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A publication of the Massachusetts Teachers Association Volume 38, No. 1/August-September 2007

Desegregation ruling casts a wide shadow

New law provides GIC option for municipal health insurance — Page 5

“Some people still want us in the back of the bus.”

— Jean McGuire, executive director of Metco Inc., commenting on the recent Supreme Court decision

on school desegregation

The Massachusetts Teachers Association20 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108

800.392.6175 or 617.742.7950 FAX: 617.742.7046

www.massteacher.org

n Teachers honored for making a difference 3n Editorial: Thriving in a changing environment 4n MTA backs passage of federal DREAM Act 4n New law provides GIC option 5n Ruling casts shadow on desegregation plans 6n Decision’s aftermath: anger, disappointment 7n Johnson chosen for NEA ESP program 8n QEA members ratify contract, raise funds 8n Commentary: A fairer approach to taxes 9n Adjunct faculty members seek insurance 10n New Board of Ed leader discusses priorities 11n CEPP offers online courses, sets conference 12n Press release sets forth MTA stand on Iraq war 13n Rangel calls for hearing on offsets 14n ‘Living will’ can be a big help 14n Don’t let a ‘phisher’ steal your identity 15n Activism is theme at Summer Conference 16n MAHPERD convention to be held in Worcester 18n Hearing focuses on physical education bills 18n Obituaries 19n Directory lists more than 1,000 places to save 20n CEQPD is now CEPP 22n RA delegates hear from candidates, lobby on NCLB 23n Donation gives boost to The Massachusetts Child 25n MTA Celtics Honor Roll program now under way 26n Negotiations continue for higher ed contracts 27n Expanded Learning Time initiative widens 28n Classifi ed ads 30n Another winning season for reading game 32

In this issue

2 August/September 2007

Quote-UnquoteMTA TODAY, ISSN 08982481, is published bimonthly by the Massachusetts Teachers Association. Subscription: $2.70 of MTA members’ dues is designated for MTA Today.

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MTA’s Mission StatementThe Massachusetts Teachers Association is a member-driven organization, governed by democratic principles, that accepts and supports the interdependence of professionalism and unionism. The MTA promotes the use of its members’ collective power to advance their professional and economic interests. The MTA is committed to human and civil rights and advocates for quality public education in an environment in which lifelong learning and innovation fl ourish.

Cover photo by Christine Peterson

On the cover

Claudia Fox Tree reads to students in Julie Johnson’s Project JumpStart class at the Lincoln School. The students, in grades kindergarten through three, will be bused from Boston to the suburbs during the school year as part of the Metco program. Sitting close to Fox Tree for the reading of Jingle Dancer, from left to right, are Tiauna Walker, Brianna Smith and Wynter Simon Barton-Brown. Metco and district-based desegregation programs are at risk as a result of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Coverage begins on Page 6.

MTA PresidentAnne Wass

MTA Vice PresidentPaul Toner

Executive Director-TreasurerEdward P. Sullivan

Communications Director/EditorJames Sacks

Staff AssistantJanice Morrissey

PublisherEdward P. Sullivan

Graphic Arts InternJenna Casey

By Sarah Nathan

P ublic school nurses have gained the same protection from unfair dismissal that has long been in place for Massa-

chusetts teachers.A law that is now in force — following

an MTA challenge to an interpretation by the state Department of Education that would have pushed back its effective date — allows school nurses to earn “professional teacher status” after completing three consecutive years of service in the same school system.

School nurses who were employed for three consecutive years prior to Oct. 22, 2006, have already earned PTS. Nurses who were working prior to that date are able to accrue that time and use it to reach the three-year mark.

“This is an important show of respect for school nurses across the Commonwealth,” said MTA President Anne Wass. “This new law fi lls a void that was overlooked for years. Nurses provide an invaluable service to

students, teachers and school staff and have earned the job security provided by this law.”

Late last year, the MTA challenged a draft advisory from the DOE stating that school nurses could not begin to amass service time until after the law was enacted. More recently, the DOE posted an advisory acknowledging that nurses who met the criteria for PTS prior to Oct. 22, 2006 — the date of enactment — now possess this important job protection.

“Its time has come,” Judy DeFalco, who is entering her 25th year as a school nurse at Shrewsbury High School, said of the law.

“There is no money attached to it, but there is a feeling of pride that we belong side by side with the teachers in caring for the children of our districts.”

DeFalco, who supervises the nursing staff in the Shrewsbury Public Schools, was the original sponsor of the bill seeking job security for the nurses. In 2003, after learning that nurses did not have the same job security as teachers, she reached out to her hometown legislator, Rep. Karyn Polito (R-Shrewsbury), who fi led the bill on her behalf. Rep. Chris-tine Canavan (D-Brockton) fi led a similar bill, which subsequently passed. The MTA, along with the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization, actively lobbied for the bill’s passage.

With the law on the books, school nurses who attain PTS are protected by the substan-tive and procedural due-process rights out-lined in the Education Reform Act of 1993.

School nurses with questions about this new law should contact their local union president or MTA fi eld representative.

School nurses now eligible for PTS

‘There is no money attached to it, but there is a feeling of pride that we belong side by side with the teachers in caring for the children of our districts.’

—Judy DeFalco, school nurse

3August/September 2007

MichaelFlynnhastaughtsecondgradeinSouthamp-

tonfornineyears.Drawntotheprofessionwhenhewasinhighschool,hechoseelementaryeduca-tioninpartbecauseoftheshortageofmaleteachersinclassroomsforyoungerstudents.

Flynn,whonowlivesinFlorence,grewupinNorthamptonandwenttotheNorthamptonPublicSchools.

“Ireallyjusttrytogetkidsexcitedaboutlearningbydoingin-novativeprojects,”hesaid.

Heuseshands-onactivitiestomotivatehisstudents,producingabimonthlytelevisionshowandraisingAtlanticsalmontoreleaseinalocalriver.

DuringhisacceptancespeechuponbeingnamedTeacheroftheYear,Flynntalkedabouthowexcitingitwastobeworkingineducationatatimewhensomanygroundbreakingchangesweretak-ingplace.

Healsocalledoneduca-torstobecomemoreinvolvedinadvocacy.Hetoldtheaudienceof educators and elected officials that“keepingtestinginitsproperperspective”isimportant.

“Weruntheriskofignoringourtraditionalroleineducationtosimplyfocusonimprovingtestscores,”Flynnsaid.

“Accountabilityisimportant,andwemustsethighstandardsandexpectations…,”hecontinued.“Butweneedmultiplemeasurestoassessstudentlearningandachievement.”

Inaddition,hefocusedontheneedforeducatorstohaveinputintheongoingdebateoverimproving

By Bob Duffy

MichaelFlynn,asecond-gradeteacherattheWilliamE.NorrisElementarySchoolinSouthampton,hasbeen

namedthe2008MassachusettsTeacheroftheYear.

FlynnwashonoredatarecentStateHouseceremonyalongwithfellowMTAmemberAnnO’Halloran,afourth-gradeteacheratNewton’sAngierSchool.O’Halloranwasselectedasthestate’s2007PreserveAmericaHistoryTeacheroftheYear.

“Teachershavetheabilitytotransformthelivesoftheirstudents—toopennewdoors,tochallengetheirmindsandtogivethemthetoolstoovercomeeventhegreatestchallenges,”Gov.

‘True champions’ of educationTwo Massachusetts teachers are honored for making a difference

DevalPatricksaidduringtheevent,whichwasattendedbyMTAPresidentAnneWass,legisla-tive leaders and top state education officials.

“Theteacherswehonortodayhavetouchedthelivesoftheirstudents,andtheyshouldbeproudofthelastingimpacttheyhavemade,”Patricksaid,tellingthehonorees:“Whatyoudoisnotaboutinstantresults.Itisaboutplantingaseedandcultivatingit.”

Toillustratehispoint,thegovernorrecount-edthestoryofhissixth-gradeteacher,sayingshe “lit a fire under me” and “first made me feel asenseofpossibilityandthateducationcouldenablemetobeacitizenofthewholeworld.”

Inrecognitionofthecriticalrolethatthispublicschoolteacherhadinshapinghislife,heinvitedhertobepresentatmanyofhispro-

fessionalandpersonalmilestones.“Shewaspresent when I graduated from college, the first personinmyfamilytodoso;whenIgraduatedfromlawschool;whenIwasmarried;andwhenIwasswornintomyjobattheJusticeDepart-ment,”saidPatrick,addingthatheregretsthatshepassedawaybeforehavingthechancetoseehimelectedgovernorofMassachusetts.

Otherspeakers,includingSenatePresidentThereseMurrayandHouseSpeakerSalvatoreF.DiMasi,alsospokeofthecriticalrolethateducatorsplayinsociety.

“Teachersarethetruechampionsofoureducationsystem,”Murraysaid.“Theyopenupaworldofopportunitiesforourchildren,andtheir commitment and influence should not be underestimated.”

Photo by Bob Duffy

MTA President Anne Wass, left, with Teacher of the Year Michael Flynn and Preserve America History Teacher of the Year Ann O’Halloran.

thefederalNoChildLeftBehindlaw.

“Iimploreallteacherstomakesuretheirvoicesareheard—getactive,getinvolved,”Flynnsaid.“Thisisatimewhenwecanmakechangehappen,soweneedtohaveourvoicesheard.”

The2008TeacheroftheYear finalists included Maura

DonoghueofthePennBrookElementarySchoolinGeorgetown,WalterMitchellofFoxboroughHighSchool,AnneStoweofWest-fordAcademy,CaronHelleroftheCyrilK.BrennanMiddleSchoolinAttleboro,EileenSullivanShakespearoftheFenwayHighSchoolinBostonandVictoriaVieiraofMashpeeHighSchool.Semifinalists were Theresa Barry ofOakmontRegionalHighSchool,

NancyAnneFischerofKingPhilipMiddleSchool,KathleenE.PastoreofCharltonElementarySchool,JoshuaBartholomewofCambridgeRindgeandLatinSchool,SharonL.JacksonoftheHoraceMannMiddleSchoolinFranklin,KathyAnnVoltolineoftheJohnReidMiddle School in Pittsfield, Carla BlanchardofHarwichHighSchoolandMelindaBonitaLearningoftheR.StewartEstenElementarySchoolinRockland.

TheMassachusettsTeacheroftheYearisalsothestate’scandi-dateforNationalTeacheroftheYear.

Whileremainingintheclass-room,Flynnwillserveasanambassadortotheteachingprofes-sionoverthenextyearbymakingspeechesandconductingwork-shopsthroughoutthestate.

AnnO’Halloran,whohasbeenaNewtonhistoryteach-

erfor22years,ishighlyregardedbyothereducatorsforhercreativecurriculaandinnovativewaysofbringingthepasttolife.

Duringaceremonyhonoringherasthe2007PreserveAmericaHistoryTeacheroftheYear,shetalkedabouthowshekeepsherstudentsengaged.

