NEA staff member Kim Anderson was interviewed on XM radio’s POTUS ’08 news and public affairs program on Tuesday, June 10. The subject? The rising cost of a college education and how the current presidential campaign might impact those rising costs. What follows is a complete transcript of that interview.

(Listen to the audio interview here)

Tim Farley – XM

Not red.  Not blue.  Red, white and blue.  This is POTUS ‘08.  I’m Tim Farley in the XM satellite radio studios here in Washington, D.C. as POTUS ’08 and POTUS live continues for this Tuesday. 

Counting now 147 days, twenty-one weeks exactly away from the general election.  In the next hour if you missed it, Senator John’s McCain’s address from this morning, small business group here in Washington, D.C.  That will be coming up.  Also Senator Barack Obama who is talking with reporters at the Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.  The economy’s part of the discussion. 

Also part of the discussion, tied in somewhat with the economy is education, especially higher education and college education.  Joining us in the studio right now, Kim Anderson, who’s the Manger for Issue Advocacy, the Campaigns and Election Department for the National Education Association.  I think I said it right.  So welcome to the show.

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

Thank you very much, Tim. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

First of all, the National Education Association for people who don’t know, explain. 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

We represent ... we’re 3.2 million members strong.  And we represent public school employees, including higher education teachers and professors and students who are studying to become teachers in public schools. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

And you do endorse candidates, but you have yet to endorse one this year, correct? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

That’s correct. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

So, good.  That gives us an opportunity to look at this.  Both candidates obviously have positions on higher education.  One of the things we heard Senator Obama talk about the other day was whether or not there should be grants.  Before we get into that, let’s talk about the state of higher education in this country now.  The costs are going up.  Do you have statistics so that people get sort of an understanding of what it costs nowadays to get a four year post-secondary school education? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

Sure.  It’s absolutely gone up and skyrocketed.  In fact, over the last ten to fifteen years or so, the amount of folks borrowing has gone up 900 percent.  Tuition increases have gone up double digits ever year for the last five or six years.  So it’s really the average student loan debt is somewhere between $15,000 to $25,000 depending on where you go. 

 Certainly private institutions tend to be more costly than public institutions.  But the tuition increases have gone up commensurate at both types of institutions.  It has really saddled people with a lot of student loan debt.  And particularly for our student members who are studying to be teachers, it’s really daunting out there.  Because the starting teacher’s salary is maybe thirty grand, in some places even $25,000.  You’re barely above the poverty level.  And you can barely afford to pay your rent, much less pay your student loan back.  And so that really becomes a disincentive to enter public service careers like teaching. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

Why is it so expensive?  Why are costs going up so rapidly? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

Well, part of it is that states are in financial trouble.  They’re not getting as much assistance from the federal government as they should.  So one of the first areas that states typically cut their budgets are aid to higher education institutions.  Thinking that, oh, well.  Higher ed folks can go out and they have endowments.  And they can get private donors.  Well, that really isn’t the case for the vast majority of higher education institutions.  And in fact, the donor bases are shrinking. 

The endowments are not enough to provide financial assistance to the vast majority of students who go.  And we’re not even just talking about low income students.  We’re talking about middle America, middle class families, who can’t afford to send their kids to college without taking out a second mortgage. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

The good thing nowadays I guess is that college education is not a pipe dream.  I mean, if you go back fifty years in this country, literally it was something for the privileged, for the few.  Nowadays, it is accessible, albeit more expensive.  One of the things that you and I talked about before we went on the air here was I was saying that I think that ... and maybe this is true with baby boomers ... because of the way the population bubble has moved over the past twenty years, there are fewer people in that college age group. 

And as a result, schools like the Harvards and the Yales are always going to have plenty of applications.  They’re going to be able to maintain their selectivity when it comes to the student body.  But middle tier schools, good schools, are going to have a little bit tougher time.  They still have to pay the costs of maintaining the college, the board, the room, all kinds of things that go along with it, teachers, keeping up with technology.  Are we weeding out institutions?  Are colleges having a difficult time making a go of it?  Are they going out of business? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

Some of them are ... I wouldn’t say they’re going out of business.  But they’re certainly far more financially strapped than they used to, particularly with the downturn in state budgets.  The state aid that they get from their state legislatures and their governor’s office has shrunken ... has shrunk.  So it’s really something of dire concern for the higher education institutions across the country in terms of how much aid they actually get to support just the management of those facilities paying professor salaries, offering wide courses for students, et cetera. 

