A week of struggle and progress
A week of struggle and progress
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
— Frederick Douglass, 1857
Greetings,
Last week, after a decade of struggle, our union won a remarkable victory with the passage of Question 2 on the statewide ballot. The margin was wide: 59% in favor, to 41% opposed. You and close to 2 million voters who voted “Yes” have ended the use of the MCAS as a punitive, high-stakes graduation test. Already we are hearing from members about how this is going to change the lives of their students and their ability to be the educators they have wanted to be.
In the words of one political commentator – who has been no fan of the MTA – the victory was a “wipeout” for the business community. “The MTA is calling the shots” when it comes to public education, he said. We like to believe that is true, and it makes sense: The public wants the true experts – our members – to lead the discussion about what our schools and colleges need.
Struggle and Progress
Now we look to Washington, D.C., and try to win another decades-long goal of our union: repealing GPO/WEP, which has denied a dignified retirement to so many of our members. In an historic vote, the House on Tuesday night approved the Social Security Fairness Act, which will repeal these laws that have unfairly reduced retirement income for public service workers, including educators in Massachusetts. The measure now moves to the Senate. Almost all of our congressional delegation is with us in supporting this repeal. Please email your senator right away to make sure they are ready to vote yes – and thank the representatives who did so on Tuesday.
Struggle and (We Hope) Progress
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, please look to the North Shore and provide whatever support you can to our members in Gloucester, Beverly and Marblehead, so they can get fair contracts. They are demanding what so many of you have been demanding: living wages for ESPs, parental leave for the only group of workers in the state who don’t have it by right, and supports, so that we can keep students and educators safe in our schools.
American Education Week
Please join us next week in celebrating American Education Week, from Nov. 18 through 22. Make special note of National ESP Day, on Wednesday, Nov. 20. This is a great opportunity to celebrate and honor the Education Support Professionals in your local or chapter by nominating someone for MTA ESP of the Year. The award recognizes commitment to public education in preK-12 schools and in higher education.
Implementing Question 2
The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has posted information about how it plans to follow through on Question 2. A memo explains that the new language will take effect as soon as Dec. 5, 2024. Starting with the class of 2025, students will be eligible to earn a diploma based on satisfactory completion of coursework.
Public Information Session: State Education Commissioner
The search for a new state commissioner of elementary and secondary education is underway, and an online hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 14, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Public surveys also are being collected on the job description. The new commissioner will succeed Jeff Riley. Job interviews are expected in the spring. Read more here and sign up for the public sessions.
Register for the 2024 EMAC Conference
The theme of the 45th annual EMAC Conference is Imagining Intersectional and Inclusive Communities. This year’s conference is on Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center. Register by Nov. 21 if you need a hotel room. For information and to register, please visit the EMAC conference page.
Learn More About Artificial Intelligence at Brainstorm The Training and Professional Learning Division on Saturday, Nov. 16, will host Brainstorm: Conversations on AI in Public Education. Join fellow members for a day of discussion about the promises and problems of AI and large language model software in our schools, colleges and universities. No consultants, no sales pitches, just discussion on how to plan for the appropriate use of these technologies in public education. Learn more and register. Political Education The results of the national elections were deeply disturbing – even frightening – to many of our members, in part because of their fears for what will happen to the most vulnerable students and families in our society. One small step to keep abreast of how to remain active and informed is to sign on to progressive journals, including The Nation, Jacobin and Labor Notes.
In Solidarity,
Max and Deb