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. and High Governor’s budget proposal increases education spending 12 School, is Students and educators ‘Stand Up’ to bullying 13 shown during Retirees make special delivery to Savoy school 14 MTA President a discussion Exciting workshops and a warm welcome await ESPs 15 Paul Toner with Ginger ‘Difficult bargaining’ leads to first-time agreement in Brockton 16 MTA Vice President Armstrong, Higher education lobby day is set for March 5 17 Tim Sullivan president of the Lee Education Lee teachers donate AP bonuses to school 18 Association and a member of the MTA MAAP promotes achievement and collaboration 18 Executive Director-Treasurer Ann Clarke Board of Directors, center, and chemistry Regional retirement consultations available 19 teacher Rakhee Patel. Coverage of the Communications Director/Editor The many challenges of winter driving 20 listening tour begins on Page 6. On James Sacks Two NEA directors are re-elected 21 Page 3, readers will find a story about Brousseau is recommended for re-election to PRIM Board 23 Staff Assistant a heartfelt letter that human rights icon MSP seeks union recognition for CPE instructors 25 Janice Morrissey Nelson Mandela sent to the MTA in 1986 Obituaries 25 Graphic Arts Assistant after the association honored him for his Classifieds 26 Alison Donato “commitment and persevering efforts in Gearing up for a celebration of the joys of reading 28 Publisher the interest of justice.” Roberts is honored as ‘a hero among us’ 28 Ann Clarke Cover photo by Christine Peterson This issue of MTA Today also includes the Cover design by Alison Donato winter edition of the MTA Advantage MTA TODAY, ISSN 08982481, is published quarterly by the Massachusetts Teachers Association. Subscription: $2.80 of MTA Quote-Unquote members’ dues is designated for MTA Today. The Massachusetts Teachers Association Periodicals postage rates paid at Boston, MA, 20 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108 and at additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send “I am very, very proud of the progress we have made over the 800.392.6175 or 617.878.8000 address changes to: MTA Today, 20 Ashburton past seven years and confident that with these investments, FAX: 617.742.7046 Place, Boston, MA 02108. www.massteacher.org Copyright ©2014 by the Massachusetts Teachers the future of the Commonwealth looks bright.” Association. All material in this periodical may be reproduced by educators for distribution to students or by affiliate associations for their own — Comment by Governor Deval Patrick when he released publications. Unless expressly stated, acceptance of advertising does not necessarily imply his proposed budget for the coming fiscal year endorsement of the product by MTA or MTA Benefits. 2 Winter 2014 Honor inspired Mandela ‘beyond words’ By Scott McLennan declaration of solidarity and support from the Massachusetts Teachers Association A provided a bit of solace and fortitude to future South African President Nelson Mandela years ago as he sat in prison facing a life sentence. At its 1986 Human and Civil Rights Conference, the MTA honored Mandela’s “commitment and persevering efforts in the interest of justice” and his “unwavering example of strength and integrity.” The words come from a scroll presented to Mandela’s daughter, Makaziwe Mandela, then a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, who attended the event to accept the award. Word of the honor reached her father, who was deeply touched. At the time, Mandela was in South Africa’s Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison. Nonetheless, Graphic by Alison Donato he wrote to thank the MTA, saying that its At its 1986 Human and Civil Rights Conference, the MTA honored Nelson Mandela’s “commitment recognition “has inspired me beyond words, and the and persevering efforts in the interest of justice” and his “unwavering example of strength and scroll now constitutes one of the family’s priceless integrity.” When word of the declaration of solidarity and support reached Mandela, he was deeply possessions.” touched and wrote a letter of appreciation that the association has carefully preserved. To read a Mandela’s letter is dated April 4, 1986, and is transcription, please visit www.massteacher.org/mandela. handwritten. Framed and carefully preserved, it has graced a wall at MTA headquarters in Boston in the “Many of us did not know the story of his life intervening years. up to that point,” said Louise Gaskins, who was chair Mandela, who died on Dec. 5 at age 95, became “Many of us did not know of the MTA Human and Civil Rights Council at the the international face of the opposition to South the story of his life up to time. “And his daughter brought it to the fore for us.” Africa’s racist system of apartheid. Imprisoned by that point,” said Louise Gaskins said the moment when the audience the country’s segregationist government, he spent 27 broke into singing “We Shall Overcome” was years behind bars before international and internal Gaskins, who was chair of memorable and emotional. pressures forced his release in 1990. the MTA Human and Civil An MTA Today story on the conference, which In 1993, Mandela and then-South African Rights Council at the time. was held in Westborough, paints the following President F.W. de Klerk shared the Nobel Peace picture: “Makaziwe Mandela raised her fist, Prize for negotiating an end to apartheid. In 1994, “And his daughter brought intoned the Zulu word for ‘power,’ and brought 180 Mandela was elected president of South Africa. it to the fore for us.” educators to their feet to cheer, to sing, and even to As the world marked his death, he was weep.” remembered as a towering figure in the struggle for Gaskins called Nelson Mandela’s life story a justice. were doing right here fighting against inequality in powerful message. “Nelson Mandela was a model of courage, this country.” “To think that that man could stay in prison compassion and reconciliation,” said MTA President Mandela wrote to the MTA via the office of for that long and come out without acting out of Paul Toner. “He has made a lasting contribution not UMass Chancellor Joseph Duffey, who assisted bitterness and anger, but had matured to the point only to his country, but to the entire world. Makaziwe Mandela in coming to the United States that he realized that in order to accomplish his goals, “I am proud that during Mandela’s lifetime, for graduate school. Duffey, who now lives in he was going to have to work like we witnessed,” even while he was wrongly imprisoned, the MTA Washington, D.C., said that he and the Mandela she reflected. recognized his work for justice, human rights and family maintained ties over the years via written equality for all,” Toner continued. “As we mourn his correspondence and an eventual visit to South Africa. athleen Skinner, who was then a teacher in passing, we also celebrate his legacy of greatness and “This is very much in the spirit of his character,” Somerville and now serves as the director his service to people everywhere.” Duffey said of the letter Mandela wrote to the MTA. K of the MTA’s Center for Education Policy “He kept his life together throughout that ordeal. and Practice, noted that the time between the ancy Finkelstein, who was president of Keep in mind that famous image of Mandela shaking conference and Mandela’s death was roughly the same the MTA at the time the association gave hands with his jailer upon his release from prison. He amount of time that Mandela had spent behind bars. N Mandela the award, said that educators was just a remarkable figure.” “I vividly remember that day,” Skinner said, were deeply involved in political actions opposing Finkelstein said that the MTA would never have looking back to the conference.