Educators Use Tele-Town Halls to Take Their Concerns to Washington
April 28, 2010 by Will Potter
Filed under Featured News, Jobs, Top Stories
U.S. Rep. Frank Kratovil fields calls from educators during a tele-town hall.
Pink slips, closed schools, and budget cuts have left many educators feeling like they are under siege in their own classrooms. As members of Congress prepare to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and discuss legislation to aid cash-strapped schools, educators are using tele-town hall meetings to share their concerns with lawmakers.
This week, Senators Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Jeff Merkley of Oregon will take part in tele-town hall meetings with hundreds of educators in their districts.
More than 20,000 members of local education associations have been invited to ask these members of Congress questions on a variety of subjects—including funding under the American Resource and Recovery Act, ESEA reauthorization, early childhood education, reducing class sizes, and teacher compensation.
Previous tele-town hall meetings have been held by Representatives Frank Kratovil, Parker Griffith, Walt Minnick, John Adler, and Jared Polis.
Polis is a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, and heard from more than 500 Colorado citizens about their education concerns.
“This is a very important year for education and for policy,” said Polis. “We know a lot more now than we did 10 years ago. With the reauthorization of ESEA just around the corner, Congress has a historic opportunity to get it right this time around and help improve our nation’s schools and close the achievement gap…
“We must support, engage and listen to the hard-working teachers who are the backbone of our education system,” Polis said.
Educators have used the forum to cover a wide range of topics. When Rep. John Adler held a tele-town hall meeting, it attracted 1,336 participants from his district. They asked about his views on pressing education issues, including ESEA, merit pay, teacher recruitment, improving student achievement, and parental involvement.
Rep. Walt Minnick of Idaho said the tele-town halls gave him a chance to hear from those who are on the front-lines of the issues he is legislating in Washington.
“I appreciate what I heard and learned tonight,” Minnick said, “and hope all Idaho educators will reach out to my office with their thoughts and concerns on the important issues facing our schools and our nation.”
On Tuesday night, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel hosted a tele-town hall meeting with more than 1,700 educators who are urging Congress to take action on the “Keep our Educators Working Act.” The bill provides the tools and resources to struggling schools, at a time when students are seeing layoffs at their schools and increased class sizes.
“When educators lose their jobs, students lose too,” Van Roekel said. “We’re looking at more crowded classrooms, and fewer counselors, teachers, nurses, and educators who help ensure that every student gets the individual attention needed to succeeded.”
Related posts:
