalf unless you're willing to do the same. And who will speak out for the children in our classrooms but us?"

Monroy agrees. "The reason I got involved in my Student California Teachers Association was to get a stronger voice in my future and the future of the children I will teach," says Monroy. "In my state I've watched what can happen to programs like bilingual education or affirmative action or services for migrant children when politicians have an idea of what they want to push through. On campus and in our communities, we're working to improve the schools for the sake of the children and teachers alike."

Why the push for political action? "Because student members need to see that politics and education do mix," says NEA Student Chair Christie Morrison. "Legislators are drafting laws on everything from class size to testing to teaching standards and we need to make sure we have a voice and a vote. Beginning teachers burn out in the first five years because they don't have the support system they need. We don't have to keep this status quo, we can make things better even at a local level. Student members are popping up on school boards, education committees, and Association leadership. One vote sometimes is all it takes."

What happens when educators speak out? "That's when real reform happens," says Morrison. "Mentoring programs for new teachers were created at the state level because educators called for this support system, class sizes were changed and teaching conditions improved, hiring incentives such as breaks on housing or forgivable loans or even bonuses, all occurred because we pointed politicians to these critical issues. But first we have to elect politicians who will listen."

In Kentucky student members are encouraged to become active leaders at all levels, particularly with an active teachers' association, says KEA-SP President Brooke Kees. "As Student members and leaders, we can make a difference. It's not all about running for office, it's about educating our own members about what's at stake." The Association also plays a key role in educating student members about education reform laws, rules and regulations regarding teacher certification and testing, and laws affecting classroom instruction, such as the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), adds Kees. Student members can attend workshops through their state association or read about key laws through their newsletters. They even learn how to lobby their legislator or member of Congress.

In Virginia, Student member Mikayla Rieff, likes the ultimate political route, working on local and gubernatorial campaigns and organizing roundtables at her university. "I'm a bit of a political junkie, but it's also because I believe it's taking a stand for children and educators. I don't want unfair standards or tests and I don't want unqualified teachers in the next classroom. I truly believe it's up to me." Rieff's actions paid off when her candidate, Mark Warner, won a tight gubernatorial race, on an education platform. "I'd like to think he won with my help. Now the children and educators will reap the rewards. You can be sure however, we'll be prepared to speak out if his commitment to education wavers."

"There's more to education than going to college and learning to teach the reading, writing, and 'rithmatics," adds Georgia student chair Gladys Purdy Lake. "Since I became a state leader I've seen that politics impacts every aspect of education from salaries to class size to the type of books and curriculum we teach our students. When we fail to realize that connection between politics and education, we miss an opportunity to make change happen.

"Legislators can't do the things we want them to do to improve public education unless we go ahead and tell them by lobbying, by voting, by taking a stand," says Lake. "The future of education and the opportunities that await our students and educators rests on our ability to make a difference."

Fast Facts

More Special Education Students Identified
According to Education Week magazine, schools nationwide have seen a significant increase in the number of students identified as having learning or behavioral disabilities. The number of students diagnosed with specific learning disabilities rose to more than 2.8 million in the 1998?1999 school year, up 1.6 million from a decade earlier.

Social Promotion Declining
Public Agenda, a respected non-partisan opinion polling firm, reports that the percentage of teachers who say their schools automatically promote students who have reached a maximum age has dropped from 41 percent to 31 percent over the last four years. In the study, 53 percent of teachers said they did not practice social promotion, while 31 percent said they did.

Iron Deficiency Linked to Low Test Scores
In a study suggesting that children should be screened for low-level iron deficiency, not just anemia, researchers have discovered that kids lacking the proper level of iron are more likely to post low test scores than are their healthier classmates. Three percent of school-age kids were iron-deficient during during 1988 to 1994, with adolescent females much more likely than their male counterparts to have an iron deficiency.

Unprepared Teachers?
Because of California's class size reduction legislation five years ago, the state has seen a sharp rise in the number of uncredentialed teachers. Today, more than 42,000 teachers who lack full credentials staff California classrooms, up from about 34,000 in 1997. Most of these new educators are teaching full-time during the day while earning their degrees and certification in "intern" programs at night and on weekends.

Aging Schools
The average public school in America is 42 years old. Twenty-eight percent of the public schools in America are over 50 years old.

Funding Shortage
A recently released National Education Association study reports that the current unmet need for school facilities nationwide is $322 billion--$268 billion for school infrastructure and $54 billion for education technology.

Action Tips

Looking for ways to get involved? Here are some tips to get you going.

Get involved in your campus chapter and state affiliate. Your leaders and advisors are your first line of contact and can help you gather information, coordinate events, and give information and organizing strategies.

Create an opportunity to voice concerns. Think about a roundtable, town hall meeting, information fair, even a coffee shop gathering. Invite local or state legislators to respond to your concerns.