So it is something of great concern that we need to be making just generally more investment in higher education, in addition to public schools I general.  But certainly, higher education has gotten the short end of the stick. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

Clearly, going to school is not something you can do by paying out of pocket each year.  They’re a combination of loans and grants.  You say that that has swapped over in the last twenty or thirty years, correct? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

Yeah.  About thirty years ago, the federal government used to give about two-thirds of the amount of financial aid that they gave came in the form of grants.  So students didn’t have to pay those back.  They were needs based grants based on how much income your family made.  And about one-third of that constituted student loans.  Now that picture has completely reversed.  So that two-thirds of the financial aid that the federal government gives out comes in the form of loans that students have to pay back.  And only one-third in the form of grants.  So it’s now become sort of a thing de jour that everybody’s got a student loan instead of how are we going to help kids go to college and not be saddled with this and not be creating a pass to bankruptcy, but instead a pass to success? 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

Once again, we are speaking in the studio with Kim Anderson with the National Education Association.  And the idea of these candidates, the presidential candidates, and their particular takes on college.  As I mentioned, Senator Obama had put forth an idea, one of the ideas he has, is a $4,000 grant, annual grant I guess.  I’m not quite sure if it was an annual grant or if it was a grant that would take place, a one time grant.  But essentially, we’ll give you $4,000.  But you have to commit to service of some sort of the federal government.  What other things can you tell us about his approach and that of Senator McCain when it comes to higher education in this country? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

Right.  One of the things that Senator Obama, from just the research on his public record, the first bill he ever introduced was one about higher education, making higher education more affordable and accessible for students.  He does have a tax credit, a $4,000 tax credit, that people can avail themselves if they choose to go into public service careers like teaching, like military service, et cetera. 

Senator McCain, on the other hand, voted against the College Cost Reduction Act that was just recently considered in the Senate last year.  And he’s voted against a number of provisions that would allow folks to go into public service careers to have some assistance on the back end with their student loans.  So from a sheer vote standpoint there is a huge contrast between the candidates and where they are. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

Are there any things floating around in the Senate or in the House of Representatives relative to this aside from whatever Senator Obama has proposed? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

Well, there is a GI bill that just got voted on.  We’re hoping that there will be some more packages that are introduced this year.  Last year, Congress passed the College Cost Reduction Act.  And that cut student loan interest rates in half and certainly upped the amount for Pell grants that people could get.  But it had some of an effect.  It’s not far reaching enough.  We think it’s a good start.  But it’s not nearly enough to really benefit the vast majority of middle income families that need help. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

Talk about how Pell grants work.  We heard that discussed several times during the campaign.  Senator Clinton mentioned them several times.  How exactly does the Pell grant work? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

You apply it based on need.  So Pell grants are typically targeted to lower income students.  So you have to apply to the federal government to receive one.   You have to prove your family income.  And if it’s low enough and you’re a duly enrolled person in college, you qualify if you make a certain income level.  So the problem with the Pell grant, as I mentioned before though, is that there aren’t enough of them.  They don’t reach enough students.  And they don’t buy enough anymore.  The purchasing power of the Pell grant has rapidly, rapidly declined.  It used to pay for ...

Q: Tim Farley – XM

So it hasn’t been adjusted for inflation? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

Not at all.  Back in ’75 and’76, it used to pay for the bulk of your tuition basically.  It used to cover about 60 percent of the cost of going to school.  And now you’re lucky if it covers about 40 percent, depending upon where you go to school. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

Is it the cost of the schools itself?  Or is it the room and board?  Or is it all of it just going up through the roof? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

I think it’s all of it.  It’s a combination of all of it.  The fact that states are not getting enough financial assistance from the federal government.  And states aren’t giving enough financial assistance to the colleges and universities.  It’s sort of passing the buck down the line.  And unfortunately, the institutions themselves are left holding the bag.  And they have nowhere else to turn to help defray the costs and keep tuition costs low.  Because they’re not getting outside help. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

