SCTA Newsletter

The Student CTA Executive Board met February 1-3, 2002 at the CTA State Council meeting in Los Angeles. Student CTA State Council Representatives presented a new business item to CTA:

New Business Item:
SCTA urges CTA, by whatever means possible, to obtain due process rights for probationary teachers.

Rationale:
Using NEA's pamphlet, "Where Should I Teach: How Each State Views New Teachers," the National Education Association is implicitly discouraging teachers from working in California because there are no due process rights for probationary teachers, K-12, in the state.

The new business item was referred to the Teacher Evaluation and Academic Freedom Committee of State Council for action.

The following actions were taken by the SCTA Executive Board:

• The SEMAC (Student Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee) will be allocated $25.00 to purchase a raffle prize for the Cesar Chavez scholarship fundraiser.

• The essay question for the Ed Romeo scholarship for Spring 2002 will be "An extensive part of surviving the first years of teaching lies in community and parent support. How would you encourage this support, and in what ways would you utilize such help to your advantage?"

• The essay question for the Herb Foreman scholarship for Spring 2002 will be "Standardized testing, as it currently exists, affects students at all grade levels. Most educators are split on their opinions of the effectiveness and necessity of these tests. Take a stand, either for or against the current standardized testing, and construct your essay to back your opinion."

• Nam Nguyen, UC Davis, was appointed to the vacant position of Communications Editor.

• The theme for the 2002 Representative Assembly will be "Get Your Teach On: A New Generation of Pre-Professionals."