Why the Strongsville Strike Matters for Education
In the last few weeks, something big has been happening in our small town. The Strongsville Education Association, our local teacher’s union, has been on strike since Monday, March 4th. As an alumna of this district, the last two weeks have taught me some important things about our town, the national conversation about education and the future of unions and middle class jobs.
The current national debate about teacher pay and public unions is built on two notions that are now “common wisdom.”
- Teachers (and public employees) are not doing a good enough job and would not be able to compete in the private sector. Challenging or breaking their unions is important to improving the quality of the services provided.
- Teachers are overpaid and their salaries and benefits are unsustainable for local and state governments
The Strongsville teachers are the first teachers to strike in the state of Ohio in more than five years. More
Notes from Diane – March 22, 2013
Dear Friends,
The Network for Public Education has received a very positive response, and we are building alliances with grassroots groups across the nation. If you know of any who have not signed up, please tell them how to find us.
You know what we oppose: High-stakes testing; privatization of public education; mass school closures to save money or to facilitate privatization; demonization of teachers; lowering of standards for the education profession; for-profit management of schools.
Notes from Diane – March 22, 2013
Diane Ravitch President
Dear Friends,The Network for Public Education has received a very positive response, and we are building alliances with grassroots groups across the nation. If you know of any who have not signed up, please tell them how to find us.
You know what we oppose: High-stakes testing; privatization of public education; mass school closures to save money or to facilitate privatization; demonization of teachers; lowering of standards for the education profession; for-profit management of schools.
Here is what we support:
New Mexico Education Secretary Left in Limbo and Strong Policy on the Governor’s Desk
- We support schools that offer a full and rich curriculum for all children, including the arts, physical education, history, civics, foreign languages, literature, mathematics, and the sciences.
- We support schools that are subject to democratic control by members of their community.
New Mexico Education Secretary Left in Limbo and Strong Policy on the Governor’s Desk
By Elaine Romero
New Mexico has alternating 30-day and 60-day legislative sessions. The 2013 60-day included 33% new senators and 48% new representatives. Never before had a governor played such a prominent role in local races as GOP Governor Suzanna Martinez during the 2012 elections of senators and representatives. The session began on January 15 with a 42-member Senate (25D-17R) and a 70-member House (38D-32R). The session ended in total disarray as the Governor rammed a complicated tax package of corporate tax breaks through in the final 5 seconds of the House session. This is a strategy that we are witnessing across the country as was recently documented by our NPE colleague, Larry Lee in Alabama.
The Senate Education Committee consisted of 6 out of 9 freshmen senators. The chair, Senator John Sapien (D), his first year as chair, was in his 2nd term and the ranking member Senator Gay Kernan (R) in her 4th term. The House Education Committee consisted of 5 out of 13 freshman representatives. The chair, Representative Mimi Stewart (D), her first year as chair, was in her 10th term and the ranking member was Majority Floor
New Mexico has alternating 30-day and 60-day legislative sessions. The 2013 60-day included 33% new senators and 48% new representatives. Never before had a governor played such a prominent role in local races as GOP Governor Suzanna Martinez during the 2012 elections of senators and representatives. The session began on January 15 with a 42-member Senate (25D-17R) and a 70-member House (38D-32R). The session ended in total disarray as the Governor rammed a complicated tax package of corporate tax breaks through in the final 5 seconds of the House session. This is a strategy that we are witnessing across the country as was recently documented by our NPE colleague, Larry Lee in Alabama.
The Senate Education Committee consisted of 6 out of 9 freshmen senators. The chair, Senator John Sapien (D), his first year as chair, was in his 2nd term and the ranking member Senator Gay Kernan (R) in her 4th term. The House Education Committee consisted of 5 out of 13 freshman representatives. The chair, Representative Mimi Stewart (D), her first year as chair, was in her 10th term and the ranking member was Majority Floor