Do your homework. If you're concerned about teacher salaries, for example, find out the latest research and don't forget to compare your state or district with others.

Don't forget the tried and true "Get out the Vote" campaign. MTV was successful because they struck a chord with disenchanted young voters. You can, too, now that politicians are talking tough about standards, testing, and certification.

Use the media for your message. Write a letter to the editor of your campus, local, and state newspapers or invite local reporters to your event. Be clear on your talking points and you'll make the news.

Remember that students have a strong stake in education-related laws and decisions. You have a right to speak out about decaying school buildings, crowded classrooms, and teacher quality.

A Student-Led Strategy Pays Off

Rather than watch their peers leave the state to teach, North Dakota's Student leaders decided to do something about it.

For years, Student members in North Dakota have gone to school in the state, done their student teaching in the state, and then promptly left the state upon graduation. "The reason was salaries," says Michael Thomas, chair of the Student North Dakota Education Association (SNDEA) and a student at the University of North Dakota. "We realized that if we didn't do anything about it, public education in our state would continue to suffer and the children would bear the brunt of it."

That's when Thomas, SNDEA Vice-President Cory Davidson, and board member Jeannie Johnson decided to plot their strategy to raise salaries and stop the brain drain from their state. While attending the state Association's lobby days, the students watched active teaching members talk to legislators effectively using statistics and anecdotes from their own classrooms. "We knew that simply saying salaries were too low was not going to mean much to the governor and legislators," explains Thomas. "We needed to back our position with solid information."

Thomas decided to develop a survey for every graduating education student in their state. The survey asked students why they would leave the state and what would help them stay. A letter went to more than 800 students and 73 percent of those students replied.

The results were not surprising to the students. "When we asked the students if a $1,500 raise would change their minds about leaving the state, only 10 percent of the respondents said they would stay," says Thomas. "But when we asked if $3,000 a year more would make a difference, about 65 percent of them said yes, they would change their minds and stay in the state."

Thomas, Davidson, and Johnson, presented their findings to the state Education Committee and lobbied their legislators. "We spent so much time going up to the Capitol, we felt like residents there. We spent 13 weekends in a row in Bismark," says Davidson. At a gubernatorial debate on campus the students asked candidates about the teacher salary issue and helped organize a student roundtable.

"We knew we couldn't leave anything to chance," says Thomas. "We decided to talk to the press as well and were quoted in three major papers, including a front-page quote the day after we presented the data to the Education committee." The students E-mailed their representatives, asking them to vote for a salary increase. "Nearly 500 members acted," says Thomas. "Cory Davidson personally lobbied his hometown legislator, who ended up switching his vote.

The result? Last April, the state legislature passed a $3,000 raise for beginning teachers, exactly what the students wanted. "Our lesson in this is simple, never give up," says Thomas. "Don't be intimidated by politicians, coordinate your actions like a team, and go in with great confidence. You may surprise yourself."

Ask the Experts

Pat Mogge

Pat Mogge is a former Student leader whose political activism has led to a career in politics. Mogge, former chair of the Illinois Student Education Association and member of the NEA Student Advisory Committee, became a governor's fellow, working out of the office of Deputy Governor of Education Hazel Louck. Dr. Louck was Illinois' Student program coordinator before her appointment by the governor. Mogge's current job is education policy advisor to Illinois Gov. George H. Ryan.

Why did you become politically involved?
It was always important to determine how actions at the state and federal level affect both the teacher and the child. I have a sister and brother-in-law who are teachers and we always talked about politics and education and how we play a role in making classroom conditions better. Add to this, the experience of working with Dr. Louck, first as an advisor and mentor, and then as a fellow in the governor's office, and I was hooked. It was fascinating to understand how the whole system worked and to meet the insiders of education policy.

What did you do as a fellow in the governor's office?
There was a cohort of 10 of us working with the governor's office. I was assigned to Dr. Louck. She educated me about state issues and the internal processes regarding state education policies. It was a valuable experience. I had the opportunity to help her draft legislation, work with agency heads, and provide input on the governor's education agenda.

How did this lead to a full-time job in the governor's office?
I had done so much work by then it was only natural that they offered me this job. I transitioned to a full-time education policy advisor. It's my role to look at all the Illinois school laws, remove duplicate laws, and make the laws easier for the public to read and understand. I also work with 40 commissioners on the school code and at the same time have the responsibility of supporting three key education commisions, the State Board of Education, the Illinois Community College Commission, and the Higher Education Commission.

What can Student members do to gain experience?
That's easy. Volunteer at political events and write letters to your legislators if you feel passionate about an issue. Every letter gets looked at by the governor and other legislators look to see who has written to them, particularly when they are teachers. Set up meetings with legislators or staff. You'll be surprised to find that a lot of staffers are the same age as you. Become another expert on education using your own experiences. When you talk, they'll listen. Don't be intimidated. You're their link to the outside world of education and they need to hear from you.

