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EDUCATION NEWS THE NJEA REPORT BERGEN COUNTY LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS SCREEN BEYOND MEASURE With more than 50,000 students refusing to take New Jersey’s high-stakes standardized tests last spring — the exams associated with the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) — six local associations in Bergen County decided the time was ripe to take the conversation over school reform in a new direction. On Nov. 20, the local associations in Bergenfield, Fort Lee, Hackensack, Lodi, Mahwah and Tenafly hosted a joint PRIDE in Public Education event to screen the film "Beyond Measure." The film features schools in urban, suburban and rural communities across the United States that are at various stages of implementing a more progressive model of public education that de-emphasizes testing and fosters inquiry, critical thinking, communication, exploration, experimentation, collaboration, personal growth and transformation, and creativity. Following the film, Hackensack Education Association member Okaikor Aryee- Price moderated a panel discussion with NJEA Associate Director of Professional Development Mike Ritzius and New York City teachers and progressive public education activists José Vilson and Jia Lee. “This night is about discussing the things that we should be doing, and moving away from the things that are harmful to our students,” Aryee-Price said. During the panel discussion, Vilson noted that education reformers create frameworks and set up systems so that they have “an answer for everything,” even though their reforms are of little benefit to students. “We need you to create a framework that adheres to principles that would make progressive education available for everyone,” Vilson said. “There’s a thought process that says all we do is say ‘no’ all the time. But we say ‘no’ for a reason — the current framework is not working. We need to come up with a way to say ‘no’ to the current framework, but ‘yes’ to another framework that is all-encompassing, inclusive part of what we do as educators.” Ritzius compared the progressive model of education to the standardized model. “Progressive education is about moving into the future — a future that we don’t necessarily know,” Ritzius said. “Compare that to the standardization model. You can’t standardize an unknown future. You have to Date set for US Supreme Court hearing of Friedrichs v. CTA The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral argument in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association (CTA) on Jan. 11. The case deals with the collection of a representation fee (also called agency fee) from individuals in a collective bargaining unit who do not wish to become union members but who benefit from union representation. The case asks that the justices overturn long-standing workers’ rights that were unanimously affirmed in 1977’s Abood v. Detroit Board of Education. In Abood, teachers, firefighters and other public-service workers were assured the right to form a union that would be their exclusive representative for the purpose of New York City teacher José Vilson, NJEA staffer Mike Ritzius and New York City teacher Jia Lee (l-r) speak on a panel following the screening of Beyond Measure. bargaining wages, benefits and working conditions. Under Abood, representation fee payers cannot be charged for a union’s political activities, but can be charged for their fair share for union services that benefit them, such as contract negotiation and enforcement. Depending on how the Supreme Court rules, NJEA and its affiliates at the county and local levels could be forced to spend much more time and money recruiting and retaining members, leaving less time and fewer resources for the things that matter to members: negotiating strong contracts, protecting members’ rights, look backwards in the standardized model, creating learners who will be unprepared for a world that has moved on already.” Lee described the progressive model that she is able to implement in her New York City classroom and those of her counterparts nationwide in the Progressive Education Network. “This is the kind of education our students deserve,” Lee concluded. “This is the kind of culture and environment all educators deserve. Teachers deserve the freedom to control with their students and their families what they want to learn, how they will learn it, and not be pressured by outside compliance measures.” To learn more about screening "Beyond Measure" in your community as a PRIDE in Public Education Event, contact NJEA organizing specialist Jim Boice at jboice@ njea.org. To learn more about the film, visit beyondmeasurefilm.com. fighting for pensions and advocating for public education. Friedrichs v. CTA, which was filed on behalf of a handful of California teachers, is supported and financed by several national anti-union groups. A detailed article on the case was published in the October NJEA Review. An article identifying the organizations behind the case was published in the November NJEA Review. While U.S. Supreme Court hearings are not broadcast live, audio and transcripts of the proceedings are available online Friday afternoons of the week a given case is heard. Go to http://1.usa.gov/1QnfVV5 (case sensitive). 16 NJEA REVIEW