Let me put my other hat on here and ask the question.  All right.  So why is it in this country we should invest in making it possible for people to go to school?  Let them get a loan if they want to.  Let them figure out ways to get money.  Either be sponsored by the local Rotary Club who used to give scholarships.  I don’t know if they still do or not.  But the idea is make people responsible for it.  Let them go out and seek their own financing and go to college and go to school that way.  Why does the federal government need to get involved in giving more money to this? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

Every time the United States had an economic downturn, we’ve always turned to education.  We’ve always turned to education as being the engine of our economy and the engine of innovation in our country.  And we stand to lose our standing, our economic standing, in the world if we don’t understand that going to college really is a prerequisite now for getting a decent job and getting a job that competes with the 21st century global economy.  We’re not going to keep pace with countries like China and others that are pumping out engineers and mathematicians and computer programmers right and left.  We can’t keep pace with those types of countries that are making a better investment in higher ed if we don’t as well. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

Is that a matter of their having better schools or schools that can handle more people?  Or are they sending their students to this country to learn? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

I don’t think it’s a function of having a better college system.  It is a function really of what your financial commitment is to that system of education itself.  And yes, we do actually educate a lot of foreign students who come to the United States.  The United States, don’t get me wrong, the United States still has the premiere higher education system in the world.  That is why we see so many foreign students coming to the United States to enjoy a college education and graduate school for that matter as well.  But the circumstances around the economy and the economic downturn and making it harder and harder for people to go to college, making higher ed institutions more strapped for cash, is something that will put our country, we believe, in peril in terms of its competitiveness down the line. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

We’re talking about higher education.  Once again, Kim Anderson is the Manager for Issue Advocacy, the Campaigns and Elections Department of the National Education Association.  Talk about the community college system in this country.  It seems to me that that is something that if not unique to the United States is something that characterizes our education system and is available.  It is one that allows a lot of students to go to school on a schedule that is not typical.  What’s the help of that? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

More and more people are turning to community colleges.  Not just for basic two year education and four year education for undergraduate, but for retraining.  People moving into different careers.  People adjusting because plants have closed and going back to school to get job training and other types of things to be competitive and really compete in a 21st century economy.  It is no question the bedrock of lifelong learning, we believe.  It represents a foundation of communities.  And we believe certainly it requires greater assistance from both the federal government and state governments in order to keep communities vibrant and hope for life. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

Aren’t they usually funded by local tax rates?  Or is there a federal assistance for community colleges? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

A combination of all three. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

Really. 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

Federal, state and local. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

Is there any particular area in the college system that is having more trouble?  We’ve got the private.  We’ve got the public institutions.  We just mentioned the community colleges.  Any area that’s really more difficult right now than ever as far as being able to sustain themselves? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

I think everybody’s strapped.  The economic downturn really has strapped everybody.  Everybody’s worried.  From the, you know, certainly you talked about the sort of upper tier private institutions.  They tend to have decent endowments.  But still they’re strapped for cash as well.  You know, Harvard can afford with its endowment to offer free rides to students.  Not everybody is a Harvard.  Not everybody can do that.  And it’s wonderful that they can.  But the vast majority of students aren’t going to Harvard. 

So we have to figure out as a country how we make this more affordable, how we make it more of a budget priority in the federal government and the state government.  So that more kids can go to college.  More adults who are transitioning to second careers can go to college without, again, being strapped with so much debt that they can’t afford to buy a house and make ends meet. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

I’m not sure this is a room I want to walk into with the doors ajar.  So I’m going to stick my foot in just in case.  And that is with athletic scholarships, we see all the time there’s a lot of money being spent on athletics in a lot of these schools.  Now, in some cases, people argue, well, it helps to sustain our education system.  But on the other hand, it’s very difficult it would seem to the outsider to set a priority on education when your priority ... when you go to some institutions is big stadiums, big arenas, and competition on a national level.  Which understand, I’m a huge fan of the sports.  But this seems to be a little bit topsy turvy sometimes. 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

I’d love to see an equal emphasis being placed on scholarships for people who want to become teachers. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

Well, people are not going to spend $50 to watch somebody take a test or teach a class or play chess.  But it seems to me that it’s gotten so lopsided as we watch this, at least form the outside observing this, is there any sense that those kinds of activities on campuses are actually helping to fund the education system in the country?  Are they an integral part of colleges? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

Well, certainly college athletics is important for students to have a robust student life.  It’s certainly important to some colleges in terms of a source of revenue.  However, if you’re talking about scholarships and giving people paths to go to school, athletics shouldn’t be the only path that people have.  We should have a far more comprehensive approach to how to get people with all different kinds of interests to college.  Whether it be engineering.  Whether it be playing the violin.  Whether it be, you know, aeronautics.  You know, there should be ...

