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A Bill of Goods, Not 'Rights'

Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) is opposing a so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) under consideration in the legislature. TABOR initiatives, now being pushed by ultraconservatives in 13 states, usually call for both limits on state revenue—held to the rate of population growth plus the consumer price index (CPI)—and voter approval of all tax increases.

"Taxpayers have a right to know TABOR will mean drastic and painful reductions in government services and will lock public education in the cellar," stresses OEA President Roy Bishop. "It would be difficult to undo the damage the TABOR would cause in Oklahoma."

Connections, Not Quizzes

Minnesota. On a frigid February day, Education Minnesota members rallied at the state capitol with parents and community activists—a bundled-up body 6,000 strong—to urge lawmakers to make public school funding the state's top priority. One speaker, Minnesota Teacher of the Year Tom Keating, questioned how the state can demand that teachers be held accountable while denying them the tools to do their jobs. "We need to make connections with students," he said. "Connections are the key to student learning, not quizzes!"

'All the Creativity is Gone'

Maine. State education authorities are hearing lots from educators about the downside of rigid state accountability and assessment plans: excessive paperwork, long hours, and the loss of "joy" in teaching. In one Nebraska hearing, a teacher reported that continual testing has "brought tears" to the eyes of elementary students. And way up in the Northeast, Maine Education Association member Steve Knight told education department officials: "We are setting one standard to cover an enormous range of kids. All the creativity is gone; there are too many meetings and assessments."

Maine Deputy Commissioner of Education Patrick Phillips has been listening. "The standards-based movement is not about more work for teachers," he acknowledges. "We need to stop doing some things; we need more time; we need a mid-course review."

No Time Even To Complain

Washington In a recent scientific phone poll, 70 percent of Washington Education Association (WEA) members reported concern over problems that take time away from teaching. In a less formal, targeted survey that followed, more than a few responses went like this: "Because of my workload, I don't have time to write out a story. Sorry."

The silver lining: Some WEA locals are tackling workload through creative bargaining. In Everett, for instance, the contract specifies limits on assignments for first-year teachers and requires that each newbie have three release days, at his or her discretion, for planning, observations, or work with a mentor.

A Pay Stub Says It All

New Mexico. NEA-New Mexico is lobbying for a living wage for public school employees. To drive the point home, Las Cruces paraeducators Terry Ybarra and Marcia Brown recently appeared before the House Education Committee, where Brown, a 16-year employee, testified that she earned $14,000 last year. And Ybarra, a 17-year vet, presented her biweekly pay stub—$231.72 after taxes.

"Is this a weekly salary?" asked committee chair Rick Miera.

"No, biweekly," responded Ybarra.

"Last year, my take-home was $233.57."

"I had no idea. I didn't realize...," said Miera. Now he gets it.

Idaho Pay: Small Potatoes

Idaho. In February, Idaho Education Association President Kathy Phelan toured the state to campaign for passage of a Senate resolution to increase starting teacher pay to $35,000 and the average salary to $55,000 by the 2008–09 school year. In one event open to the press, Phelan told southeastern Idaho teachers that many professions requiring equivalent training and degrees pay "tens of thousands more" to start than Idaho's teacher minimum of $27,500.

Trouble for the Terminator

California. The California Teachers Association (CTA) is organizing on all fronts to oppose Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's "misguided agenda for public education." Besides calling teachers a "special interest" that the state must battle, the governor seeks to repeal the law voters approved to guarantee minimum funding to public schools. He also seeks to privatize teacher and public employee retirement systems, make it more difficult for public employee unions to get involved in politics, and undercut locally bargained contracts.

We Are Not the Problem

Michigan. Brace for yet more attacks on collective bargaining. At press time, an Ohio state senator introduced a bill to strip bargaining rights from public workers, while the Michigan Education Association (MEA) faced bills to stick public education employees into a state-run health plan and to prohibit bargaining over health benefits. "It's time to take the gloves off," says MEA President Lu Battaglieri, "and proclaim that public school employees are not the cause of the education funding problem."