Books to Use

Taking Charge of Quality: How Teachers and Unions Can Revitalize Schools
Charles Taylor Kerchner, Julia K. Koppich, and Joseph G. Weeres (Jossey-Bass Publishers), $6.95
"Taking Charge" is a clear and concise booklet offering a solid blueprint for improving teaching and learning, setting higher standards, and taking charge of the profession through peer review. Learn about the role of teachers' unions and the need for politically active teachers to reform education in the 21st century.

An Educators' Guide to Schoolwide Reform
Rebecca Herman, et al. (Educational Research Service), $12.95
A consumer-friendly analysis of 24 widely used programs designed to improve student achievement in low-performing schools. The Guide reviews research on popular schoolwide approaches and helps educators identify programs that work, evaluates programs' performance and capabilities based on evidence of increased student achievement, first-year costs, and assistance provided by the developers to schools that adopt their strategies. Some of the programs have been in existence for more than two decades.

Will Standards Save Public Education?
by Deborah Meier, Jonathan Kozol, Joshua Cohen (Editors) (Beacon Press), $12
While critics of standardized tests fault what they measure, Meier contests the very idea of a centralized authority that dictates how and what teachers teach. This, she argues, sets up a terrible model for students because it doesn't allow their teachers to emerge as thoughtful, accountable adults, seriously engaged with the dynamics of their own schools, classrooms, and communities. In turn, the students can't learn from them how to be thoughtful, accountable, creative adults and good citizens.

Becoming Good American Schools: The Struggle for Civic Virtue in Education Reform
Jeannie Oakes (Editor), Karen Hunter Quartz, Steve Ryan, Martin Lipton (Jossey-Bass Education Series), $30
This book tells the story how 15 schools in five states struggle to meet the often conflicting demands of individual diversity and society's collective needs. The authors envision the achievement of both equity and excellence in public education, and what teachers and other educators can do to make a difference.

Books to Peruse

Lessons of A Century
(Education Week), $24.95
In January 1999, Education Week began a year-long series chronicling the successes and setbacks of reform efforts over the past 100 years. Lessons of a Century appeared in 10 monthly installments. The series examines all aspects of the educational landscape--people, trends, historical milestones, enduring controversies --with an emphasis on their continuing relevance. Essays by leading scholars and other observers offer additional perspective.

Raising Standards or Raising Barriers?: Inequality and High Stakes Testing in Public Education
Gary Orfield and Mindy Kornhaber (Eds.), (A Century Foundation Book), $24.95
More and more states require students to pass large-scale tests as a condition of promotion or graduation. What are the forces that have pushed high-stakes testing to the forefront of K-12 educational policy? Are such tests the best way to gauge educational attainment? This volume, commissioned by the Civil Rights Project at Harvard University, examines the economic and educational assumptions underlying the call for high-stakes tests.

The Manufactured Crisis: Myths, Fraud, and the Attack on America's Public Schools
by David C. Berliner, Bruce J. Biddle (Perseus Books), $17.50
Described as the best source of facts and analysis about what is going on in our schools, Berliner and Biddle document the social problems facing our schools and provide alternative reform strategies. The authors demonstrate that SAT scores are rising for many groups and investing in education produces greater student achievement. The book makes clear that the opponents of public education have manufactured a crisis, and the authors have effectively cut through the rhetoric to debunk anti-public school discrimination.

Educator's Job Search: The Ultimate Guide to Finding Positions in Education
by Martin Kimeldorf (NEA Professional Library), (www.nea.org), $10
Would you like to bypass the classified-ad sections and job-placement boards that most educators rely on and enter through the "side door" to more interesting job opportunities? This interactive guide gives you the skills to find your ideal job through exercises that help you identify and promote your strengths, write an impressive resume, master job interviews, and more.

Resources

National Education Association
NEA's Legislative Action Center (LAC) provides you with on-line tools to send E-mail messages on the education of America's children to Congress and State Legislators. Speak out for children and public education: Enter your ZIP Code and click "Go!" The LAC provides up-to-date information on issues affecting children and public education currently before Congress and background information on key legislative topics critical to children and public education.

Civil Rights Summer 2002
Civil Rights Summer (CRS) is a Fellowship designed for students who want to work for a socially just America. Spend a summer (one week at Harvard University, seven weeks in Washington, D.C.) honing your civil rights expertise and leadership skills to advance a civil rights agenda.

E-Activism
Sign petitions for issues that you are interested in at this site. You can get involved simply by putting your name into petitions to end hunger and other issues. This Web site also contains a message forum where you can post your thoughts on any of the issues you feel are important.

United States Student Association's Web site
USSA has been the official voice for students in the nation's capitol for over 50 years. Here you will find up-to-the-minute information about campaigns, legislative information, news from member campuses across the country, foundation project information, and conference updates.

