Top Stories, RA Today
In this issue of RA Today find out why most Americans say lack of parental involvement is the biggest problem facing public schools. In addition, take a look at two Alabama support personnel who are using computers to help students combat test fears, and meet three teachers who have made Association activism a family affair.
Move Over Ricky Martin!
RA delegates -- including South Carolina teacher LaRosa Sanders -- clamored for Education Secretary Riley's autograph after his July 4 speech, in which he called educators "some of the most patriotic Americans there are."
NEA President Calls On Members To Rescue Standards Movement NEW!
NEA President Bob Chase July 3 called on NEA members to take a lead role in keeping the education standards movement on the right track. During his keynote address, Chase said, "We have long advocated high expectations for all children, but policies that are hastily conceived and ineptly executed will never accomplish this goal." Listen to his speech online.
NEA Members:
'One In One Hundred' NEW!
Delegates officially opened NEA's 138th Annual Meeting July 3. They debated new business and amendments, heard words of welcome, and approved an audit and financial report that projects an NEA membership of 2.6 million by 2001. Right now, with more than 2.5 million members, nearly one out of every 100 Americans is an NEA member.
Support Personnel: Building NEA's Family Of Educators NEW!
Richard Malizia, a New Jersey attendance officer, will be honored July 4 as NEA's ESP (Education Support Personnel) of the year. Bev Kittler, a teaching assistant from Illinois said, "It doesn't matter if someone's holding a broom, correcting a paper, or driving a bus. We're all educators and all concerned about kids."
Six Innovative Partnerships Honored by NEA, UAW and Saturn NEW!
NEA, the United Auto Workers, and the Saturn Corporation presented the fourth annual Saturn Partnership Awards July 3. The awards recognize local education associations and school districts that have used a collaborative approach to improve student performance -- mirroring the success achieved by labor and management in the automobile industry.
In the Windy City, A Hot Year For Educators NEW!
Upwards of 17,000 delegates and guests -- possibly the largest Annual Meeting turnout in NEA's 143-year history -- began streaming into Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center July 1 for a Representative Assembly poised to tackle some of the toughest issues facing America's educators -- including pay for performance and school safety.
NEA Honors Activists, Leaders At July 2 Human And Civil Rights
Awards NEW!
Each year NEA honors outstanding individuals for their efforts to advance the struggle for equality. This year's 11 honorees include a Latino politician responsible for a bond proposal to build and modernize California's public schools and a gay high school student who battled harassment. Awards are named in honor of human and civil rights pioneers.
Reading Matters --
All Year Long NEW!
School may be
out, but reading can be part of every family member's vacation plans.
NEA and reading teachers have some practical -- and fun -- ways you can help make sure that your child's vacation from school isn't a vacation from learning. Use the lazy days of summer to fine-tune your child's reading skills.
Celebrate Diversity With Help From NEA Professional Library
If you're ready to make your school's celebration of diversity mean more than "Taco Tuesdays," check out the new Multicultural Resource Series from NEA's Professional Library. The second volume in this series, Resources for a Multicultural Classroom, is your guide to materials that will help you integrate diversity into your curriculum.
It's Not Too Soon To Start Working On Urban Grant Proposals
All NEA local
affiliates of 500 members or more are eligible to apply for this year's NEA Urban Grants Program. Since 1985, the program has supported local NEA affiliates in the development of education reform leadership programs for K-12 faculty, education support personnel (ESP), and higher education faculty. Proposal Deadline: September 30.
Media Conferencing Classroom Added To NEA Exhibit
TECH: Making the Grade, the high-tech, interactive exhibit that demonstrates how technology is reshaping education, can now show visitors how to break down barriers of time, distance, and disability with a new media conferencing classroom. This new technology can facilitate communication with audiences around the world. It was made possible by TECH partners VTEL and Bell Atlantic.