“Inelementaryschoolweteachmanysubjects,buteachofthemcanbeconnectedtohistory,”saidO’Halloran,whoteachesfourthgradeattheAngierSchool.

“Historyitselfisagenerousteacherthatreachesouttoallofus,”shecontinued.“It’saboutstudyinghistory,livinghistoryandmakinghistory.”

O’Halloranlovestomakehis-torycomealiveforherstudents.Shetriestoinspiretheirimagina-tionsbyengagingtheminprojectsrelatedtohistoriclocationsorevents.

Eachyear,forexample,shebringsherstudentstovisittheBlackHeritageTrailinBoston.Thetripencouragesthemtoresearchwhatlifewaslikeinthe19thcentury,whenBeaconHill’snorthslopewasthecenterofthecity’sblackcommunity.Theyalsoexplorethelocalabolitionistmove-mentandthencreatepostersandsharestories.

“WhenyougotoahistoricmillinLowell,thestudentshearthethrummingoftheoldloomsandfeelthelivesoftheworkers,andthentheybuildmodelcanalsanddamsandtheyareamazed,”O’Halloransaid.

Ann O’Halloran

Preserve America History Teacher of the Year

Michael Flynn

Massachusetts Teacher of the Year

Please turn to History/Page 28


I read a thought-provoking book this summer, Our Iceberg Is Melting, by Harvard Professor John Kotter. In fact, I

read it twice — which was not too hard because it is a slim volume with big type and lots of pictures. Although short, it packs a powerful message about how groups of people manage change.

This book is told as a fable about a colony of penguins in Antarctica. One day, a curious penguin discovers that the iceberg they are liv-

ing on is melting and they must act quickly to avert a crisis. The members of the colony react in ways that are familiar to anyone who works in an organiza-tion. A penguin named NoNo finds fault with every suggested solu-tion. The Pollyannas think everything is just fine and don’t want to hear disturbing facts. There are those who

are worried, but don’t have the energy to do anything about it. There are also those who want to take action impulsively, without thinking it through.

In this story, a number of leaders emerge who work as a team and eventually analyze the problem, find a solution and bring the colony along to a safer place.

At MTA, we are in an analogous position. The iceberg under us is melting. It is not go-ing to collapse any time soon, but we should be figuring out how to shore up our foundation.

For us, the changes are demographic and societal. The percentage of the U.S. work force that is unionized has shrunk from a high of 35 percent 50 years ago to just 12 percent today. That means many of our members grew up in

MTA Today welcomes letters to the editor from MTA members. Letters should be no

longer than 200 words. Each letter submit-ted for publication must address a topic covered in MTA Today, must be signed and must include the writer’s telephone number for confirmation purposes. Opinions must be clearly identified as belonging to the letter-writer. We reserve the right to edit for length, clarity and style. For additional information, please refer to the guidelines posted at www.massteacher.org/news/mta_today.

Letters policy

Anne Wass MTA President

Editorial

Thriving in a changing environment

homes and neighborhoods where no one was in a union. At the same time, our profession is becoming younger, as more and more people retire and are replaced by new members who have different goals and aspirations than past generations had.

Instead of simply trying to educate these new members about how important the union is, we should be listening more carefully to what they say they want from a union. In other words, instead of dragging them into the union, we need to bring the union to them.

We are taking small but important steps in this direction.

Through our Strategic Action Initiative, we encourage local associations to spend time really examining their missions and goals. They then figure out what skills they need to achieve those goals, and we have increased the level of training offered to help them get there. We held regional trainings this spring and organized three new training tracks at our Summer Confer-ence — sessions focusing on grassroots political organizing, collective bargaining and leader-ship/activist issues. This fall, we are planning more training.

It’s a slow process that hasn’t reached all locals yet, but it’s a promising start.

Better listening needs to happen at the state level, too. To that end, we are working with the governor, legislators, other education groups

and civic organizations to develop a Teaching and Learning Survey that will be distributed to every licensed educator in the state in the com-ing school year.

You will be given more details as this plan is fleshed out, but the concept is clear: The people who do the actual work of educating the state’s nearly one million students should have more opportunities to share their thoughts about what works, and what doesn’t, in our schools.

We’re in this line of work because we care about kids. We shouldn’t have to turn off our concern for our students when we put on our union hats.

This doesn’t mean retreating from defend-ing our members’ interests. In fact, I believe we can do a better job of defending those interests if the public is truly convinced that our interests are bound up in our students’ interests.

What it does mean is that we need to keep an open mind when new ideas are proposed. I don’t want the MTA to be seen as a “NoNo” organization. If someone asks why we are doing something a certain way, I hope the response is not, “Because we’ve always done it that way.”

I also don’t want us to embrace every half-baked proposal that is made, and a lot of them have been put forward in recent years. We need to strike a balance between preserving what works — what keeps our iceberg afloat — and listening to friends and critics alike to see if we can figure out better ways to support our students and our profession.

I hope you will think about these issues and debate them at the local level. John Kotter’s book illustrates that change is a group process that can never succeed if it is just mandated from on high. We want to hear from you if you think we are headed in the right direction — or the wrong one. Together, let’s open our minds and consider new ideas. It’s the only way we can be sure our organization will thrive in the decades to come.

The iceberg under us is melting. It is not going to collapse any time soon, but we should be figuring out how to shore up our foundation.

F ederal legislation aimed at giving immigrant students an opportunity to continue their education after high

school has earned the MTA’s backing.The Development, Relief, and Education

for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM Act, was endorsed at the association’s Annual Meeting of Delegates in May. The bill allows the children

of undocumented immigrants to apply for tem-porary legal status — and eventually citizenship — if they pursue higher education or military service.

Nabia Meghelli, an inclusion specialist and member of the Cambridge Teachers Associa-tion, sponsored the new business item on behalf of the Peace and Justice Caucus, which is an informal group of MTA member-activists.

“Educating children should be everyone’s concern, regardless of their citizenship,” Meghelli said. “Teachers know what kind of difference education can make in the life of a child. It is particularly crucial for those who face obstacles of access, like those who are not

recognized as American citizens or have special needs.”

The bipartisan bill has a long list of support-ers and sponsors, including Massachusetts U.S. Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry and the National Education Association. According to the NEA, each year more than 50,000 undocu-mented students who have lived in the United States for at least five years graduate from U.S. high schools. Other immigrant students, many of whom have no way to change their immi-gration status, drop out of high school because they know they will be unable to continue on to college.

“The loss to these students, and to society as a whole, is significant,” NEA Director of Gov-ernment Relations Diane Shust wrote in a July 16 letter to senators.

The DREAM Act also gives states the legal latitude to offer in-state tuition to undocumented

Press release sets forth MTA stand on Iraq war

—Page 13

MTA backs passage of federal DREAM Act

Please turn to DREAM/Page 22


By Laura Barrett

Gov.DevalPatrickhassignedintolawabillthatwouldallow—butnotrequire—teachersandothermunicipalem-

ployeestoreceivetheirhealthinsurancethroughthestateGroupInsuranceCommission.

TheMTAwasakeymemberofacoalitionof labor groups, retirees, municipal officials andbusinessleadersthatspentnearlytwoyearsdevelopingandadvocatingforthislocal-optionmeasure.ThebillwassignedonJuly25andisnowChapter67oftheActsof2007.

“This is a very significant law,” said MTA PresidentAnneWass.“ItprovidesanewoptionforMassachusettscitiesandtownswhichinsomecasesmayprovideawaytosavemoneywhileprovidingemployeeswithachoiceofhealth insurance plans that they may find ac-ceptable.KeytooursupportisthatthenewlawgiveslocalunionsasayoverwhethertojointheGIC.”

LeadingtheefforttowinpassageoftheGICbillwereRep.RachelKaprielian(D-Water-town), House floor manager, and Sen. Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge), Senate floor manager, along with the co-chairs of the Public Service Committee,Rep.JayKaufman(D-Lexington)and Sen. Benjamin Downing (D-Pittsfield). TheyworkedcloselywithmembersoftheMunicipalHealthInsuranceWorkingGroup,chaired by John Hamill, chairman of Sovereign Bank.

MTAstaffwillbeworkingwithlocalasso-ciations to help them figure out whether enter-ingtheGICmakessenseforthem.Therewillbeinformationsessionsthroughoutthestate,andguidancewillbeprovidedonhowtoanalyzethecosts and benefits of making the change.

ThesoonestamunicipalitycouldapplytoentertheGICwouldbeOct.1,2007,forentryonJuly1,2008.ThenextopportunitytoapplywillbeinOctober2008.(ThenewlawallowsSaugus to enter at any time.)

What is the GIC?TheGICwasestablishedin1955topro-

vide health insurance and other benefits to state employeesandretireesandtheirdependentsandsurvivors.Forexample,allMTAhighereduca-tionmembersreceivetheirhealthinsurancethroughtheGIC,asdomembersofthestateLegislature. The GIC also covers all Springfield employeesandretirees,includingteachersandteacher retirees. Springfield entered the GIC last yearunderspecialregulationspromulgatedbythe GIC in response to the city’s fiscal crisis.

InsurancerateschargedtoGICsubscribersmaybelowerthanrateschargedtomunicipali-tiesandtheiremployees,inpartbecausethelargenumberofsubscribersallowstheGICtonegotiatebettertermswithinsurers.

Twoyearsago,theMTAsuccessfullyfoughtattemptsintheLegislaturetodenylocalpublicemployeegroupsanysayoverenteringtheGIC.Underthenewlaw,nomunicipality

mayjointheGICwithoutapprovalofthelocalpublicemployeeunionsandretirees,whowillberepresentedonaPublicEmployeeCommit-tee established under existing law (Chapter 32B, Section 19) that governs coalition bargaining concerning health insurance. Seventy percent of thePECmustsupportanagreementtoentertheGIC.

NinetypercentofthevotesonthePECareproportionaltothenumberofemployeesineachlocalbargaininguniteligibleforhealthinsur-ance,withretireescomprisingtheremaining10percent.

By law, there are no formal negotiations overplanprovidersorplandesignatthelocallevelifamunicipalityenterstheGIC.However,theMTAwillhaveaseatatthetablewhenitisdeterminedwhatplansandwhatlevelofben-efits the GIC will provide for state employees andformunicipalemployeeswhotransfertotheGIC.

TheGICcurrentlyoffersavarietyofplanoptions,includinganindemnityplan,apre-ferredproviderorganizationplanandseveralhealthmaintenanceorganizationplans.

IneachcommunitythatisconsideringtheGIC,thelocalassociationneedstobeverycare-fulinanalyzingavailableoptionsandincom-paring benefits, co-payments and deductibles,

aswellasoverallpremiumcosts.Insomecases,the GIC option will benefit employees, and in somecasesitwillnot.