Q: Tim Farley – XM

Radio broadcasting. 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

Radio broadcasting, journalism.  That’s right.  There should be a really comprehensive approach to this and not singling out people who may have an interest in sports.  Although, I don’t begrudge them that.  That’s great.  It’s a pass to college.  That’s wonderful.  But there should be a greater emphasis on getting more kids to college, more students to college, and getting them through without being saddled with debt. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

We’ve got about a minute and a half left.  When do you make or the NEA ... when does the NEA meet and make an endorsement of candidates?  

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

We will ... we have 9,000 delegates who will be here in D.C. ...  

Q: Tim Farley – XM

Do you have any super delegates? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

... July 4th.  We actually are ... within the NEA membership, we do have some super delegates. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

Wow. 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

Who will be going to the Democratic National Convention.  And we also have members who will be going to the Republican National Convention.  And we also have members who will be going to the Republican National Convention.  So that will be interesting.  But our organization is set to make an endorsement over the July 4th holiday. 

Q: Tim Farley – XM

All right.  We’ll look forward to hearing more information on that.  Is there a website people can visit if they’d like to hear more or know more? 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

Sure.  You can go to www.nea.org.  And you can also go to collegeaffordabilitynow.org.

Q: Tim Farley – XM

Collegeaffordabilitynow.org.  All right.  Kim Anderson, once again, Manger for Issue Advocacy, Campaigns and Election Department of the National Education Association.  Thanks for joining us on POTUS ’08 today. 

A: Kim Anderson – NEA

Thanks so much, Tim. 

POTUS ’08 airs nationwide on XM channel 130. This nonpartisan commercial-free radio channel airs news and opinion about the 2008 presidential race 24-hours-a-day. For more information about XM Radio’s presidential election channel or POTUS ’08 program, visit www.xmradio.com/potus

Back to Education Votes

Growing up in a family of Democrats did not automatically lead to Anne Loeffler becoming a Democrat. She is a Republican in the conservative region of south central Pennsylvania. What’s important to her in an elected official, Democrat or Republican, however, is that a candidate be strong on supporting public education.

“John McCain came to Philadelphia after Obama was named the presumptive Democratic nominee. With all of the prominent issues he could have spoken about, he chose to speak about vouchers and school choice,” Anne said. “He spoke about how the children of the D.C. area will sadly lose vouchers because of Congress and that it’s been a proven success. I’ve been reading about vouchers, and I know it’s been totally unsuccessful. But he was telling the people of Philadelphia that it was successful. I almost fell off the chair in my kitchen,” she said.

At that moment, Anne got up and emailed the Government Relations Department at PSEA to see what could be done to get the word out to members about John McCain’s position on vouchers. She said she is speaking to as many members as she can, and that the most important thing she can do as an activist is to get out the facts to members.

As a speech therapist for 30 years, Anne sees the need for adequate funding for public education every day. Anne works with all special needs classrooms at Lincoln Intermediate #12. From children with physical handicaps, to those with autism and children who need help with “life skills,” Anne makes sure that her students are cared for properly.

Anne wasn’t always politically active, but the one issue that pushed her into the political arena is vouchers. Former Republican Gov. Tom Ridge pushed for vouchers. She said her friends felt squeezed, and she felt the repercussions in her own job. Anne decided enough was enough and decided to get active politically. “I realized that we cannot sit idly by and expect things to happen the way they should,” Anne said. “We need to fight for what we believe!”

Her big sister Mary Flaherty Artuso, a lifelong Democrat and head of the Democratic Caucus at PSEA said, “finally!” Together, they are fighting the good fight in Pennsylvania. In addition, Anne and her husband David, a Democrat, serve as co-regional directors of PACE for the southern region.

