Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/15938
¿Por Qué No? ¡Sí Se Puede! lenging in many ways, but will also give us an opportunity to effect great change. Like never before, we are seeing the profession of teaching under attack. We currently have a federal administration that asks us to compete for education dollars; corporate foundations are increasingly meddling in the classroom, influencing policy that leads to dangerous, experimental reforms; and too many of our state’s elected leaders are failing to do their jobs, leaving us — still at this late date — with no budget at all. And that’s why the elections this year are so very important: to help fix this broken process. It’s a travesty, really, a downright outra- I geous situation, that educators — who have day-to-day knowledge of the classroom and intimate, personal understanding of teaching — should be left out of the conversation re- garding education reform. I entered the teaching profession, as did both of my parents, who were lifelong educa- tors, with the intention of making a differ- ence and contributing to the growth of young minds. I personally was fortunate enough to get a first-rate education here in California — a state with such incredible wealth that it dwarfs the economies of entire countries. It’s inexcusable that in a place of such abun- dance, schools are so starved for funds that corporate foundations like the Broad and Gates foundations can dangle sacks of money with strings attached and set their own edu- cation policy. For some unknown reason, our elected leaders have lost sight of the fact that public education is a basic right — not a priv- ilege, not something to be bought and sold. Quality public education is what once built California and made it a great state. And quality, affordable education for all is what will once again make it a great state. As I travel the state, it’s clear to me that teachers are distressed by attacks being B Y C TA P R ESIDEN T D A VID A. S ANCHEZ want to welcome you all back to an- other new school year — one that will likely prove to be exceptionally chal- made on them, such as the one leveled by a Los Angeles Times story in August that used student results from California Standards Tests to evaluate teacher effectiveness for nearly 6,000 United Teachers Los Angeles members. The article was irresponsible and reckless, an oversimplification of a very complex situation. We don’t dispute the im- portance of the data, but to think it provides a comprehensive view of a student or a teacher’s effectiveness is ignorant. Each of us has the responsibility to get involved and try to bring about positive change. It’s time that we as educators under- stand exactly how policy is being made and by whom. From the effects of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s Race to the Top competition to corporate foundation influ- ence to our state leaders dragging their heels on producing a state budget — a lot is hap- pening behind the scenes that directly and profoundly affects our classrooms. We all need to be engaged during this midyear election season. It’s of the utmost im- portance that we elect pro-education candi- dates like Jerry Brown for governor and Tom Torlakson for state superintendent of public instruction. Both have strong records in sup- port of public education. It’s also important that we vote yes on Prop. 24, the Tax Fairness Act, to end $1.3 billion in special corporate tax loopholes that do not require the creation or protection of one single California job. We have the opportunity to help turn around California and make our state a leader in public education. To do that we must be part of the conversation. We must talk to our friends, family members and colleagues over the com- ing months and convey to them the importance of the November election. With continued sup- port from each of us, we will change the status quo and give all of our students the first-rate education they truly deserve. S 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 ECRETARY˜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, Eric C. Heins, Marty G. Meeden, George Melendez, Theresa Montaño, 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, Dina Martin, Mike Myslinski, Kamran Nasser, Marcos Sorensen 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 $805, including a $20 voluntary contribution. Up to $26.30 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. Periodicals Postage Paid at Burlingame, CA, and additional mailing offices. ¿Por Qué No? ¡Sí Se Puede! [Yes we can! Why not?], words inspired by César Chávez, encourage us to remember that, together, we can achieve great things. 4 California Educator | SEPTEMBER 2010