AprovisioninthenewlawthatgivespreK-12localassociationsthatoptfortheGICthecontinuedrighttonegotiatethehealthinsur-ancepremiumsplitwassupportedstronglybytheMTA.Currently,thosepremiumsplitsrangefrom90/10to50/50.

Smaller cost increasesRep.Kaprieliansaidshebecameinvolved

inthisissuewhenshesatontheHamillCom-missionandlearnedthatrateincreasesfortheGICplanswereoftenhalfaslargeasthoseinmanymunicipalities.

“WesawGICplanswitha5percentin-creaseatthesametimesomecitiesandtownswerepaying16to18percentmorefortheirinsurance,” the state representative said.

“I’vebeenintheGICfor13yearsandIhavealotofconstituentswhoarestateem-ployees,andI’veneverheardanegativecom-ment from my constituents about the GIC,” she said.“Ithinksomemunicipalitieswillwanttogetinassoonaspossible,especiallyincaseswherethereisabigdifferentialinrates.Inothercases,Iunderstandtherewillbeawait-and-seeapproachonthis,whichisappropriate.Publicemployeeshavetobeatthetable.That’simportant.”

KaprielianandotherexpertsontheGIChavebeenholdingaseriesofcommunityforumsonthenewlawthissummer,andthesessionswillcontinueinthefall.TheMTAwillholditsownseriesofregionalmeetingstargetedtolocalassociationleadersthisfall.

Gov. Deval Patrick hands Rep. Rachel Kaprielian one of the pens he used to sign the GIC bill. With them in front, from left to right, are Sen. Richard Moore, GIC General Counsel Lisa Boodman, Rep. Jay Kaufman and Sen. Benjamin Downing. Among those looking on are MTA staff members Joanne Blum, Ann Clarke and Jack Flannagan, who worked to pass the bill.

Photo by Laura Barrett

New law provides GIC option for municipal health insurance

‘Key to our support is that the new law gives local unions a say over whether to join the GIC.’

—MTA President Anne Wass


By Laura Barrett

T hechildreninJulieJohnson’sProject JumpStartclassinLincolnwerequiet andattentiveasvisitorClaudiaFoxTree

sat on the floor and read them a story about a NativeAmericantraditioncalledjingledancing.

The children were being prepared for at-tending schools in predominantly white suburbs outside Boston, their home city, as part of the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportu-nity program, better known as Metco.

After asking questions about the story, the students were excited to be heading off for swimming lessons. They looked happy and relaxed on this warm summer afternoon. They hadnoideathatprogramssuchasMetco,inwhich children are selected to participate based on race, were the source of great controversy in the marbled halls of the United States Supreme Court.

As the school year opens, Metco and 22 district-based desegregation programs in the Commonwealth are at risk as a result of a rul-ing by the sharply divided court that struck downstudentassignmentplansinSeattleandLouisville, Ky., meant to ensure racially bal-anced schools. The ruling, issued June 28, was immediately decried by the NEA and dozens of education and civil rights groups as a major blow to school desegregation efforts and equal opportunity for children of color.

Despitetheirdisappointment,civilrightsadvocates found some solace in the fact that the ruling kept the door open a crack for narrowly tailored programs that foster integration.

“The message of the case, although it is cer-tainly confusing, is that there are five Supreme Court justices who say that avoiding racial isolation in public schools is a compelling state interest,” Rhoda Schneider, general counsel for the Massachusetts Department of Education, toldMTA Today.

“The message from the governor and at-torney general and commissioner of education is one of support for school districts that are seeking to expand educational opportunity and diversity in K-12 education,” Schneider con-tinued. “Each plan, each program, needs to be narrowly tailored to meet the compelling state interest, and each must be analyzed carefully and will be. In the meantime, people who work in schools should keep doing what they’re do-ing. Any state law that is duly enacted and any local plan that has been adopted lawfully is entitled to a presumption of constitutionality. No one has declared any of these Massachusetts programsunconstitutional.”

B ased on the DOE’s advice, Lincoln Superintendent Michael Brandmeyer is opening school with the full comple-

ment of 91 Metco students from Boston, rough-ly 14 percent of the total school population. He has no desire to reduce or modify the program, which he strongly supports.

High court ruling casts shadow on school desegregation plans

Teacher Julie Johnson helps Boston students Tiauna Walker and Wynter Simon Barton-Brown solve math problems during a summertime class at Project JumpStart in Lincoln.

Photo by Christine Peterson

Lincoln was one of the first communi-tiestoparticipateinMetcowhentheprogramwas formed 41 years ago, and today it has the highest percentage of Metco students of any district. On three occasions, Lincoln has placed non-binding referenda on the ballot on whether to keep supporting Metco, and three times the “yes” votes have won.

“Diversity is one of Lincoln’s core values,” Brandmeyer said. “Without Metco, Lincoln is not a very diverse community. Through Metco, our students learn about kids and families and cultures and races that are very different from their own. Hopefully if they are exposed to these differences at a young age, they learn tol-erance that they carry with them to other envi-ronments, such as college and the work force.”

Metco buses 3,169 students from Boston to 31 suburban districts and another 120 from Springfield to six suburbs of that city. The program initially targeted African-Americans, but now strives to include Hispanic and Asian students in the same proportions as they reside inthesendingdistricts.

Urban parents enroll their children primarily to provide them with a better education, while

suburban communities participate, as Lincoln does,toexposetheirstudentstootherculturesand races. If Metco is required to enroll white students as a result of the Supreme Court ruling, suburban support for the program may dimin-ish. After all, there are already plenty of white students who live in those communities: Why should they extend themselves to educate white students from the city?

FoxTree,theguestreaderinJulieJohnson’sclass, has been a seventh-grade special educa-tion teacher in Lincoln for 20 years and has seen Metco’simpactoverthelongterm.

“I think the greatest benefit is for the Lincolnresidentstudents,”FoxTreesaidinaninterview. “I see a lot of friendships forming, kids staying over at each other’s houses. When they do cooperative group activities, they inter-actwell.

“Being with people of other racial groups,” she added, “is the best way to break down dumb stereotypes.”

Jean McGuire, executive director of Metco Inc., said the effect of stereotype-busting was brought home to her during an anniversary cel-ebration in Lincoln several years ago.

“One of the Lincoln children said, ‘If you don’t have any Metcos for friends, you don’t have any fun. You don’t get to go into Boston and ride the T. And you learn that not all black kids play basketball — some of them play piano.’ And the black student responded, ‘You find out that not all white kids can spell well and readwell,’”McGuiresaid.

L incoln takes steps to make sure its Metco students do not feel isolated. The district consists of three schools, but two are

located on Hanscom Air Force Base and do notparticipateinMetco.Thismeansthatattheelementary level, the program is confined to the Lincoln School, which enrolls about 660 preK-8

‘Through Metco, our students learn about kids and families and cultures and races that are very different from their own. Hopefully if they are exposed to these differences at a young age, they learn tolerance that they carry with them to other environments, such as college and the work force.’

—Michael Brandmeyer Lincoln superintendent

Please see Whole/next page


By Laura Barrett

T heSupremeCourt’sdecisiononJune 28tostrikedownstudentassignment plansinSeattleandLouisville,Ky.,is

consideredoneofthemostimportantpublicschooldecisionssincetheBrown v. Board of Educationrulingin1954,buttheimpactisnotlikelytobeimmediateinMassachusetts.

Schooldistrictsarewadingthroughtheconflicting opinions and examining their own plansinlightofthecourt’sruling.Manydescribeitasa4-1-4decision—ascloselydividedasthecourtcouldbe.

Thefourmostconservativejudgeswereclearintheiroppositiontotheuseofraceinmakingstudentassignments.ContendingthathispositionwasconsistentwithBrown v. Board of Education,ChiefJusticeJohnRob-ertswrote,“Thewaytostopdiscriminationonthebasisofraceistostopdiscriminatingonthebasisofrace.”

Jean McGuire, executive director of MetcoInc.,disagreedwiththatlogicanddescribedthedecisionas“oneofthemosttragicdecisionsin50years.”Herangerwaspalpableoverthephone.

“Thedecisionreturnsustosegregation,”shesaid.“Howareyougoingtogetridofsegregatedschoolsifyoudon’tassignkidsbyrace?Somepeoplestillwantusinthebackofthebus.”

Metcoisa41-year-oldprogramthroughwhichmorethan3,000BostonandSpring-field students of color are voluntarily bused to predominantlywhitenearbysuburbs.

Thefourmostliberaljudgesdissentedsharplyinthecase,notingthattheSupremeCourthasnotonlyallowedbutoftenhasor-deredschoolstouserace-consciousremedies“topreparestudentstoliveinapluralisticsociety.”

JusticeJohnPaulStevenscalledita“cruelirony”forthecourttorelyon Brown v. Board of Educationtounderminedistricts’voluntaryeffortstoreduceracialisolationintheirschools.WritingforthemajorityinBrown,ChiefJusticeEarlWarrenconcludedthat “in the field of public education, the doctrineof‘separatebutequal’hasnoplace.Separateeducationalfacilitiesareinherentlyunequal.”

Thewildcardinthisyear’sdecisionwasJusticeAnthonyKennedy.HesidedwiththeconservativesinstrikingdowntheSeattleandLouisvilleplansasnotnarrowlytailoredenough,buthesidedwiththemoreliberaljusticesinupholdingtheprinciplethatthereisa“compellingstateinterest”inendingracialisolation.Hesignedonlypartofthemajor-ityopinionandwroteseparatelytonotethatsomelimitedprogramsthattakeraceintoaccountarestillacceptable.

AdamLiptakofThe New York TimesdescribedKennedy’spositionas“idiosyn-cratic,enigmaticanddecisive.”Itwillprovidefodderforlawyersforyearstocome.

Kennedystatedthatapprovedmethodsofendingracialisolationcouldincludechoosingwheretositeschoolsordrawingdistrictlinesinanefforttopromotediversity.Assigningstudentsbyraceshouldonlybedoneundercertainlimitedcircumstances,andwhenotherremedies have been “exhausted,” he wrote.

Sincetheruling,therehasbeenmuchspeculationthatdistrictswillturnmoreoftentoassigningstudentsbyincomeratherthanbyrace,asCambridgehasdone.Ananalysisby

The Boston GlobepublishedonJuly23foundthat the five-year-old Cambridge assignment systemhasincreasedincomediversity,butdecreasedracialdiversityinthatcity’spublicschools.

Nationwide,levelsofsegregationhavegrowndramaticallyinthelast15yearsandarehighestintheNortheast.Today,nearlythree-quartersofblackandLatinostudentsinthecountryattendschoolsthatarepredomi-nantly non-white. That trend is expected to acceleratefollowingtheSupremeCourtrul-ing,asmoreintegrationplansarechallenged.

Worriedaboutthelosstobothurbanandsuburbanstudentsifdesegregationprogramsaredismantled,LincolnMetcodirectorChristina Horner said, “The benefits go be-yondwhathappensintheclassroom.”