As a bipartisan team, they are opening a lot of doors with state legislators and with PSEA members. They are working together through phone banking and volunteering on political campaigns to get the word out on education issues to PSEA members. “I am a PSEA/NEA member who believes that teachers cannot sit quietly like a boat on the water hoping to get to the shore,” Anne said. “We have to dig in and row to make things happen.”

Back to Education Votes

Early childhood education. Healthy students. Quality teaching. Comprehensive learning. Testing and accountability. Students with disabilities. English Language Learners. Parent-Family-Community involvement. Class size. Before- and afterschool programs. Modern schools. Charter schools. Career and technical education. College affordability. Health care. Penalties for public service.

These are some of the education-related issues that deserve our attention in this fall’s election. Find out where NEA stands on these issues in the 2008 Campaign Briefing Book.

• Healthy Students - Children need a broad array of services so they are ready to learn every day at school. (, 2 pp) 
• Early Childhood Education - The benefits of quality early childhood education are significant and long lasting. (, 2 pp)
• Quality Teaching - Research has proven what most teachers have always understood -- that what teachers know and can do are among the most significant influences on student learning. (, 2 pp)
• Comprehensive Learning - All students should have access to a rigorous, comprehensive curriculum that includes preparation for the skills needed to succeed in the 21st century. (, 2 pp) 
• Testing and Accountability - Accountability and assessment systems should focus on improving student learning. Tests should be used to identify student needs, monitor progress, and inform instruction to help close achievement gaps rather than to label and punish students and schools. (, 2 pp)
• Students with Disabilities - Access to a free, quality education is the key to the uniquely American promise of equal opportunity for all. (, 2 pp)
• English Language Learners - Improving the education of English Language Learners (ELLs) is a big job that requires collaboration and commitment, starting with schools of education that must better prepare all teachers to work effectively with this booming student population. (, 2 pp) 
• Parent Involvement - Parent-family-community involvement is a key to addressing the school dropout crisis. (, 2 pp)
• Class Size The number of students in a classroom can make a real difference for students. While the cost can be considerable, the cost of not reducing class size is even greater. (, 1 pp)
• Afterschool Programs - For students who need extra support to be successful academically, what happens before and after school can be as important as what happens during the school day. (, 2 pp) 
• School Modernization - The average age of America’s public schools is close to 50 years – and it shows. America’s public schools are in desperate need of repair and renovation. Communities need federal support to repair, rehabilitate, and modernize school buildings. . (, 2 pp)
• Charters - Even though more than a million students in 40 states now attend some 4,000 charter schools, the jury is still out on whether this is an effective school improvement strategy. (, 2 pp)
• Career and Technical Education - Funding for career and technical education (CTE) is the largest source of federal funding for high schools and a critical source of program support money to community colleges. (, 2 pp) 
• College Affordability - The soaring cost of higher education is closing the door of opportunity to millions of young Americans.   (, 2 pp)
• Health Care  - It is not hard to understand families’ struggle to pay for health care, with premiums rising faster than wages and inflation, and with employers shifting ever-greater out-of-pocket costs to plan members. (, 2 pp)
• Social Security  - Two little-known sections of the Social Security Act penalize people who have dedicated their lives to public service by taking away benefits they have EARNED. (, 2 pp) 

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This election year Hispanics loom as a crucial swing vote

by John Rosales

The same brand loyalty Latinos have for toothpaste and laundry detergent keeps them returning to the Clinton name, says former NEA Hispanic Caucus chair, Bob Munoz.

“The majority of us (Latinos) are still stuck on the Clintons,” says Munoz, a teacher at Grace Warner Elementary School in Reno, Nevada. “Latino loyalties run deep and strong. We stick with our friends because that’s what our parents taught us.”

For Campaign ’08, the more Hispanic friends that the nominees have, the better their chances to win the White House. Hispanics are the nation’s largest and fastest growing minority group. At 46 million, they represent about 15 percent of the U.S. population.  

According to a recent study by the Pew Hispanic Center, Hispanics “loom as a potential swing vote.” In “Hispanics and the 2008 Election: A Swing Vote?,” researchers found that 57 percent of Hispanic registered voters identify themselves as Democrats or say they lean to the Democratic Party, while 23 percent align with the Republican Party.

While notable for its population size, Latinos comprise only 9 percent of the eligible electorate nationwide, and will be about 6.5 percent of those who turn out to vote in November, according to Pew.