First Government
This site is the only official U.S. Government portal to 47 million pages of government information, services, and online transactions. The site offers a powerful search engine that searches every word of every U.S. government document in a quarter of a second or less. Firstgov.gov also features a topical index, online transactions, links to state and local government, options to contact your government, and other tools.

Youth Vote
Check out the nation's largest non- partisan coalition working to increase the political involvement of 50 million Americans, 18?30 years old. The coalition consists of over 90 diverse national organizations representing hundreds of organizations and millions of young people.

League of Women Voters
A premier grassroots citizen organization, their site provides information on voting, civic participation, or current public policy issues. The interactive Web site provides you with the tools to get involved in the democratic process at the federal, state, and local levels.

Links for Labor Activists
This site is an online directory of links to different Labor sources including the latest news in unions and different movements. It also provides links to many labor unions and educational opportunities for those who are involved in labor movements.

Political Links
Political Links provides a listing of political sites available on the Internet sorted by country, with links to Parties, Organizations, Governments, and Media. This resource provides the latest in politics, not only in the United States, but all around the world.

Politics1.com
Politics1 and The Politics1 Report newsletter is a non-partisan public service to promote fully informed decision-making by the American electorate. Politics1 is one of the most popular political sites on the net.

Rock the Vote
The MTV Generation site is dedicated to protecting freedom of expression and empowering young people to change their world. Education issues include class size, financial aid, school vouchers, segregation, affirmative action, ethnic studies, and student rights. Does your school have all the books, teachers, computers, and classes that you need? Knowledge is power.

Electronic Activist
The database contains contact information for U.S. senators and representatives, and some state legislatures. The site also contains a guide to activism, outlining some of the most effective strategies for organization.

LaborNet
The site seeks to build a democratic communication network for the labor movement. LaborNet's founders believe that the new communication technology must be put to use to revitalize and rebuild the labor movement.

Organizations

Advocates for Youth
The organization creates programs and advocates for policies that help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. Advocates provides information, training, and strategic assistance to youth-serving organizations, policymakers, youth activists, and the media in the United States and the developing world.

American Association of University Women
The organization promotes education and equity for all women and girls. Through public policy efforts, programs, and diversity initiatives, AAUW advocates for gender equity.

American Civil Liberties Union
The ACLU promotes civil liberties issues that the national and state ACLU are working on by urging letter campaigns to Congress, such as ending racial profiling or working with state affiliates on state initiative campaigns or projects.

Americans for Democratic Action
ADA is dedicated to individual liberty and building economic and social justice at home and abroad. Its New Leadership for Democratic Action program encourages students to become informed and active by bringing issues to their campuses.

American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations
AFL-CIO advocates for social and economic justice by enabling working people to have a voice on the job, in government, and in their communities. The AFL-CIO campaigns to help local school districts build, modernize, and repair public schools to reduce class sizes, enhance learning, and wire classrooms for 21st century technologies.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
The Campaign fights to free America's youth from tobacco and to create a healthier environment. It seeks to protect children from tobacco addiction and exposure to secondhand smoke.

Children's Defense Fund
The Fund advocates for children and encourages preventive investment before they get sick or into trouble, drop out of school, or suffer family breakdown. CDF pays particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities.

The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
The Coalition is an educational nonprofit dedicated to stopping gun violence by fostering effective community and national action.

The Council for Exceptional Children
The Council seeks to improve educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. CEC lobbies, sets professional standards, provides continual professional development, advocates for underserved individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The NAACP protects and enhances the civil rights of African Americans and other minorities. Through its Youth Councils and College Division, the NAACP seeks to motivate and inform young people, develop organizational skills, and encourage participation.

National Association for the Education of Young Children
NAEYC is the nation's largest and most influential organization of early childhood educators and others dedicated to improving the quality of programs for children from birth through third grade.

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
NCADV seeks to end violence in the lives of women and children. It provides a national network for state coalitions and local programs serving battered women and their children, public policy at the national level, technical assistance, community awareness campaigns, general information, and referrals.

National Organization for Women
NOW is dedicated to making legal, political, social, and economic change in society in order to eliminate sexism and end all oppression.

The National Council of La Raza
Through programs and advocacy, NCLR's network of affiliates and other community-based organizations work to ensure that schools equitably serve Hispanic children and help them succeed academically.

Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families, and friends. It advocates an end to discrimination and to secure equal civil rights.

People For the American Way
PFAW fights for civil rights and Constitutional freedoms. Geared towards parents, teachers, clergy, pro-public education activists, its Education Activist Online provides information on education issues, right-wing attacks on public education, progressive grassroots responses, and action alerts.

Southern Poverty Law Center
The Center promotes tolerance in communities and encourages teachers and school administrators to subscribe to free Teaching Tolerance materials.