Justdaysaftertheruling,Lynnparentsopposedtothatdistrict’svoluntarydesegrega-tion plan filed a brief in U.S. District Court challengingthepolicy.AlthoughLynn’splanwaspreviouslyupheldbythefederalcourts,thenewSupremeCourtrulinggivesplain-tiffshopethattheywillnowprevail.Asinthe past, the state attorney general’s office is defending the Lynn plan. The MTA had filed a friendofthecourtbriefonbehalfoftheLynnPublicSchoolswhentheoriginalcasewasbrought.

LincolnSchoolSuperintendentMichaelBrandmeyersummedupthesometimescon-tradictoryfeelingsofthosewhosupportde-segregationinitiatives.“Iwasdisappointedbytheruling,butnotsurprised,”hesaid.“Ifyoustand back and see how this executive branch hasreshapedtheSupremeCourt,itdoesn’tsurprisemethatthere’sbeenachange.Butthefactthattherewasasplitdecisionshowsthereisstillhopeforthiscountry.”

RhodaSchneider,generalcounselfortheDepartment of Education, is advising districts nottoactinhaste.“Keepdoinggoodwork”isheradvicetodistrictswithplansthatpromoteracialbalanceintheirschools.

“Nobody’stippingovertheapplecartforSeptember,”shesaid.“ThislatestSupremeCourtdecisionisbarelyamonthold.Weneedtotaketimetoreviewitinconnectionwithwhatwe’redoinginMassachusettsandproceed thoughtfully, for the benefit of the students.”

Decision’s aftermath: anger and disappointment

Photo by Christine Peterson

students.Thedistrict’spolicyistomakesuretherearenofewerthantwoMetcostudentsineachclass.

StudentscanthengoontoattendLincoln-SudburyRegionalHighSchool.

ThedistricthasalsousedsomeofitsgrantmoneytoformProjectJumpStart,whichrunseachsummerandhelpsMetcostudentsinkindergartenthroughgradethreeaddresstheachievement gaps that exist for many when they arrive.Theyreceiveacademicsupportaswellasenrichment,includingswimminglessonsdonated by the Lincoln Recreation Department andvisitstoCodmanFarms.

ChristinaHorner,thedistrict’sMetcodirec-tor,saidthatthewholecommunitypitchesinto make the program a success. For example, LincolnparentsfundactivitiesforMetcostu-dentsonearlyreleasedays,whileMetcoparentscontribute$5,000annuallytooffsetthecostofa late bus to take their kids home from extracur-ricularactivities.

Metcocommunitiesalsocollaboratewithone another. For example, Bedford will provide dataanalysisfortheprogram,whileLincolnprovidesthespaceforProjectJumpStarttooperate,thoughitservesstudentswhoattendschoolsinseveralcommunities.

Horneracknowledgedthatparentsandstu-

dents do make sacrifices to be in the program. Theurbanchildrentypicallyhavetoleavehomeearlyinthemorningtocatchthebusandoftendon’tgethomeuntilearlyeveningiftheytakepartinafter-schoolactivities.

“Bythetimetheygethome,eatdinneranddotheirhomework,thereisnotalotoftimetoplayandinteractwithkidsintheirneighbor-hoods,”shesaid.“Theirschoolingisalsoverydifferent.ThesuburbanstudentsareoftenayearortwoaheadofsomeBostonpublicschoolstu-dents,andtheyusuallyhavealotmorehome-work.Somekidsrebelagainstthat,butthat’snatural. Usually, the parent wins.”

Continued from previous page

Whole community pitches in to make Metco program a success

Please turn to Metco/Page 21

Metco’s benefits “go beyond what happens in the classroom,” says Christina Horner, who directs the program in Lincoln.


By Meg Secatore

DonnaJohnson,presidentoftheUniversityStaffAssociationandamember

oftheMTAExecutiveCommittee,waspartofaselectgroupofNEAmemberswhometinBostoninJulytokickoffthenewNEAESPLeadersforTomorrowprogram.

Johnson,whoservesasbook-keeperfortheEnglishDepartmentatUMass-Amherst,wasoneof20educationsupportprofessionalsnationwide,andtheonlyNewEng-lander,tobechosenfortheselec-tiveprogram.Eachparticipantwasnominatedbyastateassociationpresidentorexecutivedirector.

“Itwasemotional,inspiration-al, empowering, confidence-build-ing,esteem-buildingandeye-open-ing,” Johnson said of the five-day trainingsession,whichincludedworkshopsoncommunicationstyles,risk-takingandpowerfulquestioning,amongothertopics.

“Donnapossessesjusttherightbalanceofopen-mindednessandforthrightness,”MTAPresidentAnneWasswroteinJohnson’snominationfortheprogram.“Shehasawinningpersonalityandisabletogetalongwithdiversegroupsofpeople…

“DonnaisamemberoftheMTAAdvisoryBudgetCommitteeandunderstandsbudgetsandtheneedtokeepmembers’interestsattheforefront,”Wasscontinued.“SheischairofourESPCommit-tee.Shehasdevelopedregionaltrainingopportunitiesthatareac-

cessibleandaffordabletoallESPs.“Throughthesetrainingsand

thelargestatewideESPConferenceeachyear,DonnahasrealizedhergoalofmakingESPsbelievetheycan be confident leaders and can makeadifference.Sheempowersthemtorealizetheirtremendouspotentialwithinthereachoftheirlocal,MTA,andNEA.”

LeadersforTomorrowpartici-pantswillmeetinNovemberinWashington,D.C.,andinMarch2008inBaltimore,wheretheywillalsoattendthenationalNEAESPConference.

NancyRobbie,MTA’sESPor-ganizer/consultant,hadhighpraiseforthesessions.ShesaidthatsubstantialcreditshouldgotoNEAESPOrganizationalSpecialistLisaConnor,whoisresponsibleforthecontentanddeliveryoftheLeadersforTomorrowprogram.

RobbienotedthatConnorhadbeeninMassachusettsforjob-descriptiontrainingandwouldbecomingbacksoontohelpwithaliving-wagecompensationproject.

“IamthankfulforLisa’sinsight,dedicationandexperi-ence—andfortheresourcessheprovides—asweworktogetheronESPissues,”Robbiesaid.

Inannouncingtheprogram,theNEAlistedthefollowingtraininggoals:n Identifyingpersonalstrengths

andweaknessesandlearninghowtoutilizethemasaleader.

n Buildingskillsincommu-nications,organizingandrecruit-

ment,teambuildingandpresenta-tion.

n Usingthestructure,resourc-es,cultureandworkoftheNEAeffectivelyasaleader.

n Engagingmembersinpoli-tics.

n Understandingtradeunion-ism.

“Theamazingpartwasthatallofusinthatroomweregoodlead-ers,andwiththistrainingandthetrainingtocome,wecanbecomebetter,strongerleadersinourlocalsandatthestateandnationallev-els,”Johnsonsaid.

“IamdeterminedtocontinuemyworkatthestatelevelandtoworkonorganizingESPstoget

moreoftheminvolved,”sheadded.“Whoknows?MaybeDonnaJohnsonwillrunforvicepresidentoftheMTAsomeday,oreventheNEA...

“IwillthinkabouttheNCESP,”shesaid,referringtotheNationalCouncilforEducationSupportProfessionals,“andmayberunningforaseatontheNEABoard.

“Ifyoubelieveyoucanmakeadifferenceinyourlocalorstateornationallyandyouwanttobethebestleaderyoucanbe,thenyoushouldapplyforthispro-gram,”Johnsonconcluded.“Whatyouwilllearnaboutyourselfisamazing.”

The opening workshop of the NEA ESP Leaders for Tomorrow program focused on self-awareness, leadership and personal change. Donna Johnson, left, was one of 20 education support professionals from across the country who participated. The session was led by Hazel Loucks, former deputy governor for education and workforce develop-ment for the state of Illinois. With Johnson are Dolly Handel of Colorado Springs, Colo., center, and Margaret Panik of Springfield, Va.

Photo by Meg Secatore

Building for the futureMTA’s Donna Johnson is selected for ESP Leaders for Tomorrow program

The members of the Quincy Education Association voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract, ending a bargaining dispute that led to the first teachers’ strike in Massachusetts in over a decade. The vote to ratify the contract, held on June 21, was 620 to 43. Now, the QEA is embarking on a fund-raising effort to help pay for the $150,000 in Superior Court fines imposed as a result of the four-day strike. As part of the effort, the QEA is selling “United Mind Workers” T-shirts and tote bags for $15 and $20, respectively. QEA President Paul Phillips said the union is also planning a benefit in the fall. The contract includes increases totaling 17 percent over five years, as well as increased health care premiums.

Photo by Laura Barrett

Fund-raising effort follows ratification of QEA contract


By Antonio P. Pagliarulo

FiscalrealityisbecomingclearerascommunitiesacrosstheCommonwealthcopewiththeconstraintsoftheirlocal

budgetsforthecurrentyear.Onethingisevident:Thepeoplewhoown

realestateandpaylocalpropertytaxescontinuetoshoulderanoverlyheavyresponsibilityforsupportingschools,municipalgovernmentsandvariouscapitaloutlaysandimprovements.

Duringthepastdecade,thestateincometaxhasdecreasedfromarateof5.95percentofearnedincometothecurrentrateof5.3per-cent.Thelossofrevenueatthestatelevelhasresultedinalossofstateaidforourtownsandcities.

Chapter70stateaidforpubliceducationduring fiscal 2008 in Dalton, where I live, will be lower than the amount received in fiscal 2003. Local aid for our town government is expected to be flat relative to fiscal 2007.

Whencomparedtorealestateleviesandotherlocaltaxes,thestateincometaxismoreequitableandprogressive:Themoreoneearns,themoreonepays.ThismakesrelyingontheincometaxamuchfairerwayforoursocietytomakevitalinvestmentsinpubliceducationandotherareasthathelpourCommonwealthbuilda brighter future. Such investments reflect not onlyoursharedvalues,butourcommitmenttohelpourchildrenandourstatesucceedoverthelongterm.

Itisestimatedthatraisingthestateincometaxbyone-quarterofonepercentagepoint,to5.55percent,wouldgenerateadditional

staterevenueofapproximately$500million.If the state income tax were increased by that amount,anincomeof$40,000wouldbesubjecttoataxincreaseofonehundreddollars.

Relianceonthepropertytaxplacestheonusoftaxationuponone’swealthorcapital,irrespective of earned income. In recent years, manyofushavefelttheimpactnotonlyoflim-itedpersonal-incomegrowth,butofthedouble-digitappreciationofourhomes.Anaging

demographic,particularlyinBerkshireCounty,compoundsthisphenomenon.

Increasing the state income tax will provide relieftothefamiliespayingthepropertytaxesonlyifresultingrevenuesarededicated,inlargemeasure,tofundtwoofthemainstaysofeverycommunity:schoolsandlocalgovernment.