The electoral muscle of Latinos is further weakened because many are not citizens or are under the voting age of 18. Despite these modest numbers, researchers find Hispanics constitute a sizable share of the electorate in four of the six states that President Bush carried by margins of five percentage points or fewer in 2004 – New Mexico (where Hispanics make up 37 percent of the state’s eligible electorate); Florida (14 percent); Colorado (12 percent) and Nevada (12 percent). All four are expected to be closely contested.

Munoz and other Latino leaders in Nevada recently met with Democratic party chair Howard Dean to discuss ways that Democrats could be more responsive to Latinos.

“Campaigns should advertise in Spanish or show some cultural awareness,” Munoz says. “At the same time, Latinos must participate more in the political process.”

He cites outreach efforts by Sen. Barack Obama with his "Viva Obama" video and “Si, Se Puede (Yes, We Can)!” campaign slogan. Bill Clinton scored points with Latinos when he spoke with Spanish-language radio host Eddie "El Piolin" Sotelo and declared that Latinos would "determine the nominee of the Democratic Party and the next president of the United States."

 Before dropping out of the race in January, New Mexico Gov. Richardson was the first Latino to seek the Democratic presidential nomination.

“I always liked him,” Munoz says. “We’re from the same culture, but I wasn’t sure he would make as good a president as Hillary.”  

More important than loyalty and cultural affiliation, Munoz says, is for candidates to include Latino leaders from Congress, national Latino organizations and hometown associations in meetings that will shape their campaign agenda and government policies. When Latinos aren’t included in the inner circles of campaigns, for example, there can be a cost.

“I heard someone from a campaign call us (Latinos) the Tortilla Vote, and the Whole Enchilada,” says Munoz. “They wouldn’t say that about any other group, or if one of us was around to explain how demeaning that is.”

Munoz says immigration policy is close to the hearts of Latinos, but so is increasing the minimum wage, universal health insurance, health care reform, rising fuel costs, and expanding early childhood education.

“Our issues are mainstream issues,” he says.

As an educator, Munoz also looks at where a candidate stands on education issues, such as paying teachers a starting salary of $40,000 and education support professionals a living wage, and increasing federal education funding, which Clinton and Obama both support.

Based on his voting records and statements in the media, the presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, opposes an increase in federal education funding, and failed to respond to an NEA questionnaire seeking his stance on a number of issues of interest including increasing pay for educators.

In “New Dimensions of Latino Participation,” a report by the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute, researchers find that in 2008, “the Hispanic vote is “persuadable – that is, not yet locked in to either major political party.” However, the study confirms that “there is strong evidence that the Hispanic community is moving toward the Democratic Party.”

“Latinos will respond when the message is right,” Munoz says. “If Obama picked Richardson as his running mate - that would send a message. But I don’t know if that would be a viable ticket. I’m going to wait and see.”

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A Virginia educator’s political activism helps turn high school into Campaign ‘08 hot spot

by Tim Walker

This past Saturday, Dominic Melito, a social studies teacher from Virginia Beach, Virginia, was elected to be a delegate for Senator Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in August. For Melito, just one of many NEA members who will be delegates this summer, political activism is a natural extension of his work as a social studies teacher and union member. Melito has served as the vice chair of the Virginia Beach Democratic Party but his involvement in local and state politics, however, only picked up steam in the last few years as the Virginia Democratic Party revitalized itself throughout the state. Virginia Beach is a longstanding GOP stronghold, but Tim Kaine’s successful campaign for governor in 2005 helped reenergize local and state activists, whose work has led many national political analysts to identify Virginia as a crucial swing state this November.

Melito, as the incoming president of the Virginia Beach Education Association , is giving up his official duties in the local party, but he will still be using his new role to further the political goals of the association.

His activism over the past few years will also continue to pay dividends at Kellam High School, where Melito has taught Government for 16 years.

 “When you’ve actually participated in the political process,” he says, “the experience enhances how you teach Government. Teachers know how the process works, but when you’ve seen it up close and gotten to know some of the players, it brings a fresh perspective.”

Melito has leveraged his political connections to bring the excitement of campaigning and civic engagement to his school. Kellam High has been a common site for candidate debates and forums, which have helped register 90 percent of all seniors at the school to vote and many to volunteer for fall campaigns.

