Under the leadership, of first year President, Tom Mooney, the convention emphasized political action and professional development. Speakers included the Governor, an Ohio Supreme Court Justice, labor leaders and legislators involved in educational issues. Conference delegates passed a number of important resolutions.
Remember the boycott of Campbell Soups in the 1980's that resulted in improved working/living conditions for migrant workers in northwest Ohio? The Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), that successfully led that boycott and negotiated a contract for the farmworkers, is trying to do the same thing in North Carolina. FLOC founder and President Baldemar Velásquez gave an inspiring speech and asked convention attendees to support and promote a boycott of Mt. Olive Pickles, a major buyer of North Carolina produce. For details on the boycott and how you can help visit the FLOC website at www.iupui.edu/~floc/
Justice Alice Robie Resnick, Ohio Supreme Court, spoke about her successful campaign for re-election to the Supreme Court of Ohio, in spite of a $10 million dollar campaign to discredit her by the National Chamber of Commerce. She received more votes than either Presidential candidate. Justice Resnick wrote the DeRolph decision requiring more equitable funding of Ohio schools. The legislature has until June 15th of this year to come up with a funding plan approved by the Supreme Court or the legislature could be found in contempt, according to Justice Resnick.
Ohio started its charter school program in 1998. Currently, there are 68 charter schools, with another 38 authorized to open next fall.
The OFT contends that a number of Ohio charter schools are for-profit companies, contrary to state law. The suit will also cite state officials for allowing the conversion of three private schools to charters, which is prohibited by law.
OFT President, Tom Mooney, said charter schools siphon funds from regular public schools. For instance, in Dayton, if approved charter schools actually open, the school district expects to lose $34 million next year, forcing closures, layoffs and diminished educational services for regular public school students. Columbus expects to lose more than $8 million, while Cincinnati expects to lose $21 million in state and local tax funds next school year.
"Local citizens have seen their tax dollars drained away from regular public schools to support charter schools, over which their elected representatives can exercise no control," Mooney said. "The current system violates the constitutional guarantees of a Œthorough and efficient system of common schools,' controlled by locally elected school boards."
The AFT has long recognized that a research-grounded knowledge base is essential to professional practice. As a professional development program, the ER&D process is very different from traditional in-service, because it affords pre K-12 and postsecondary classroom educators the opportunity to gain access to research on teaching and learning in a form that gives them the ability to apply those findings effectively. It also helps practitioners understand the value of using research findings to guide classroom practice.
Developed courses include: Foundations of Effective Teaching; Classroom Assessments That Work; Managing Anti-Social Behavior.
Local 795 President, Tom Schmida, has committed our Union to be involved in the program next year.
More information is available at www.aft.org/erd/. Educator Effectively Speaks for Schools in State Legislature State Representative Teresa Fedor, former Toledo teacher, is an example of an educator who got involved in politics. She successfully won election from Toledo last fall. She is an outspoken proponent of public schools in the state house. It is important that school issues are fairly represented and argued for in the state capital. Her position statement for education is available online at www.fedor-for-52.org/Education.htm.
With a number of key education bills before the Ohio Legislators, you should take the time to tell your hometown legislator how important it is to support public education. Local 795 members live in many communities, some of whose state representatives may not understand the issues facing urban school districts.
The new OFT web site (www.oft-aft.org) maintains a list of education bills in the State legislature under "Legislative Action", including a link to the AFT/capwiz web site where you can write a letter to your state or congressional representative. Click on "Issues and Legislation" to find current letters, ready to send. If your zip code spans multiple boundaries, you will be asked for your full nine-digit zipcode. If you don't know it, check for it on mail you receive or use the postal service online lookup.
OFT currently has a letter ready to send concerning House/Senate Bill 1 that deals with proficiency standards. It states OFT's position developed at the Convention: Require full participation by certified, practicing teachers in the development of academic standards, achievement and diagnostic tests, and curriculum guidelines, without any qualifiers or loopholes,
Ohio Rules For The Education Of Children With Disabilities 3-21 Years Of Age Draft 2.0