A publication of the Massachusetts Teachers Association Volume 44, No. 3/Winter 2014 GRASSROOTS EFFORTS TAKE CENTER STAGE MTA HONOR INSPIRED MANDELA ‘BEYOND WORDS’ Looking to Honor One of Our Own Is there an MTA Now is the time For further information, member who: to recognize his or e-mail or write: Encouraged you professionally or personally? her contribution. Steve Day, MTA 20 Ashburton Place | Boston, MA 02108 Fostered your involvement in MTA? Nomination forms for the
[email protected] Mentored you as a beginning teacher? “Honor Our Own” Award are available at: Completed nomination forms must be Helped you as a student? www.massteacher.org/retired received by MTA no later than June 2. MTA’s Mission Statement On the cover In this issue The Massachusetts Teachers Members of the Berkshire Educator Action Network have been on a listening MTA honor inspired Mandela ‘beyond words’ 3 Association is a member-driven organization, governed by democratic tour throughout Berkshire County to Editorial 4 find out what educators like about their New Bedford educators oppose plan but ratify contract 5 principles, that accepts and supports the interdependence of professionalism jobs and which policies and practices Grassroots efforts take center stage in ‘listening tour’ 6 they believe should be changed to help Educators focus on opportunities and challenges 7 and unionism. The MTA promotes the use of its members’ collective their students Involvement is theme of EMAC Conference 8 succeed. Early childhood educators lobby for improvements 9 power to advance their professional and economic interests. The MTA is Joshua Hall, a Commission calls for increase in reimbursement rates 9 social studies/ New teachers gather to learn and network 10 committed to human and civil rights and advocates for quality public education history teacher Common Core and PARCC rollouts continue in Massachusetts 11 at Lee Middle MTA higher education conference set for April 11-12 11 in an environment in which lifelong learning and innovation flourish.