“When you’re actually able to bring campaigns into the school, regardless of the political party, it generates excitement,” he says. “It means a lot for students who are about to vote for the first time to see and hear candidates. They’re not just faces on the TV or voices on the radio.”

Melito believes it is the job of educators to do all they can to engage students in a process that is not only crucial but also potentially very exciting.

“Hopefully I’ve helped generate interest in the political process at Kellam. What my students do with that and how they choose to vote – that’s up to them of course. But if they think political activism is relevant to their lives, we’ve done our job.”

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Educators Volunteer, Candidate Wins by Slim Margin

by Mary Ellen Flannery

Educators in North Carolina campaigned hard for their candidate of choice in a congressional primary. Their activism paid off when their Roy Carter — a former teacher — scored a victory by the slimmest of margins.

If you don't think every vote makes a difference, talk to Roy Carter.

Carter, a candidate for U.S. Congress, won North Carolina's Democratic primary this week by a razor's edge. With more than 80,000 votes cast, this lifelong teacher and football coach — a member of both NEA and the North Carolina Association of Educators for nearly 40 years — grabbed a margin of 531.

Now, all over his mountainous district, Carter's former colleagues are gleefully patting him — and themselves — on the back. "I think we could be fairly credited for his victory in the primary," said Tripp Jeffers, president of the Forsyth County Association of Educators.

"I'm sure we got him 500 votes from our members on Saturday."

Carter didn't go alone to the polls. Nor, for that matter, neither did the state's Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue, a former public school teacher who won the gubernatorial primary. At every step along the way, an army of educator volunteer worked tirelessly for these candidates, making calls, talking to voters, writing letters, and raising money.

"It was rare when someone was not interested in the information that we were giving them. Most people were very interested, very open, and very responsive... they'd say things like, 'I wish we could pay you more!'"

And, around the state, more than 1,000 educators were doing the same kind of volunteer work — sending text messages, writing activist newsletters, and building a record voter turnout. Because they know that every vote does make a difference. And they also know that a win for their candidate means a win for them.

North Carolina is not a "bargaining state," which means teachers don't sit down with school district officials to negotiate contracts. Instead, they rely on state and local legislators to win salary raises on their behalf. That means it's absolutely vital for them to elect men and women who understand the significant value of a high-quality teacher in every classroom.

"Whatever we get, we have to achieve through lobbying — very, very intensive, grassroots lobbying. We email, we send letters, phone calls, all done from the grassroots level," said Jeffers. They even take annual trips to Raleigh, where they sit down with state legislators and gently persuade in person. Last year, after Jeffers met with a well-connected state senator, a provision on paid personal leave for educators was suddenly back on the table.

Because they're effective — first, at getting the right people elected, and then at keeping their ears open — North Carolina educators have won 18 percent salary increases over the past three years. With Perdue's help especially, the average teacher pay in North Carolina has soared from 43rd in the nation to 21st, and she also helped create the Teacher Academy, a state-funded professional development program.

"North Carolina's public school employees made it clear on Tuesday that we intend to make public education a priority in every election this year," said NEA President Reg Weaver on Wednesday. "And we intend to do everything necessary to energize and mobilize our members in every election in every state from now through November."

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See McCain, Clinton, and Obama on Economy, Health Care and Education

Culled from various media sources, the video below presents Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) addressing three of the nation's most important issues: the economy, health care and education.

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TERMS OF THE PRIZE GIVEAWAY

1. Participants must be 18 years of age or older to be eligible for the prize giveaway.
2. Odds of winning are based upon the number of entrants.
3. From the total pool of e-mail addresses collected, one will be selected at random to receive an Apple iPod shuffle, a digital audio device capable of storing up to 100 songs. With a retail value of $50, the iPod shuffle is compatible with Mac and Windows.
4. NEA will not sell, lease or rent e-mail addresses to any other organization. NEA is permitted to contact you periodically at the e-mail address you provide.
5. The winner of the prize giveaway bears sole responsibility for any taxes incurred in connection with receiving the prize.
6. One entry per person.

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It's well known that women doing the same work as men often get paid less. Sen. John McCain says it's not because of gender; women just need more "education and training." Tell Sen. McCain to join in calling for an up or down vote on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (H.R. 2831).

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