Tribute, Award, New Business, & Protest March Mark the 2009 RA's Last Day
July 6, 2009
NEA General Counsel Bob Chanin (left) with NEA President Dennis Van Roekel at the 88th Representative Assembly.
Photo by Rick Runion for RA Today
The last day of the RA saw a heartfelt, spirited celebration of a leader whom President Dennis Van Roekel called “a legal superhero” -- retiring NEA General Counsel Bob Chanin. Van Roekel also conferred the NEA’s 2009 Friend of Education award on Linda Darling-Hammond, acted on new business items and resolutions, and greeted newly-elected NEA officers.
The emotional highlight of the day, and one of the most anticipated events of the 2009 RA, was the tribute to General Counsel Bob Chanin. Following a video retrospective and remarks from President Van Roekel and representatives from the California Teachers Association, the Alabama Education Association and the Buffalo Teachers Federation, Chanin spoke (for the first time) from the center podium. In addition to reflecting on his 40 years and thanking his many colleagues past and present, Chanin left delegates with an important message in these challenging times as they prepare to depart from the 2009 RA.
“NEA and its affiliates must never lose sight of the fact that they are unions. And what unions do first and foremost is represent their members. If we do that, and if we do it well, the rest will fall into place.”
NEA Friend of Education Linda Darling- Hammond, professor of education at Stanford University told the assembly that public schools are under attack, but it’s the system’s fault, not the people’s. It is up to educators to stand up and help lead a reform movement that invests in high quality teaching, equitable schools and real accountability, she said. “Teachers can transform schools,” Darling-Hammond challenged the delegates. “Do we have the will? Do we have the courage?”
