News
Heroes & Zeroes

Members of the Georgia Association of Educators, including Elizabeth Rhodes, supported many aspects of Governor Roy Barnes's "A-Plus Education Reform Act," but they lobbied hard to revise a provision that scraps fair dismissal rights for new teachers hired after July 1--and were criticized by folks who wrongly equate due process with "lifetime job security."

Rhodes and GAE members lost this round; the awful provision is part of the new law. But they're still fighting for the rights of new teachers.

Oregon anti-public education activist Bill Sizemore has drafted almost a quarter of the more than 160 ballot initiatives working their way through the qualifying process for the November 2000 ballot. On his wish list: A measure to increase deductibility of federal taxes on state income tax returns, which would slash funding to public education.

"In this age of attacks on public school funding, it's hard to believe that many would-be supporters of public education are not registered voters," says Oregon Education Association President James K. Sager. "OEA members can have an impact on the elections by encouraging like-minded co-workers, neighbors, and friends to get registered."

To be a hero, you don't have to move mountains, just people. And Steve Romary, an NEA local affiliate leader in New Haven, Indiana, is a definitely a hero in the eyes of elementary teacher Ina Guenin.

"Steve makes himself available to answer questions, gives answers in an expedient manner, and never makes the person asking the question feel foolish," says Guenin. "He has his fellow teachers' welfare at heart, as evidenced by his unselfish giving of time and resources."

Ontario (Canada) Premier Mike Harris, who eliminated teachers' right to bargain over working conditions in 1998, now plans to launch an audit of classroom hours to ensure that teachers "spend more time" in class.

But before Harris begins, he might read a "time-use" study of Nova Scotia teachers just released by their union (www.nstu.ns.ca/timeuse). It reveals that they spend 52.5 hours a week on teaching-related activities--and are "time-poor, stressed, and frustrated with dramatic changes in their profession."