If this additional revenue is earmarked in thatmanner,however,communitieswillbeabletomaintaintheintegrityoftheirtownservicesviaafairertaxsystem.Thosewhopaylocalpropertytaxeswillberelievedofoftenonerousincreasesinmeetingthepublicobligationtosupportourschoolsandotherimportantservices.

I would ask our governor and state legisla-torstoconsiderimplementingamoreequi-table tax system. I believe that the citizens of theCommonwealthwouldsupportamodest

increaseinthestateincometaxifadditionalrevenuewasreturneddirectlytoourcommu-nities to go toward financing our schools and otherservicesthatdeservetobeatthetopofthepublicprioritylist.

Pagliarulo is a special needs teacher at Wahconah Regional High School, which is part of the Central Berkshire Regional School District.

Commentary

A fairer approach to taxes

It is estimated that raising the state income tax by one-quarter of one percentage point, to 5.55 percent, would generate additional state revenue of approximately $500 million.


By Sarah Nathan

A djunctprofessorsfrom communitycolleges throughoutMassachusetts

recentlymadeacompellingcasetolegislatorsforextendingstatehealthinsurancecoveragetopart-timefacultymembers—manyofwhomjuggleclassesondifferentcampusesinanattempttoekeoutalivingwage.

AccordingtotheMassachu-settsCommunityCollegeCouncil,therearemorethan3,500part-timeinstructors,andtheyteachmorethanhalfofthetotalcoursesof-feredatthestate’s15communitycolleges.Theseadjunctprofessorsaregenerallypaidbetween$2,500and$2,900perclass.Insomecases,theyreceivelessthan$2,000forcourseswithlowenrollment.

“Thesepart-timeinstructorssacrifice and persist because they lovetheirwork,”MCCCPresidentJosephLeBlanctoldthemembersoftheJointCommitteeonPublicServiceataStateHousehear-ingonJuly12.“Theypersistinachallengingworkenvironment,andwagesarejustonepartoftheproblem.Someadjunctfaculty—weestimatelessthan10percent—lackhealthinsurance.”

Currently,adjunctprofes-sors,eventhosewhoteachseveralcourseseachyear,arenoteligibletoreceivehealthinsurancefromtheCommonwealth,thoughmanyotherpart-timestateworkersdohaveaccesstocoverage.SenateBill1587wouldmakepart-timefacultymemberswhoteachfourormorecoursesayeareligibletoparticipateintheplansofferedbytheGroupInsuranceCommission,whichprovideshealthinsurancetostateworkersatasharedcost.

PatriciaMcCauley,aregis-terednurseandadjunctprofessorinthepracticalnursingprogramatMassachusettsBayCommu-nity College, testified that adjunct professorsbyfaroutnumberfull-timefacultymembers.DespitethefactthattheMass.Bayprogramproducesanestimated100nursinggraduateseachyearwhohelpalle-viatethenursingshortage,shesaid,thestatecontinuestoignorethehealthcareneedsofitsworkers.

“Ifeelthecontributionsmadebyadjunctfacultysuchasmyselfhaveenrichedthenursingprogramsofferedbythestateandthelivesofthepatientswhoareservedbyourstudents,”McCauleysaid.“Surelywewhohavedevotedourlivestoservingthehealthcareneedsofothershaveearnedtherighttohealth care benefits.”

Twootherpart-timeprofes-sors—MarkFriedman,anadjuncteconomicsandindustrialpsychol-ogyprofessorwhoteacheseightornineclasseseachyearatMiddlesexCommunityCollege,andBetsySmith,whoteachesEnglishasaSecondLanguageatCapeCodCommunityCollege—alsourgedlegislatorstoconsiderthecontribu-

tionsthatadjunctfacultymaketothestate’shighereducationsystemandgrantthemhealthinsurance.

Friedmanspokeofthebirthofhischildlastyear,whichresultedinmorethan$100,000inmedicalbills.

“Goingforwardfromthisexperience,asweencountermedi-calissueswe’reverysensitivetomedicalservicespricesandwhat’scoveredbyinsurance,”Friedmansaid.

“IwasthrilledlastspringwhentheLegislaturepassedlegisla-tionmandatingaffordablehealthcoverageforall,”Smithtoldthecommittee,referringtothenewCommonwealthHealthInsuranceConnectorprogram.“Whilethelawprovidesadmirablyforthoseofusearninglessthan300percentofthepovertylevel,forthoseofusearning slightly over that figure, it isadisaster.”

Smithadded:“WhowouldeverhavethoughtthatIwouldbelookingforwardtoturning65andqualifyingforMedicare?”

Thebillwaspassedfavor-ablyoutofcommitteefollowing

thehearingandcurrentlyisinthehandsoftheSenateWaysandMeansCommittee.

Duringthehearing,Rep.JayKaufman(D-Lexington),whoco-chairsthePublicServiceCom-mitteeandworksasanadjunctprofessor,characterizedtheuseofpart-timeworkersas“abusiveandexploitive.”“Theuseofpart-timeworkers has had a horrific impact ontheworkplaceandyouindividu-ally,”Kaufmansaid.“Itakeyourcommentsveryseriously.”

‘These part-time instructors sacrifice and persist because they love their work.’

—Joseph LeBlanc MCCC president

Members of the Massachusetts Community College Council delivered powerful testimony to legislators in July in support of a Senate bill that would extend state health insurance coverage to part-time faculty members. From left to right are Patricia McCauley, a registered nurse and adjunct nursing professor at Massachusetts Bay Community College; Mark Friedman, an adjunct economics professor at Middlesex Community College; Betsy Smith, an adjunct professor of English as a Second Language at Cape Cod Community College; and Joseph LeBlanc, president of the MCCC.

Visit www.mccc-union.org to learn more about the campaign to secure passage of Senate Bill 1587, which would provide adjunct faculty with health insurance.

‘While the law provides admirably for those of us earning less than 300 percent of the poverty level, for those of us earning slightly over that figure, it is a disaster.’

—Betsy Smith Adjunct professor

Adjunct faculty members seek access to state health insurance

Photo by Sarah Nathan


Reville vows to listen‘I begin this work with a profound appreciation for the challenges associated with teaching in this day and age’

By Sarah Nathan

PaulReville,thenewchairmanofthestateBoardofEducation,hasamessageforeducators:Youhaveaseatatthetable.

“Thereisnogroupthatismoreimportantformetocommunicatewiththantheteachers,”saidReville,awellknowneducationpolicy-makerandresearcherwhowasappointedtothepostinAugustbyGov.DevalPatrick.HereplacesChristopherAnderson,presidentoftheMassachusettsHighTechnologyCouncil,whowillremainontheBOEasamember.

“Ibeginthisworkwithaprofoundap-preciationforthechallengesassociatedwithteachinginthisdayandage,”RevilletoldMTA Todayduringawide-ranginginterview.“We’veessentiallyaskedthisgenerationofteacherstodowhatnopriorgenerationhasbeenaskedtodo,whichistoeducateallstudentstoahighlevel of proficiency.”

Reville,58,saidhewillbringtogetherrepresentativesofallsegmentsofpubliceduca-tiontoworkonwaystoimproveteachingandlearningconditions.

Reville—whoservedontheBOEinthe1990safterbeingappointedbythen-Gov.WilliamWeld—isgenerallyregardedasamoderateoneducationpolicymatters.Heisexperiencedindealingwiththebusinesscom-munity,administratorsandlegislators,aswellasclassroomteachers.

“Foralongtime,perhapsnotsomuchrecently,therehasbeenafeelingthatpolicyisbeing done to people in the field, not so much withthem,”hesaid.“Iwillrestorethatspiritofcivildiscourseandbringpeopletothetable,challengingfolkswhoarepartofoureducationsystem—atalllevels—toarticulatenotonlywhattheydon’tlikeaboutexistingsystems,butalsohowthey’dliketoreplacethemormodifythemtomakethingsbetterandmorehelpfultochildren.”

MTAPresidentAnneWasspraisedRevilleforhiswillingnesstolistentoeducators.

“PaulRevilleissomeonewholistenstoallsides,”Wasssaid.“Hemaynotalwaysagreewithus,buthewillincludeusintheconversa-tion,andthatisextremelyimportant.”

MTAVicePresidentPaulTonerofferedasimilarassessment.

“Ibelieveherecognizesthatunionsarenottheprobleminpubliceducationandthatthereneedstobeaneffortamongallstakeholderstoaddressourcommonproblems,includingtheachievementgapamongstudentsinourpublicschools,”Tonersaid.

R eville is a former teacher. His first job outofcollegeintheearly1970swas workingonaVISTAteamtocreatean

alternativehighschoolinSomerville,wherehealsotaughtandco-directed.

Afewyearslater,afterearningamaster’sdegreeineducationfromStanfordUniversity,RevillereturnedtoMassachusettstoleadanalternativeone-yearprogramforstudentswhohadbeenthroughhighschool.The13th-year

program,basedinWorcester,offeredavarietyofactivitiesandservices—includingOutwardBoundexperiences,counselingandinternships—tohelpstudentsgrowandsucceedaftergraduation.

Revillesaidhisbackgroundhelpedhimunderstandhowimportantitisforteachers,whoareonthefrontlineseveryday,tobepartofthedialogue.

“Iwillbesomebodywhowilllistenandsomebodywhowillbesympathetictotheirpointofview—somebodywholooksforamoregenuinepartnershipwithpeopleinthefield,” he said.

Revillesaidpublicschoolteachersfaceimmensechallenges.Henotedthattheyhavelimitedtime,resourcesandsupportavailabletothemandareexpectedtoworkunderthe“chal-lengingsystemsofaccountability”outlinedintheEducationReformActof1993,whichRevillehelpedtodevise.

“Thefundamentalmostbasictransactionisbetweenteacherandstudentandcontentintheclassroom,”hesaid.“That’sthecorework in our industry, and for the first time we arereallyfocusedonthat,talkingaboutitandrecognizingthatallthereformsintheworldwon’timprovepubliceducationunlesswearedoingthingsthataffectthequalityofthistransaction.”

In2006,RevilleauthoredaBoston Globeopinionpieceheadlined“Bringteacherstothetable,”whichemphasizedtheneedforteachersandteachers’unionstoplayaroleinhelpingthosepublicschoolslabeled“underperforming”understateorfederallaw.

Duringtheinterview,RevilleapplaudedMTAleadershipforplayingaroleintheongoingdiscussionabout“howtomakestron-ger,better,fairer,moregenuinesystemsofaccountability.”

‘The fundamental most basic transaction is between teacher and student and content in the classroom. That’s the core work in our industry, and for the first time we are really focused on that, talking about it and recognizing that all the reforms in the world won’t improve public education unless we are doing things that affect the quality of this transaction.’

