MSTA Live! Video highlights of Convention 2008
Set Sail with MSTA!
Governor Martin O’Malley
A gaping loophole that currently allows Maryland dollars to go to Pennsylvania schools, Delaware schools, and West Virginia schools.
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“Leadership is a difficult thing. Sometimes it calls upon you to do things that are not universally popular. The leadership that Clara Floyd and MSTA have shown on the slots issue is critically important. I cannot thank you enough for that. But do not underestimate the leadership that each of you can exhibit, the impact that each of you can have, because you’re teachers, because you are people in the most important profession in our state.
“Talk to your neighbors. I have said in the past that to rely only on a gambling gimmick to fund important things like education is not something leaders should encourage. But I’ll tell you what—there is a big gaping loophole that needs to be closed. And that is the gaping loophole that currently allows Maryland dollars to go to Pennsylvania schools, Delaware schools, and West Virginia schools. We need those dollars to stay in Maryland schools.
“Here in Maryland, even after the reductions we made on Wednesday, get this: We are still able to make this year a historic $5.3 billion investment in K-12 education—the largest amount in Maryland history. And even after the cuts of this last Wednesday, we have been able in just the first two years of this new administration to invest almost three times as much in school construction as the previous administration.”
NEA President Dennis Van Roekel
For us as an organization it’s simple – we vote education, and I never apologize for that.
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“Election 2008. What a time! I hope you feel the excitement, the possibility – the possibility of what could be in America.
“When I read about people’s opinions of this election, what I realize is that people vote for very different reasons. Some vote for the party—whichever party they belong to, that’s who they’re voting for. That’s not right or wrong; it just is. Some people have certain issues, and determine their vote based on a policymaker’s position on those issues.
“For us as an organization it’s simple—we vote education, and I never apologize for that. I’ve spent my entire professional life in education, and I do not apologize that where you stand on education will determine whether or not you have my support and whether or not you have my vote. This year, in 2008, when it comes to education, it is not one of those years when someone can say, ‘Well, it really doesn’t make a difference who you vote for. They’re all the same.’ They are not the same. When it comes to education it is a clear choice – Barack Obama needs to be the next president of the United States.”
Candidate Frank Kratovil, First Congressional District
We should be investing in under performing schools, not divesting resources from the kids who need them the most.
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“We need to recognize that the people who are in the best position to know how to educate our kids are the people in the trenches—the educators. We should not allow a system to continue that requires us to have a ‘one size fits all’ assessment that doesn’t take into account a whole host of issues that affect the ability of our kids to learn.
“We need a system that is fair and appropriate. We need to recognize that, with No Child Left Behind, the whole philosophy behind it is flawed. It says: If the schools aren’t ‘making the grade’ as defined in the Act, we should take resources away from them. The counter-argument is that obviously if the schools aren’t doing as well, maybe they don’t have the resources they need, makes much more sense.
“So we should be investing in under performing schools, not divesting resources from the kids who need them the most. As I said, I am very happy to be with you here today. I am very optimistic in this race. We have a little more than two weeks to go. That my opponent is very concerned, as I said, to go from the comments about winning seven days a week and twice on Sunday, to now recognizing that he’s in trouble is a good sign. It represents what we see across this country, and come November we’re gonna have change.”
MSTA President Clara Floyd
In these hard economic times, everything is on the table. I’m going to say that again—everything is still on that table.
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“This upcoming election is important. Not only must we elect Barack Obama as our next president, and Frank Kratovil and Jennifer Dougherty to the U.S. Congress, we must vote for Question 2, the slots referendum.
“And I know that some of you have mixed emotions about slots. I’m going to say that again—I know that some of you have mixed emotions about slots, and so do I. But your Board of Directors voted to support passage six months ago. We did so because we did not see any other viable alternative in the near future that would help us to avoid drastic cuts to public education.
“We all know that since then, the economic and budget situation has worsened. So I encourage you not only to help pay for those bus trips, those bus trips into Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania, volunteer for Obama, and our candidates who are running for U.S. Congress, and for every other worthy candidate at the local level.
“I want you to know that you can vote absentee, if you plan want to go to Virginia or Pennsylvania. You heard the governor talk about that yesterday. So vote. I’ve already voted, because I felt like I’d probably have to be on a bus on Election Day. When you do cast your ballot, vote to protect our students and our schools by voting for Question 2.
“Once Election Day has passed, regardless of who is elected at the federal level, whether or not the referendum passes, MSTA will not sit back and wait to see what our elected officials want us to do. I promise you that we will do everything we can to hold their feet to the fire and be aggressive advocates for MSTA’s top priorities. We know we still have a battle on our hands to ensure adequate funding for our schools, and that in these hard economic times, everything is on the table. I’m going to say that again—everything is still on that table.”
MSTA Executive Director David Helfman
They’re coming back for more cuts—they’re not done. They’ll be back for more before the General Assembly even starts in January
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“So Marylanders are expecting more from us but the General Assembly and our county counsels and executives have their budget scalpels out. Our job is to protect the public schools and public school employees.
“How can we do it?
“We can start by making sure we pass the slots referendum, Question 2. Many of you, and your students, are already feeling the impact of state and local funding cutbacks this year in the form of salary freezes, unfilled positions, delayed construction projects and textbook purchases, trimmed bus routes, increased school lunch prices, it goes on and on.
“The problem is only going to get worse. This past Wednesday the State Board of Public Works made an additional $297 million in general fund cuts. There was about 100 million more cut in other areas. They’re coming back for more—they’re not done. They’ll be back for more before the General Assembly even starts in January.”
William Thomas, Maryland Teacher of the Year
We realize that children are the core of our society. They’re the future of our society and we must continue to work diligently, especially in these times.
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“So let me get this straight: You want me to go into that room with all those kids, fill their every moment with love for learning. Not only that, I’m to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, behaviorally modify disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse?
“Oh, and I’m also to teach them good citizenship, sportsmanship, fair play, how and where to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook, how to apply for a job? I’m also to write letters of recommendation for these students for their employment and scholarships? I’m to encourage them and cultural diversity? I’m supposed to also make sure that I give the same amount of attention to the boys that I give to girls?
“Oh, and by the way, I’m required to work on my own time, summers and evenings, at my own expense, towards additional certification, advanced certification, Master’s degrees, to sponsor the cheerleading squad, sponsor the sophomore class, plan field trips?
“Hmmm, I’m thinking about it. And also, I’m to attend committee and faculty meetings on a regular basis, to participate in staff development and training to keep my certification current? I’m also to be a paragon of virtue, larger than life, such that my very presence will awe my students into being obedient and respectful of authority?
“Oh, and I’m to purchase supplies, room decorations, bulletin board supplies, supplies for children who can’t afford them, and luxury items such as scissors, glue, Scotch tape, paper clips, notebook paper, red pens and markers, and many other things with my own money?
“And, one last thing, you want me to do this all on a starting salary that qualifies many families for food stamps in many states? Hmmm. I’ll do it! No problem!
“That is the type of profession that we are in. A profession that is so willing to give so much because we realize that the children are the core of our society. They’re the future of our society and we must continue to work diligently, especially in these times. We know that there are going to be a lot of fiscal challenges. Local jurisdictions are scaling back, hiring freezes, wage freezes, and all the other issues that we are dealing with. The state is dealing with the issues themselves. But education must, must remain a priority.
Why MSEA? |
MSEA: The Vote! |
The Dropout Crisis |
The Dropout Crisis, Part 2 |
The Grand Finale |
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