TexasAdvocateAdvocate State Teachers Association/National Education Association WINTER 2004 Gearing up for the 79th Legislative Session Legislature Convenes January 11 he countdown to the 79th an anti-tax activist who is The legislature should ad- TLegislative Session began a fond of calling the NEA a dress these working condi- notes few months ago and the pre- bunch of Bolsheviks! It is also tions that are burning out al- quel may be a predictor of the agenda of the Texas Pub- most all school professionals. ominous days ahead. Pre-filing lic Policy Foundation, a right Let’s not forget, also, that of bills so far has given us wing think tank, and the education support profes- reason for concern. The first agenda for the voucher pro- sionals are still fighting just voucher bill has reared its ugly ponents who had the Gover- for due process rights and a head and other repeat bills nor’s ear while sailing in the living wage. from last session will follow Bahamas with him last year. Now, you all know that I without doubt. Last session I We stopped most of their am no political neophyte. nicknamed my notebook of agenda last year with an ag- Having been around the president’s president’s bill summaries, “The Little gressive grassroots campaign block a few times, I know this Shop of Horrors,” and this because thousands of phone will not be the easiest time to upcoming session may prove calls were sent by our mem- try to advance a pro-public to be even more daunting. bers who were energized and education agenda. Even In October, the Commis- got mobilized. Vouchers, though we won 93% of the sioner of Education made an home rule, attacks on due races of our endorsed candi- end run on the K-4 class size process, certification, and dates last November 2, it will mandate of 22:1 by sending a class size were all defeated. still be an uphill battle. I also letter to superintendents sug- School finance will finally know that we in TSTA have gesting they could expedite be discussed and, hopefully, never been about doing the the waiver request process by fixed to provide our schools easy things. I also know we not requiring a public hear- the funding they need. And can’t do it alone. We need a ing. After a press conference TSTA will be working hard to larger army if we are to make protesting the letter and a restore the unfair cuts in health improvements in salaries and meeting of most education insurance that were made last working conditions of school groups with the Commis- session and to focus on the employees. sioner herself, TSTA and problem of the pathetic pay So, I need you to start talk- Texas Federation of Teachers for Texas educators! With ing it up. Tell your colleagues filed a lawsuit on October 25. teacher salaries $6000 below that we are on the move. That Consequently, the Commis- the national average, it is time we CAN create the kind of sioner rescinded her letter for us to be on the offensive public education system our four days later and we and say “It is TIME we caught kids deserve. Remind them We must rise up to dropped the suit. up!” The paperwork require- that the struggle for decent meet the challenges This was a decisive victory ments most education em- salaries and working condi- regarding one of our sacrosanct, ployees have to deal with are tions has always been hard of this 79th Legislative “die on the sword” issues! totally out of control. It seems and certainly never for the Session because if we And, remember last session, like every time there is a prin- fainthearted! when we fought a four-month cipal’s meeting, new forms get We must rise up to meet do not, education battle against instant certifica- created that we have to find the challenges of this 79th employees will pay tion but it passed anyway? time to fill out! That is, be- Legislative Session because if we do not, education em- the price. The rules we helped write im- tween faculty meetings, team proved it somewhat but we meetings, grade level meetings, ployees will pay the price. We expect those rules to be department meetings, ARDs, must stand together to beat rewritten by a less-than- parent conferences, etc. Some- back bad bills and advance friendly State Board for Edu- where along the way there are our agenda of advocacy for cator Certification Board. lesson plans to write, materi- our schools and schoolchild- These constant barrages on als to prepare, benchmark ren. If not now, when? If not education are part of a larger and practice TAKS tests to us, then who? pattern—a bigger agenda by give, papers to grade, and— the likes of Grover Norquist, oh, yeah—teach our classes. UPFRONT inside 4 Big Win for Kids: No Class Size Change In response to a lawsuit by TSTA and TFT, Commissioner Advocate Neeley pulled her letter that would have made it easier to Vol. 24, No. 2 Winter 2004 get class size waivers; Texas Educational Issues Confer- TSTA Advocate is an official ence; 90% of recommended candidates win; candidates quarterly publication of the Texas announce for TSTA office and Evans is elected NEA Direc- State Teachers Association/ National Education Association. tor; student groups plan meetings; Stilwell needs your support; national higher education group to meet in San How to Contact Us: Call 877-ASK-TSTA, visit Antonio; a survey on school start dates. 