October 2000 Table of Contents

Cover Story:
Helping Kids at the Ballot Box

California NEA member Sandi Ortiz Ishii believes this November's elections are crucial for public education, so she's out on the campaign trail where candidates like Lou Corea are meeting and greeting local voters in Orange County.

Debate

Should candidates for Congress be required to pass competency tests?

Social Security: Let's Keep It Secure!

Some advice on what to say when someone proposes privatizing Social Security

Heroes & Zeroes

Thulas Nxesi, leader of the South African Democratic Teachers Union

Double Standard to New Standard

Alabama members register major gains as legislature wraps up its work

Writing Your Own Job Description

Support staffers make case for better pay and benefits based on their work

Do-er's Profile

Charles Nelson is a valuable addition to NEA's new 20-member IDEA/Special Education Resource Cadre

Rights Watch

What do you own when your work goes online? Some legal background on the issue

Interview

Two former NEA presidents are heading a campaign to reduce class size

Innovators

Educator gives middle school math texts F's; what gives?

Problems & Solutions

Turning technology into a teaching tool in Washington state

Reading

The latest research on what works in teaching reading

Inside Scoop

You've heard the claims, now read about who really laid the groundwork for improving schools in Texas

ESP on the Team

Certification leads to better pay for paras. How they did it in Rhode Island

Tips for the Wired Classroom

"Links across the country" and "Buddies from Down Under"

Letters

Readers react to the September issue of NEA Today.

President's Viewpoint
What's at Stake?

A lot is up for grabs in Election 2000. We stand to make a crucial difference

My Turn

Lessons learned, lessons applied, from a child migrant laborer who is now a teacher

Health and Fitness

Vaccinations aren't just shots in the dark

Money

Should Kids Work? Timing the Stock Market

People

Why are kids investigating the local water supply?

Resources

The best in TV, books, contests, awards. Plus, the Diversity Calendar.

In the Light Lane

Not Quite Right

Masthead

Who we are.