RA Delegates Take a Working Holiday
July 4, 2009
Even as the country celebrated its independence yesterday, the real show of democracy was happening during the second day of the 88th Representative Assembly as delegates held elections, embraced the promise of equal treatment to all NEA members, and participated in a rousing protest against education budget cuts.
The chant of the day: Hope Starts Here!
Or maybe: Fair Budget Now!
In an action-packed day of new business, delegates pledged NEA’s commitment to making sure the 2010 Census is done accurately so that schools and communities can be fairly funded; that the Social Security Offsets be repealed and retirees get their rightful benefits; and that same-sex couples receive equal treatment.
Fairness is all California delegates want too, especially from their governor and lawmakers. With school and college budgets slashed by $12 billion and tens of thousands of educators laid off, including a handful who got their pink slips here at the RA, delegates were determined to show Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a spirited rebuke. Thousands of postcards to the short-sighted Governor were collected yesterday – to be delivered to his San Diego office Monday.
Rousing delegates from their seats, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel asked, “Do our schools deserve adequate funding? Do our students deserve smaller class sizes? Do our students need art, music and physical education?”
Delegates also enjoyed the annual Fourth of July celebration, led by NEA Executive Director John Wilson and featuring the voices of the All-NEA Choir. And they honored international guests and ESP of the Year Kathie Axtell. “All of us can learn from (Axtell’s) tremendous example of courage and service,” Van Roekel said. “For over 30 years, she has been encouraging her colleagues and students that they have the power to change their future.”
