Gary teachers union forum part of AFT Day of Action
GARY | The Gary Teachers Union joined a nationwide effort to support and promote public education, and the effort kicked off Monday with a panel of educators, politicians and local leaders focusing on ways to improve public education.
The forum coincided with the "Day of Action" supported by Randi Weingarten and the American Federation of Teachers. Weingarten was in Gary in August during the back-to-school convocation encouraging teachers to "Reclaim the Promise" of public education."
In welcoming teachers, administrators and school board members to the forum, Gary teachers union president Joe Zimmerman said reclaiming the promise is about fighting for neighborhood public schools that are safe, welcoming places for teaching and learning.
Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, emphasized the need for early education and even more importantly mandating kindergarten in Indiana.
"We know how important early childhood education is but Indiana is one of the states that does not put any state dollars toward preschool education," she said.
"We have some real problems in the legislature," Rogers said. She touched on the animosity between the Indiana State Board of Education and the governor's office toward the elected Indiana