Johnson rallies Council

Despite the disappointing defeat of AB 2160 in the Legislature, the CTA-sponsored bill that would have expanded teachers' collective bargaining rights to include professional matters, President Wayne Johnson vowed to continue moving CTA's education agenda forward at the June State Council of Education in Los Angeles.

"CTA's political agenda is good,"Johnson told the 770-member council. "It is an agenda that helps children. CTA's political agenda is one that works for and supports one of the best educated and lowest paid professions in California and America - public school teachers. "Our agenda is quality teachers, quality education for all of our children, and that is essential to the future of our state and this nation...Our agenda is fighting to improve the education of two million kids that live below the poverty line and are falling between the educational cracks,"he said.

"Our agenda wants to build new schools and repair old ones so each kid can attend school in a clean, bright, warm or cool classroom — depending — with enough textbooks and supplies to properly educate them. It is an agenda that wants to reduce class size. That is an agenda that every member can be proud of,"he said.

Pointing to CTA's previous victories - victories that included obtaining an additional $1.84 billion a year in education funds - Johnson acknowledged the possibility of occasional defeats. In the case of AB 2160, there was a highly organized campaign against it by organizations that included school board members, administrators, and even the state's PTA. But Johnson was particularly angered that Democrats in the State Assembly who had been CTA's supporters failed to vote for the legislation.

"We will have defeats like AB 2160. We gave it a tremendous effort and moved that legislation way beyond what anybody thought was possible. We proved our strength in this fight,"he said.

"But we can't stop fighting. I tell you that when we get organized and start fighting together, we are an awesome force. In a long fight, 335,000 CTA members will win the ultimate battle. We will wear them down and wear them out. . . We must stay the course, and put the heat on our opponents. Only then will we win."

CTA's State Council takes action

State Council took a number of actions in the June Council. Among them, Council:

• Re-elected Michael R. Green (District H) to CTA's Board of Directors and Barry Wilson to the District M seat on the CTA/ABC Committee.

• Approved the CTA budget for 2002-03.

• Endorsed Lily Eskelsen for the position of NEA secretary-treasurer.

• Voted to recommend an additional seven candidates on the fall ballot for state Assembly and Senate and one for Congress.

• Voted to support the bond measure for a housing and emergency shelter trust fund and the water quality supply initiative.

• Took the position that the state's Master Plan for K-16 Education and any subsequent legislation must reflect the importance of integrating academics and career preparation.

• Also adopted policy language stipulating that graduation requirements must meet the needs of all students, not just those who are college-bound.

• Decided to promote parity for teacher salaries commensurate with salaries of other public sector professionals in the region.

• Adopted policy language on charter schools, beginning teachers, manageable caseload ratios for learning support services personnel, and full-day kindergarten.

• Saluted the 11 media winners of the 43rd annual CTA John Swett Awards for Media Excellence during an annual luncheon.

For Carolyn Doggett, CTA's executive director, the issue is one of respect.

"What CTA wanted, what CTA still wants, is a way to give teachers more say in what is happening in their own classrooms. To me, it is a very simple issue: It comes down to respecting teachers."

"At CTA, we know that teachers deserve respect. We know that you not only deserve respect; you also command respect. Parents believe that; the public believes that. Our polling shows us that better than 70 percent of the public believes that teachers should be doing exactly what AB 2160 says we should be doing. And we will not stop trying!"

In the wake of the Legislature's vote against AB 2160, Doggett called for some thoughtful reflection and conversation about how CTA should proceed with its agenda - but, in the end, CTA will continue to take the offense.

Doggett said she was stung by the criticism leveled at CTA for its campaign - especially the charge that CTA is concerned only with power and salaries and not professional development. She cited a number of programs, from the two Good Teaching Conferences to its online courses for beginning teachers, to its various trainings in peer assistance and human rights that provide assistance for both new and veteran teachers. In addition, CTA has taken the lead in pushing for legislation to help the state's schools of greatest need.

"If those who were criticizing CTA were as interested in real progress as they are in getting sensational headlines, they would attend sessions like these - or provide them."

Doggett urged Council members to stay involved and to make every effort to get others involved in the association as well.

Despite the current setback, Doggett predicted that CTA will continue to be a strong voice for teachers, students and public education.

"Even after this incredibly challenging year, I have never been prouder to work for you and with you as we continue the battles.

"I want you to know I am still totally optimistic about our ability to drive the education agenda in our local school districts, in our county offices and in Sacramento,"she said.

State Council honors award recipients

June's State Council is the time to recognize CTA political activism with the Ted Bass Teacher in Politics Award and the Joyce Fadem Chapter in Politics Award. This year's winner of the overall Ted Bass Teacher in Politics Award is Suzanne Vaugine of the Orange Unified Educators Association. In the words of her nominators, "Suzanne is an advocate for public education, CTA, and locals. She's helped them become more powerful to maximize their successes for teachers, students, parents and communities in California."

Four chapters were recognized for their political work this year. Winning the award in the "Small Chapter"category was the Snowline Teachers Association, which was honored for its efforts in interviewing school board candidates, obtaining ABC funding and winning school board races for candidates who promise to bring positive change to the district. The Bellflower Education Association won in the "Medium Chapter"category and was honored for engaging more than 25 percent of its 177 members in political events. In addition, all three of its endorsed school board candidates were elected by an overwhelming majority in 2001. Winner in the "Large Chapter"category was the Orange Unified Education Association, which was hailed for having increased its local Political Action Committee dues by 400 percent, sent out more than 400,000 pieces of political mail, phoned more than 50,000 voters and recalled four extremist school board members and elected four pro-education candidates to the board.

Receiving the "Rookie Chapter"Award was the Antelope Valley Education Coalition, a coalition of CTA chapters that organized to elect 15 of 20 school board candidates in their area.

In addition, 23 CTA members were honored by State Council as recipients of their Service Center Council's WHO Awards. Also receiving accolades were retiring NEA Directors Dana Dillon, Lynette Tanaka and Tim Jenkins, as well as dozens of delegates who are leaving the council because their terms have expired.