—Paul Reville Board of Education chairman

Paul Reville, the new chairman of the state Board of Education, says he is looking for a “more genuine partnership with people in the field.” Reville began his career as a teacher.

Photo by Sarah Nathan

Please turn to Reville/Page 29


Just for New Teachers

Save the Date!November 30th, 2007Marlborough, Massachusetts

sixth annual conference

The MTA Center for Education Policy and Practice, New Teacher Committee and Professional Development Committee are sponsoring a full day (6.5 contact hours) of staff development for new teachers. Workshop topics will include:

t English Language Learners

t Close Encounters of the Parental Kind

t Every Child Can Learn

t A SPED Primer for Regular Educators

t Managing the Inspired Classroom

t Reading in the Content Areas

t Legal Basics for New Teachers

t Professional Roles and Responsibilities

t And more … the full program and registration form will be available on the MTA Web site, www.massteacher.org, by October 1.

How can new teachers register?Individuals can download a form from the MTA Web site. Districts can register individuals or groups by calling 800.392.6175, ext. 8300. Payment should be by check or purchase order made payable to the Massachusetts Teachers Association.

Who can register?Individual teachers in year one to those beginning year four in September 2007. School districts can register individuals or teams of new teachers.

Why should districts send new teachers?New teachers holding Preliminary or Initial licenses must participate in induction programs. School districts are required by DOE regulations to provide such programs for new teachers. The Just for New Teachers Conference partially satisfi es that requirement. MTA will provide participants with a record of sessions attended.

How much does it cost?$50 per person, which includes general sessions, workshops, all materials, morning coffee and lunch.

Where is it?This year’s conference will be held at the Best Western Royal Plaza, Marlborough.

The MTA Center for Education Policy and Practice is offering four three-credit online courses to MTA members.

DEVELOPING A STANDARDS-BASED UNIT OF INSTRUCTION Focuses on the development of two-week units of instruction aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks learning standards. The materials and instruction are based on Wiggins and McTighe’s Understanding by Design. Topics include identifying standards to be assessed, articulating major understandings, developing essential questions, determining the specifi c content and skills to be mastered during the unit, understanding the range of assessments that could be used and developing an instructional calendar.

CREATING PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT TASKS Focuses on the theory and practice of creating, teaching and refi ning authentic performance assessments related to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks learning standards and differentiating based on student learning profi les.

DIFFERENTIATING INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES Focuses on the decision-making by teachers about student readiness and level of independence as the basis for differentiating existing lessons and units of instruction. Topics include determining readiness and independence, low-preparation and high-preparation differentiated instructional strategies and differentiating student work by process and product to address learning styles, readiness, independence and interests.

BETTER BEGINNINGS: NEW TEACHER INDUCTION PROGRAM Designed to support beginning teachers in establishing effective professional communities with one another to overcome the challenges peculiar to early career teaching. A variety of activities allow new teachers to learn the content of the topics and hands-on classroom applications.

❉ These are completely online courses; there are no face-to-face meetings.

❉ You must have an Internet connection and be able to use Microsoft Word in order to take these courses. There are no other technical requirements.

❉ Each course session begins on a Tuesday and ends the following Monday; the only exceptions are the Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks and the February and April school vacation weeks. There are 12 sessions per course.

❉ Participants are expected to log on at least three times per week to download assignment requirements and readings, participate in discussion board forums and upload completed performance tasks.

❉ The registration deadlines are Oct. 8 for semester one and Jan. 28 for semester two.

❉ Semester one runs from Oct. 16 to Jan. 28. Semester two runs from Feb. 5 to May 12.

❉ There is a per-person fee of $180 per course.

❉ Graduate credit from Fitchburg State College is available for an additional $195.

❉ Each course provides 67.5 super PDPs.

❉ Districts wishing to offer online courses to groups of teachers should contact Beverly Eisenman at 800.392.6175, ext. 8362, or e-mail [email protected].

For more information, please visit the MTA Web site, www.massteacher.org.

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Paid Advertisement

OnMay22,followinguponactionstakenattheMTAAnnualMeetingof

DelegatesinBoston,theassocia-tionissuedapressreleaseundertheheadline“MTAsupportswithdraw-aloftroopsfromIraqandcurbsonmilitaryrecruitmentinschools.”

Thefollowingmaterialisdrawnfromthepressrelease:

Delegates to the Massachusetts Teachers Association’s Annual Meeting recently voted to support an “expedited” withdrawal of troops from Iraq and limits on ag-gressive military recruitment in the state’s public schools.

The MTA represents 107,000 public school and public higher education educators and support staff. The military-related propos-als were approved at the organiza-tion’s Annual Meeting of Delegates in Boston on May 12.

The new business item on Iraq noted that educators believe that “peaceful conflict resolution must not only be taught in schools but must as well be modeled by local, state, national and international leaders.” It further noted that the costs of supporting military op-erations in Iraq are “indisputably impacting schools, our students, and our communities by diverting money away from public education, health care, and social programs.”

The resolution was supported by a majority of the nearly 1,100 delegates attending the Annual Meeting, thereby making it an of-ficial MTA position. With that vote, the MTA joins the National Educa-tion Association, the California Federation of Teachers and over one-third of Massachusetts munici-palities that have voted in favor of resolutions to end the war in Iraq.

The second measure was in

support of legislation (House Bill 562) designed to safeguard stu-dents’ privacy rights in the face of aggressive recruitment tactics by the military. The proposal noted that “recruiters in many of our schools have approached students in the halls, in cafeterias, and on school grounds without express permission of administrators, parents, or the students themselves, repeatedly contacting students de-spite being asked not to do so.” It stated further that “many military recruiters, under pressure to fill their quotas, unduly pressure stu-dents or misrepresent the benefits they will receive for enlisting.”

To curb these and other prob-lems, H. 562 would require that students and parents be notified in writing of their right to “opt out” of releasing students’ personal contact information to military recruiters without prior written consent, and it would forbid pro-viding recruiters with the results of students’ aptitude tests without express consent.

The delegates directed the MTA to lobby for passage of the bill and to provide MTA members with information about student privacy rights.

Both proposals were made by a group of members who have formed an informal “Peace and Justice Caucus.” This is not an official committee within the MTA, but a diverse group of members who state that they are “devoted to their work and students and to the ideals of a just and peaceful society.”

Press release sets forth MTA stand on Iraq war

Delegates support federal DREAM Act

—Page 4

Curriculum ResourcesIraq in TransitionPBS NewsHour site includes lesson plans developed by educators, along with interactive maps, timelines and background on key players.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/middle_east/iraq/lessonplans.htmlArchive includes recent NewsHour features with a link to appropriate lesson plans along the right-hand rail.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/middle_east/iraq/archive/index.html

Conflict in Iraq: Confronting Policy AlternativesOnline lesson plan for secondary students developed by Choices for the 21st Century, a Brown University civic education program.http://www.choices.edu/resources/twtn_iraq.php

Center for Middle Eastern Studies Curriculum KitsDeveloped at Harvard University, the kits are available for one-month borrowing. (Schools must pay for insured shipping back to the center.) Topics include The Cultures and Peoples of the Arab World, Spices and Ramadan (for elementary classrooms) and the Ottoman Empire (for secondary students).http://cmes.hmdc.harvard.edu/outreach/library/kits

Global Connections: The Middle EastPBS materials for teachers in grades 6-12. Lesson plans conveyed by “connecting questions” on topics such as Religious Militancy and the Role of Women.http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/educators/index.html

Action and AdvocacyTeacher Groups Against the WarCompiled by Rethinking Schools magazine.http://rethinkingschools.org/war/groups/

NEA’s Letter to CongressJanuary 2007, as required by a new business item passed by the Representative Assembly.http://www.nea.org/lac/letters/107iraq.html

Cellphones for SoldiersUsing cash contributions and money obtained by recycling donated used cell phones, the program buys calling cards and distributes them to service personnel.http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/

Operation Iraqi ChildrenThe School Supply Kit Program collects items to ship to Iraq, where soldiers deliver them to village schools.http://www.nea.org/takenote/iraqchild0601.html

Operation HomefrontMore links on support programs from massteacher.org.http://www.massteacher.org/teaching/teaching_homefront.cfm

Web Links


To send e-mails, please visit www.massteacher.org/capwiz. To become a member of the MTA Social Security e-lert sys-tem, send your name, com-plete address, MTA ID number and home e-mail address to Jo Ann Fitzgerald, MTA retired members service specialist, at [email protected].

HouseWaysandMeansCommitteeChairmanCharlesRangel(D-N.Y.)

hasaskedtheSubcommitteeonSocialSecuritytoscheduleahear-ingontwoSocialSecurityoffsetsthatunfairlypenalizeeducatorsandotherpublicemployees.

InaJune27lettertoU.S.Rep.HowardBerman(D-Calif.),theprimarysponsoroflegislationtorepealtheGovernmentPensionOffsetandtheWindfallElimina-tionProvision,Rangelexpressedhisconcernaboutthe“veryseriousissues”raisedbytheoffsetsand

statedthatBerman’srepealbill“deservestobeexamined.”

TheletterwassentasaresultofarecentmeetingbetweenRan-gel,BermanandNEAPresidentRegWeaver.

Ahearingdatehasnotyetbeenset.

TheGPOandtheWEPpenal-izepublicemployeesinMassachu-settsandanumberofotherstates.

TheGPOreducespublicem-ployees’SocialSecurityspousalor survivor benefits by two-thirds oftheirpublicpensions,whiletheWEPreducestheearnedSocial

Security benefits of individuals whoalsoreceivepublicpensionsfromjobsnotcoveredbySocialSecurity.

TheHouseversionoftheSo-cialSecurityFairnessAct,H.B.82,whichwouldcompletelyrepealtheGPOandtheWEP,hasnowgar-neredthesupportof324co-spon-sorsonbothsidesofthepoliticalaisle.ItsSenatecounterpart,S.B.206,has33co-sponsors.Thelistofco-sponsorsincludesallmembersoftheMassachusettsdelegationtoCapitolHill.

MTAmembersareurgedto

contacttheirmembersofCongressandthankthemfortheirsupport,aswellastoencouragethemtobesuretoworktorepealtheoffsets.

Rangel calls for hearing on repeal of offsets

Therearemanythingsinlifethatareoutofourhands.Butdocumentsavailable

from a nonprofit organization calledAgingwithDignityprovideawaytocontrolsomethingveryimportant:howyouaretreatedifyoubecomeseriouslyill.

ApublicationtitledFive Wishesincludesaneasytocom-pleteformthatletsyoustatewhatyouwantundersuchcircumstanc-es. Once it is filled out and properly signed,theformisvalidunderthelawsof40states,includingMassa-chusetts.