4 www.tsta.org, or write to TSTA, 316 West 12th Street, Austin, TX FEATURES 78701. Please send address 8 changes to the attention of Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year Membership Records or Gloria Voutos teaches Richardson teachers how to help [email protected]. students improve their English language skills: “We need Advertising: If you would like to to help them assimilate our culture and teach us theirs.” advertise, contact Nichole Lowery at 512-476-5355, ext. 1292. 8 12 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year TSTA makes no representations Wichita Falls teacher Sherry Lindemann says she is a regarding advertised products or spokesperson not just for teachers but for the Interna- services that are not endorsed. tional Baccalaureate program: “It's hard teaching but it's Postmaster: Send address good teaching.” changes to TSTA Membership Records, 316 West 12th Street, Austin, TX 78701. 15 Celebrate Reading With Us! Pull out the centerspread and use it! The front makes a PRESIDENT 12 nice poster, with photos of our two Texas Teachers of the Donna New Haschke Year promoting reading; the back tells how to set up your VICE PRESIDENT own Read Across America celebration in March. Ann Heuberger EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR E.C. Walker 20 Trouble Ahead: The 79th Legislature Sign up for our electronic newsletter and update your con- DIRECTOR Jay Levin tact information. This session is going to be a tough one. EDITOR Debbie Mohondro COMING UP 22 PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST New? Retired? Be a Leader! Richard Kouri If you're just starting your career, sign up for our Ambas- 15 sador Academy; if you've retired, how about being a PRODUCTION TECHNICIAN Susan Martin TSTA-Retired officer? ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Leann Kloesel GOVERNANCE ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY 24 TSTA Convention and Board of Directors Adriana Montoya The Renaissance Austin Hotel will host the state conven- SECRETARY/ADVERTISING tion April 14-17, and nominations are now in order for Nichole Lowery TSTA at-large Board of Directors members. 20 Copyright 2004 by AWARDS 30 Take a Reporter to Lunch! The TSTA School Bell Awards Luncheon, that is. Once a year, TSTA members honor outstanding coverage of edu- cation by newspaper, radio and television reporters. The Texas State Teachers Association luncheon takes place during the state convention. National Education Association 316 West 12th St., Austin, TX 78701 24 PHOTO CREDIT: Cover photo and photo on page 24 courtesy www.tsta.org • 877-ASK-TSTA of the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau. WINTER 2004 3 upfront Teams from local school districts work with Dr. Schlechty at a pre-conference professional development event. Texas: A State to Watch California, Florida, and will be in private education,” Schlechty spent Friday Texas are the states to watch, Schlechty warned. “People working with teams from Dr. Phillip Schlechty told par- are estranged from their com- school districts at a pre-con- ticipants at the Texas Educa- munity schools. We need to ference professional develop- tional Issues Conference, Oc- get senior citizens and others ment event. He also was the tober 29-31 in San Antonio. involved in their schools. keynote speaker for TEIC. “That’s where the future of “If we lose public schools, The weekend was filled education in America is being we’ll lose democracy,” he con- with workshops, more than designed,” he said. “You have cluded. “The time is getting 30 of them for continuing to create the 21st century short and it’s going to take professional development schools. Our system was not courage to lead.” credit. designed to do what we are now asking it to do.” Schlechty, who is the founder and CEO of the Center for Leadership in School Reform and author of many books, said America has moved from a society where the majority are par- “You have to create ents to a society where the majority are non-parents and the 21st century grandparents. schools. Our system “Twenty years from now, if was not designed to we keep going as we’re going, the only kids in public do what we are now schools will be the poor or re- TSTA President Donna New Haschke with Dr.