MTA members joining national action to protect public education
MTA members joining national action to protect public education
MTA members are taking action in response to Trump's plans to eliminate the Dept. of Ed
MTA members from the Berkshires to Cape Cod will join with labor, education, and community allies in a national Day of Action tomorrow to demonstrate their support for public education. The action is in response to plans by the Trump administration to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and promote the use of publicly funded vouchers to bolster private schools while slashing funding for public schools, and undermining support for our diverse student body.
“MTA members are proud of the work we do educating students from preschool to grad school. Our union of 117,000 public school and college educators has been around since the founding of universal public education for every young person and will remain committed to meeting the needs of every student and making every student and staff member feel safe and supported,” said MTA President Max Page. “We will join with community allies and elected officials to preserve our best-in-the-nation public schools.”
MTA educators in more than 50 Massachusetts communities are planning to walk in together at the start of school on Tuesday to express solidarity with each other, students, and families. Some districts will have programs in the afternoon. Most participants also will be wearing “red for ed” shirts on Tuesday.
The American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, Moms Rising, and the Alliance to Reclaim Education initiated the Protect Our Kids Day of Action following a Senate committee vote last month to forward the confirmation of Linda McMahon as U.S. Secretary of Education. The Trump administration intends to carry out a dismantling of the education department and slash federal funding that supports programs for students with disabilities, offers job training and makes college more accessible.
MTA educators in more than 50 Massachusetts communities are planning to walk in together at the start of school on Tuesday to express solidarity with each other, students, and families.
In addition to addressing potential cuts to federal funding for public education, MTA members are voicing support for immigrant families and LGBTQ+ students as the rights of both groups are under attack.
“The Day of Action is a chance for communities and educators to champion the kinds of schools students deserve,” said MTA Vice President Deb McCarthy. “We want to protect class sizes from growing too large, protect access to counseling services, protect the availability of arts and athletics and protect the ongoing efforts to increase diversity within the teaching ranks. We also want to clearly state that every student is welcome and respected.”
MTA educators in the following districts are participating in the Day of Action: Agawam, Andover, Ayer-Shirley, Bedford, Belchertown, Belmont, Beverly Blackstone-Millville, Burlington, Cambridge, Canton, Carlisle, Fall River, Fitchburg, Foxboro, Franklin, Freetown-Lakeville, Frontier Regional, Georgetown, Gloucester, Grafton, Greater New Bedford Vocational, Greenfield, Halifax, Kingston, Leverett, Malden, Methuen, Monomoy Regional, Mount Greylock Regional, Newton, North Adams, Northampton, Pembroke, Plympton, Revere, Shutesbury, Silver Lake Regional, South Hadley, Southern Berkshire Regional, Southwick, Springfield, Stoneham, Sudbury, Tewksbury, Truro, Wellesley, Wilbraham, Wilmington and Wrentham.