EDUCATION NEWS NJEA funds dozens of sustainability grants At an awards ceremony held at NJEA headquarters on Dec. 3, Sustainable Jersey for Schools announced 46 New Jersey schools and school districts that received Sustainable Jersey for Schools grants funded by the NJEA. Eleven $10,000 grants and 35 $2,000 grants were distributed to fund a variety of projects including rain gardens, outdoor learning classrooms, a winter greenhouse, an aquaponics system, native habitat gardens, sustainability curricula and more. “NJEA is proud to work with Sustainable Jersey on this important program that directs resources into our schools,” said NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Sean M. Spiller. “It is our job to help create a new generation of engaged citizens and leaders. By emphasizing the value of sustainability, we also help ensure that we leave a better world for our students.” “It is our job to help create a new generation of engaged citizens and leaders. By emphasizing the value of sustainability, we also help ensure that we leave a better world for our students.” -NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Sean M. Spiller Earlier this year, Sustainable Jersey formed an underwriting partnership with NJEA. In addition to funding this cycle of the grant program, NJEA provides in-kind support through research and technical expertise. NJEA’s leadership and members serve on Sustainable Jersey task forces and over 137 districts and 328 schools are currently participating in the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program. “We know that schools and districts are in the best position to determine the needs for their schools,” said Donna Drewes, who co-directs Sustainable Jersey with Randall Solomon. “These NJEA-funded grants will allow school communities to come together to improve outcomes for students, teachers and the environment. Collaboration is key, and we are proud to have support from important strategic partners like NJEA.” Proposals were judged by an independent Blue Ribbon Selection Committee. The Sustainable Jersey for Schools grants are intended to help school districts and schools make progress toward a sustainable future in general, and specifically toward a Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification. To learn more about Sustainable Jersey for Schools and future grant opportunities, visit www.SustainableJerseySchools.com. For a full list of grant winners, read the online version of this article at njea.org. Trenton EA Vice President Twanda Taylor accepts this year’s N.J. Work Environment Council award as fellow members of the Trenton Health and Safety Network Coalition display photos of the old Trenton Central High School and plans for the new school. From left: District PTO President Mike Goodman, parent and TCHS 1980 graduate Ronda Clark, parent liaison Mack Patterson, and Taylor. TRENTON HEALTH SCHOOLS NOW COALITION HONORED BY WEC The New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) honored the Trenton Healthy Schools Now Coalition (HSNC) for its work addressing health and safety matters in the Trenton Public Schools at its annual awards dinner on Nov. 20. The Trenton HSNC is composed of union representatives, WEC staff, district officials, PTO members, faith leaders, parents, teachers and community activists. NJEA Vice President Marie Blistan, who served as the event’s emcee, introduced the Trenton HSN to the audience at the Rutgers University Labor Education Center in New Brunswick, where a century’s worth of labor organization banners are on display. “The coalition worked directly with the Trenton Education Association, the statewide HSNC and NJEA to organize a march, rallies, demonstrations, and national news coverage to demand action from the state and the Schools Development Authority (SDA). As a result, the state and SDA announced a plan for a new Trenton Central High School in February 2014.” NEA Secretary-Treasurer Princess Moss, NJEA President Wendell Steinhauer and NJEA Secretary- Treasurer Sean M. Spiller joined Blistan and WEC in honoring the Trenton HSNC. Since its formation in 2012, the Trenton HSNC has organized school cleanups, hosted informational presentations for parents, and organized a community fair to help promote safety practices and health screenings. In 2013, the coalition worked with TEA to urge the Schools Development Authority to release funding to build a new Trenton Central High School and replace the former, decaying building. NJEA organizing specialist Thomas Hardy, who played a key role in supporting Trenton HSNC, joined the coalition as it accepted the award. The Work Environment Council is an alliance of labor, environmental, and community organizations working for safe, secure jobs and a healthy, sustainable environment. Formed in 1986, WEC is the nation’s oldest state labor and environmental coalition. The annual awards dinner recognizes the outstanding contributions of honorees that strive to set worker and environmental policy, as well as ensure healthy schools. To learn more about the Work Environment Council, visit www.njwec.org. J<strong>AN</strong>UARY 2016 17
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