ThefollowinginformationwasprovidedbyAgingwithDignity:

n WhatisFive Wishes?Five Wishesisa“livingwill”thattalksaboutyourpersonal,emotionalandspiritualneeds,aswellasyourmedicalwishes.Itletsyouchoosethepersonyouwanttomakehealthcaredecisionsforyouifyouarenotabletomakethemforyourself.Itletsyousayexactlyhowyouwishtobetreatedifyougetseriouslyill.ItwaswrittenwiththehelpoftheAmericanBarAssociation’sCommissionontheLegalProblemsoftheElderlyandexpertsinend-of-lifecare.

n HowFive Wishesbegan:For12years,amannamedJimToweyworkedcloselywithMotherTeresa,andforoneyearhelivedinahospicesheraninWashington,D.C.Inspiredbythisexperience,Toweysoughtawayforpatientsandtheirfamiliestoplanaheadandtocopewithseriousillness.TheresultwasFive Wishes.

n HowFive Wishescanhelp:Five Wishesletsyoutalkwithyourfamily,friendsanddoctor.Yourfamilymemberswillnothavetoguesswhatyouwant.Itprotectsthemifyoubecomeseriouslyill,becausetheywon’thavetomakehardchoiceswithoutknowingyourwishes.Youcanalsoknowwhat

yourmom,dad,spouse,orfriendwantsthroughaFive Wishes livingwill.

n WhoshoulduseFive Wishes? Five Wishesisforanyone18orolder.Over9millionAmericansofallageshaveusedit,andmorethan10,000groupsaredistributingthedocument.

n What are the five wishes?1.ThepersonIwanttomake

healthcaredecisionsformewhenIcan’tmakethemformyself.

2.MywishforthekindofmedicaltreatmentIwantordon’twant.

3.Mywishforhowcomfort-ableIwanttobe.

4.MywishforhowIwantpeopletotreatme.

5.MywishforwhatIwantmylovedonestoknow.

Next Steps,aguideondiscuss-

ingandcopingwithseriousillness,isacompaniontoFive Wishes.TheguideincludesinformationoncompletingFive Wishes,talkingtofamilymembersaboutcompletingalivingwillanddiscussingFive Wisheswithyourdoctor.Italsoprovidesguidanceonservingasahealthcareagentandbeingatthebedsideofsomeonewhoisseri-ouslyill.

For more information, visit the Aging with Dignity Web site, www.agingwithdignity.org.

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You can make your wishes known to your loved ones.

‘Living will’ can be a big help when serious illness strikes


Holyoke; 413.535.2415, or at home, 413.737.7509.LYNNFIELD — Mary Parry: third and fourth Saturdays of each

month (walk in), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., MTA Northeast Offi ce, 50 Salem St., Bldg. B, Lynnfi eld; 781.246.9779, or at home, 978.372.2031; fax, 978.372.2035.

NORTHAMPTON — Dennis O’Connor: second Saturday of each month (walk in), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 38 Gothic St., Northampton; 413.584.8313, or at home, 413.737.7509.

PITTSFIELD — Ward F. Johnson: second Saturday of each month (walk in), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., MTA Berkshire Offi ce, 740 Williams St., Williams St. Plaza, Pittsfi eld; 413.499.0257, or at home, 413.443.1722; e-mail: [email protected].

RAYNHAM — Sandra Stephenson: third Saturday of each month (walk in), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., MTA Southeast Offi ce, 90 New State Highway (Rte. 44), Raynham; 508.822.5371, or at home, 508.747.2234; e-mail: [email protected]. Edward Nelson: fourth Saturday of each month (walk in), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., MTA Southeast Offi ce, 90 New State Highway (Rte. 44), Raynham; 508.822.5371, or at home, 508.853.5769.

HIGHER ED AT-LARGE — Edward McCourt, Mass. BayCommunity College, Wellesley; 781.239.2207; e-mail:[email protected].

T he MTA conducts retirement consultations throughout the state to assist members. Proof of membership must be submitted when requesting retirement services.

This schedule is in effect from September to June. In the event of inclement weather, it is advisable to call consultants in advance.

ASHBURNHAM — Robert Zbikowski: second Tuesday of each month (walk in), 4 to 8 p.m., Overlook Middle School (library), front entrance, 10 Oakmont Dr., Ashburnham; 978.827.1425, or at home, 978.297.0123; e-mail: [email protected].

AUBURN — Louise Gaskins: fi rst and second Saturdays of each month (walk in), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., MTA Central Offi ce, 48 Sword St., Auburn; 508.791.2121, or at home, 978.448.5351.

BOSTON — Harold Crowley: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (by appointment only), 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., MTA, 20 Ashburton Place, Boston; 617.742.7950, ext. 8240, or 800.392.6175, ext. 8240.

BRAINTREE — Mary Hanna: second Saturday of each month (walk in), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., MTA Metropolitan Offi ce, 100 Grandview Road, Braintree; 781.380.1410, or at home, 781.545.2069.

CAPE COD — Rose Merritt: second Saturday of each month (walk in), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Barnstable Teachers Association (BTA), 100 West Main St., Suite #7, Hyannis; 508.775.8625, or at home, 508.759.4725.

HOLYOKE — Dennis O’Connor: third Saturday of each month (walk in), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., MTA Western Offi ce, 55 Bobala Rd., Suite 3,

Regional retirement consultations available

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Identity theft is a nationwide problem that involves the use of someone’s personal information to assume his or her identity. It can involve the misuse of credit cards and Social Security

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when in fact they are “phishing” for your personal infor-mation. The main goal of a phishing e-mail is to get you to a site where you will provide your personal informa-tion.

Glenn Coolong, MTA’s director of information technol-ogy services, has suggested the following basic clues that will help you keep your fi nances and identity safe.

Does the e-mail ask you to go to a Web site and verify per-sonal information?

Financial institutions won’t ask you to verify your personal information in response to an e-mail.

What is the tone of the e-mail?Most phish e-mails convey a sense of urgency by threatening

discontinued service or information loss if you don’t take immediate action.

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credit report. Free credit reports are available. You may request your free credit report online, by phone or through the mail by visiting www.sec.state.ma.us/. Free credit reports requested online are viewable imme-diately upon authentication of identity. Free credit reports requested by phone or mail will be processed within 15 days of your request.

Don’t let a ‘phisher’ steal your identity!

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Web browser.


By Sarah Nathan

T he stately campus of Williams College provided the perfect backdrop for MTA’s 2007 Summer Conference.

Members attended workshops in the ivy-covered buildings. An old-style trolley circled the campus throughout the day, shuttling partici-pants from place to place. The dining halls were fi lled with food and conversation — an opportu-nity for new and veteran MTA members to meet and network.

The conference, attended by approximately 800 people, featured almost 150 workshops offering MTA members an opportunity to learn an array of skills and covering subjects ranging from classroom reading strategies to hilarity therapy to e-mail list management.

Participants had additional choices during the evening hours. There were yoga classes, parties, movies, meetings and organized discus-sions on extended-day learning and the implica-tions of the Springfi eld “value-added” decision.

A number of members took advantage of longstanding multi-day programs offered for new presidents, experienced presidents and new teachers and a special track for “emerging leaders.” New tracks on collective bargaining, leadership activism and political organizing were also offered this year.

I n her speech during the conference’s opening session, MTA President Anne Wass sought to inspire and challenge the

crowd packed into the auditorium at Chapin Hall. She told the audience that the MTA must be “a force for positive and constructive change.”

Wass suggested MTA members use their voices to emphasize that “student learning con-ditions are teacher working conditions.”

“Our interests are bound up with the inter-ests of our students,” she said. “We must make that clear at all times, whether we’re at the bargaining table, the grievance hearing or a lobby day at the State House.”

Wass asked conference participants to continue the dialogue about how best to im-prove and change the MTA, calling this a “very good time organizationally and historically to think about education proposals in a different way.”

She added: “I hope you will join me in thinking about, debating and discussing these issues while you are here at Williams and back in your local associations and chapters, because real change needs vision from organizational leaders, but it can never work as a top-down mandate.”

After she spoke, MTA Vice President Paul Toner gave out a “homework assignment,” asking members to join a campaign to collect signatures calling for repeal of the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. Both measures signifi cantly reduce the amount of Social Security money that public employees are able to collect in retirement. Barbara Matteson, president of NEA Retired, who traveled to Williamstown from her home in Tucson, Ariz., to be at the conference, joined

Toner in urging retired members to participate in the initiative.

International concerns also fi gured in the discussion around the campus.

Baljeet Ghale, president of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union in England, gave the crowd a perspective on how things are going across the Atlantic Ocean as she spoke of a growing privatization trend in her country.

She talked about the ability of private companies to buy certain existing schools in their entirety — buildings, land and assets — in underperforming academic areas.

“I believe that for these people the motive for their sponsorship is the capacity to make profi t out of the education system and to infl u-ence students’ minds,” Ghale said. “Some of these sponsors have included car dealers and sausage and sugar manufacturers.”

Following the speeches, Gross National Product, a Washington, D.C.-based comedy troupe, performed for close to an hour, poking fun at, among other things, the Bush administra-tion and the upcoming race for president.

The opportunity to network, learn and gain perspective was invaluable for those who at-tended the fi ve-day conference.

Summer Conference focuses

prove and change the MTA, calling this a “very

Vice President Paul Toner addressed the

audience during the opening session.

the campus throughout the day, shuttling partici-pants from place to place. The dining halls were fi lled with food and conversation — an opportu-nity for new and veteran MTA members to meet

MTA President Anne Wass, center, joined the crowd to listen to speeches at the Emerging Leaders’

Program forum for candidates.

Photos by Laura Barrett, Bob Duffy and Sarah Nathan

MTA President Anne Wass, center, joined the crowd to listen to speeches at the Emerging Leaders’

Photos by Laura Barrett, Bob Duffy and Sarah Nathan

Baljeet Ghale, right, president of England’s National Union of Teachers, and Roger King of the NUT spoke with MTA members during a forum on international education issues.


Brockton Education Association President Tim

Sullivan, Franklin Education Association President

Chandler Creedon and Harvard Teachers Association

President Kathleen Doherty took part in the Experienced

Presidents’ Academy.

JoAnn Evans, a participant in the New Teacher Program, said the experience was enlightening. “Getting outside of the classroom and participating with others on a larger scope made a big difference for me,” said Evans, who left a career as a corporate fund-raiser and be-gan teaching fourth grade in Scituate last year. “Taking part in the program at the end of my fi rst year was the perfect time for me to learn all of these things. I really came away with a huge appreciation for what goes into a contract on both sides, where education funding comes from and what it means to be part of the MTA and the NEA.”

Sharron Gillies — who by day runs the electronics lab at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester and at night teaches electronics, math and engineering graphics — spent a good part of her time at the confer-ence campaigning for president of the Emerging Leaders group.

“I was really able to step up out of my comfort zone and do things that I’ve never done before,” said Gillies, a member of the Massa-chusetts Community College Council Board of Directors. “It is easy to go to meetings and do the things you normally do, but to run in a mock election, I had to make waves.”

