Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/10151
¡Sí Se Puede! ¿Por Qué No? B Y C T A P R E S I D E N T D A V I D A . S A N C H E Z ly out of the discussion — the very people most capable of offering real, practical solu- tions to the problems facing our schools. Since the Obama administration released its guide- lines for the Race to the Top competition last summer, the subject of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act – which looks to be even worse than its last re- authorization as No Child Left Behind – has been back in the spotlight. Unfortunately, the administration’s top-down ideas and narrow approach are not sound steps toward building a stronger education system. As educators, we are the ones who see S firsthand the struggles happening in the classroom every day and know what works and what doesn’t — not politicians dreaming up theories behind closed doors divorced from the classroom. We are the ones who see the light come on in a student’s eyes when she understands a difficult problem, when the lesson is delivered in just the right way to reach her. With the creation of a system that labels schools and educators as “failures” and “losers,” we limit our students’ learning and potential growth before they even have a chance to try to achieve. CTA believes that if more teachers were asked to contribute to the creation of educa- tion policy, there would be much more of a focus on positive methods, and less on the negative ones being employed in our schools. That’s why, in this issue of California Educator, we’ve chosen to feature positive stories about what is working in our schools. In it we show- case some methods that schools and teachers are using that work, approaches that often re- sult in success for schools and students. It’s on- ly by focusing on methods that are proven to work — instead of labeling students and schools based on test scores — that we can ev- er hope to make all of our public schools in California great places of learning. 4 California Educator | APRIL 2010 ¿Por Qué No? o much of the conversation about edu- cation reform these days seems to be one-sided, leaving educators complete- One excellent example is CTA’s Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA), a program built on proven reforms like smaller class siz- es, quality educator training and collabora- tion, and more available counseling. Students in the nearly 500 lower-performing schools participating in QEIA across California for the past two years have shown improvement at a greater rate than those in schools outside the program. Coming up in June is the statewide pri- mary election — an extremely important election that will have a huge impact on how education is funded over the course of the coming years. CTA has recommended candi- dates (see page 26) who understand the need for reform, such as restructuring the tax laws in our state. A new brief from the California Budget Project finds that our state will lose nearly $2 billion a year due to corporate tax cuts enacted in 2008 and 2009. In June and November we can all push for those reforms by voting for candidates who support ade- quate funding for education, and passing the Repeal Corporate Tax Loopholes Act. Talk with your friends, family and community about the impact all of our voices will have on the future of our schools. In April and May, CTA will also be running radio ads, in English and Spanish, illustrating how politicians in Sacramento and Washing- ton spend a lot of time talking about reform- ing our public schools, but neglect to consult our most important experts: educators. Education reform shouldn’t be a “race.” It shouldn’t pit states against one another, or pit teacher against teacher. It should be based on proven reforms from practical ex- perience in the classroom. The public needs to see that teachers know education reform works best when parents and educators work together to meet the needs of students in every neighborhood school. EDITOR IN CHIEF Dave Earl Carpenter STAFF WRITER Sherry Posnick-Goodwin CTA WEB EDITOR Karyn Ferrera Donhoff CTA WEB EDITOR Tiffany Hasker EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Craig Hamilton CTA ELECTED OFFICERS PRESIDENT David A. Sanchez VICE PRESIDENT Dean E. Vogel SECRETARY-TREASURER Gail M. Mendes BOARD OF DIRECTORS Larry Allen, E. Toby Boyd, Donald L. Bridge, Tyrone V. Cabell, Mikki Cichocki, Elana Davidson, Don Dawson, Dana Dillon, David Goldberg, Jim Groth, Dián Dolores Hasson, Eric C. Heins, Marty G. Meeden, George Melendez, Mary Rose Ortega, Cynthia Peña, Jim Rogers, Bonnie Shatun, Marc Sternberger, Michael Stone, Curtis Washington EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Carolyn Doggett ASSOCIATE EXEC. DIRECTOR Rebecca Zoglman COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Jonathan Goldman CONTRIBUTORS Scott Buschman, Dave Crosland, Len Feldman, Bill Guy, Dina Martin, Sheri Miyamoto, Mike Myslinski, Kamran Nasser EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Katie Young, chair; Ami S. Barker, Misao Brown, Rosalyn Collier, Tony P. Diaz, Michael Downey, Linda Guthrie, Gregg Solkovits, Sandra Thornton, KC Walsh; Jim Groth (Board liaison) EDITORIAL INFORMATION California Educator is published for the information and edification of its members. The editorial philoso- phy is governed by the policies of CTA. Articles and advertising reflect that philosophy. Letters to the editor may be sent to editor@cta.org. Publication of advertising in the California Educa- tor does not indicate CTA approval of the product or of the companies that purchase advertising. Advertising rate card and information is available from WebSolutions, Media Division, 5666 Spruce Harbor Court, Las Vegas, NV 89122 (702) 838-3434; FAX (702) 838-3355 CTA/NEA membership dues for the fiscal year, Sept. 1-Aug. 31, are $783, including a $20 voluntary contribution. Up to $17.97 of CTA annual dues is designated for CTA/ABC political activ ities to support state and local candidates and/or initiatives and is not deductible for income tax purposes. Subscription to the California Educator is $10/year, available only to persons or institutions not eligible for CTA/NEA membership. California Educator (ISSN 1091-6148) is published monthly except January, July and August for $6.17 per year (included in dues) by: CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION 1705 Murchison Dr., Burlingame, CA 94010-4583 (650) 697-1400; FAX (650) 552-5002 editor@cta.org, www.cta.org Postmaster: Send change of address to California Educator, P.O. Box 4178, Burlingame, CA 94011-4178. ¡Sí Se Puede! [Yes we can! Why not?], words inspired by César Chávez, encourage us to remember that, together, we can achieve great things. Periodicals Postage Paid at Burlingame, CA, and additional mailing offices.