Newly minted Emerging Leaders Vice President Jessica Lague said she was inspired to join the program as part of her preparations for a role in her own local.

“Eventually I’d like to take on a bigger role in the MTA and get more involved,” said Lague, a seventh-grade English teacher and member of the Beverly Teachers Association. “I’d like to be a building representative and eventually presi-dent of my local union, so the Emerging Lead-ers seemed like a good place to start.”

Christopher Zellner, a teacher at Bedford High School, won the race for president of the group.

on activism and ‘real change’

Sharron Gillies — who by day runs the Sharron Gillies — who by day runs the Newly minted Emerging Leaders Vice

Participants in the New Teacher Program posed with presenters for a group picture.

Newly minted Emerging Leaders Vice Newly minted Emerging Leaders Vice

Marcia Gonzalez, a high school Spanish teacher from Brockton, participated in a foreign language workshop.

Higher education members from campuses around the state discussed key

issues during a leadership meeting.Higher education members from campuses around the state discussed key

issues during a leadership meeting.

Lynda DeMaio, David Johnson, Nat Smith and Valerie Shippee talked during the ESP

Social. Smith, a seventh-grade science teacher, is the president of the Hampshire

Regional Education Association, and Johnson, a special education paraprofessional, is

the president-elect. DeMaio and Shippee are both paraprofessionals.

The booth staffed by retired members was

a big attraction during the Opening Fair.

Members looked on during a performance by Gross National Product in Chapin Hall.

Susan Baker, chair of the MTA Ethnic Minority Affairs

Committee, shared a moment with MTA Board member

Andrei Joseph during “An Evening with EMAC.”


TheMassachusettsAssociationforHealth,PhysicalEducation,Recre-

ationandDancewillholdits2007stateconventionNov.5and6attheDCUCenterinWorcester.

Thethemeis“WheelsinMo-tion: Defining Professional Mo-ments!”

“TheMAHPERDBoardhasbeenincrediblybusy,”saidPresi-dentDianaL.Demetrius.“Whilemanythinkofthesummermonthsas a time to unwind and recharge thesystem,MAHPERD’swheelshavebeeninmotion!”

OnNov.5,thefeaturedspeak-erswillbeGlennField,thewarn-ing coordination meteorologist for theNationalWeatherServicein

Taunton,andMichaelUtley,a lightning strike survivor and founderofStruckbylightning.org,an organization dedicated to pro-moting lightning safety and education.

They will speak to the general sessionandpresentamultimediaprogram titled “The Evolution of Lightning Safety — From Myth toReality.”Attendeeswilllearnwhythe“30-minuterule”andthe“lightning squat” are being de-em-phasized and why the foremost ap-proachshouldbe:“Whenthunderroars, go indoors.”

Fieldwillalsopresentasessiononseverethunderstormsandtorna-doesandonecalled“TheRealityof New England Hurricanes.” In

each, preparing for New England weatherwillbeafocalpoint.

OnNov.6,Dr.TiliaFantasia,a Westfield State College professor emeritus,willdeliverthekeynoteaddress. Fantasia — who has de-voted herself to serving the health, physicaleducation,recreationanddance field at the state, district and national levels while also get-ting a law degree — was the 2004 recipientoftheJosephMcKenneyAward. She will be celebrating and paying tribute to MAHPERD past President Martha Cummings, whomDemetriusdescribedasa“trailblazer for women’s athletics and equality in sports.”

Among the others on hand willbeCindyLins,2003National

AssociationforSport&PhysicalEducationteacheroftheyearandNational STARS program coor-dinator,whowilltalkabouthowprograms can be recognized by STARSandwillprovidesessionson assessment and integration in physical education; and Maggie Montefeltri,2006ConnecticutandEasternDistrictAssociationsec-ondaryschoolteacheroftheyear.

“We’re hoping everyone will joinusforbothdays,”Demetriussaid.“Theconventionwillbeanadventure — a remarkable experi-ence.”

For more information, visit www.ma-hperd.org or call Executive Director Maria Melchionda at 508.794.1338.

ThespeakerswhorepresentedtheMassachusettsAsso-ciationforHealth,Physical

Education,RecreationandDanceat a hearing on a bill promoting physical education felt that legisla-tors were paying close attention.

“TheJointCommitteeonEdu-cation was listening intently and asking pertinent questions,” said MAHPERD Executive Director MariaMelchionda.

Joining Melchionda at the State HouseinlateMaytoadvocateforSenate Bill 334 and House Bill 499 wereDr.DianeSmith,MAHPERDadvocacychair;Dr.BobRausch,aMAHPERDpastpresident;Eu-niceSirianos,aphysicaleducationteacherfromNewBedford;Dr.Mimi Murray of Springfield Col-lege; Priscilla Houliston of Littlechanges.com;andlobbyistJuliaJohnsonoftheMTADivisionofGovernmentalServices.

“TheMassachusettsTeachersAssociationbelievesthatphysicalactivity is essential to good health,” Johnsonsaid.“Therefore,acom-prehensive program of physical education…shouldbeprovideddaily in grades pre-kindergarten through 12.”

The bills would require at least 150 minutes of physical education per week in the elementary grades and225minutesperweekinmiddle school and high school. The courses would have to be taught by certified physical education teach-ers. S.B. 334 is sponsored by Sen. ThomasMcGee(D-Lynn),whileH.B. 499 is sponsored by Rep. Ste-phen LeDuc (D-Marlborough).

Melchiondatoldthecommit-teemembersthatalackofdailyprograms is having a pronounced effectonstudentsandthatthecosts

ofobesity-relatedillnesseseachyear exceed the cost per pupil of quality physical education. She volunteeredtoserveonacommit-tee that would search for a funding solution, calling physical education “a most integral part of the school curriculum.”

Smith urged the committee to make sure that athletic programs are not substituted for quality

physical education programs. Physicaleducationisinstructional,sequential, developmental and structured according to individual studentneeds,whileathleticsisrecreationalandprovidesspectatorentertainment,shesaid.

Sirianosstatedthatbecausetimeforphysicaleducationisverylimited,shefocusesonmovementeducation and incorporates fitness

inalmosteverylesson.Shealsoencourages students to practice on their own. Passage of the legisla-tion,shesaid,“trulywouldbeadreamcometrue”becausestudentswould be guaranteed quality physi-caleducation.

For more information, visit www.ma-hperd.org or call Melchionda at 508.794.1338 or Smith at 413.323.5881.

‘Wheels in Motion’ is MAHPERD convention theme

Hearing focuses on legislation promoting physical education


ObituariesMarguerite G. Chisholm,

98, of Westborough. Taught in the Newton Public Schools. June 2.

Marcelle “Marcy” Closson, 86, of Brimfield. Taught fourth grade at Burgess Elementary School in Sturbridge for many years. July 27.

Julia D. “Daisy” Cunning-ham, 88, of Lowell. Taught fourth grade at the Shaughnessy School in Lowell. June 7.

Edna “Libby” Dockstader, 86, of Hopkinton. Was a second-grade teacher at Hemmingway Elementary School in Framingham for more than 25 years. July 21.

Joseph S. Durkin, 84, of Northborough. Was principal of West Brookfield Elementary School and Woodward School in Southborough. Was a former direc-tor of field services for the MTA. July 16.

Margaret M. Farrell, 83, of Marshfield. Taught in Scituate schools for 20 years, retiring in 1978. June 29.

Marsha A. Gilbride, 58, of Fitchburg. Taught music for more than 20 years in Fitchburg, most recently at the Academy Middle School. June 29.

Jane S. Hennelly, 83, of Lenox. Worked in the Pittsfield Public Schools for 36 years, retir-ing in 1983. July 6.

Janet Horacek, 87, of Hamp-den. Was a school nurse in the Wilbraham Public Schools for more than 20 years, retiring in 1974. June 4.

Grace B. Kiernan, 77, of Taunton. Taught at Norton High School for more than 40 years. June 8.

Florence R. Kilbride, of Worcester. Taught at the Bryn Mawr School in Auburn for 16 years before retiring. July 2.

Carolann Marsters, 70, of Marblehead. Taught at several schools, including the Rhodes, Story and Glover schools, until her retirement in 1991. June 15.

Barbara F. Myrick, 85, of Marlborough. Taught at Hudson High School, Wachusett Regional High School and Framingham North High School for over 20 years, retiring in 1982. June 19.

Maria C. Nigro, 72, of Ev-erett. Taught in the Everett Public Schools. Was principal of the Lafayette School and the Centre School, from which she retired in 1993. July 13.

Theresa M. Poirier, 79, of Marlborough. Taught third grade at the Richer Elementary School in Marlborough. July 21.

Martha Tamulynas, 51, of Marshfield. Taught in the Medford Public Schools for 10 years, then for the Londonderry, N.H., school system for four years. For the past 11 years, taught third grade at Eames Way School in Marshfield. May 30.

Antoinette T. Testa, 99, of Marlborough. Taught first grade for 47 years at the Mitchell School. July 10.

T he Attleboro Education Association is inviting

educators from throughout the state to participate in the Rome Boule-vard Road Race. The race — run by the AEA with support from the police and firefighters’ associations — will begin at 9:35 a.m. Sept. 30 at Attleboro High School.

All proceeds will be donated to the Attleboro schools to help with various fees and scholarships for students whose families cannot afford them.

For entry forms or more information on fees, awards, categories and sponsorship, visit the AEA Web site, http://attleboro.massteacher.org; e-mail [email protected]; or call 508.226.1436.

Proceeds of road race will help students


MTA Benefi ts

Just for members!Exciting new Benefi ts & Discount Directory lists over 1,000 places to save

P acked with exclusive discounts, the 2007-2008 MTA Benefi ts & Discount Directory offers members an opportunity to save up to thou-

sands of dollars a year — and more.You’ll fi nd new programs — such as discounted

MTA Vacations and Flexible Rewards — and a long list of other valuable programs that include insur-ance, personal fi nance and more.

This year’s discount directory includes more than 120 new names, such as Brooks Brothers, Martial Arts Institute of the Berkshires, Westfi eld Health & Fitness, Porter Square Books, Lowell Devils Hockey, Jacob’s Pil-low Dance Festival and the Governor Sprague Mansion.

Check these out, along with the rest of the more than 1,000 places listed in the directory. You’ll fi nd plenty of ways you can save all year long.

‘I love the benefi ts program. I use my MTA card at least two weekends a month to visit historic sites.’

— Bobby SmithBrockton Education Association

E xotic destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Bermuda and other warm-weather

places are featured in the new MTA Vacations program through TNT Vacations.

MTA members can now en-joy the ambience of white-sand beaches, lush tropical land-scapes and more at special discounted prices. Members will receive an extra 5 percent discount off all vacation packages with no blackout dates at www.MTAvacations.com.

Other member opportunities include access to additional monthly specials that offer up to 50 percent off brochure prices.

“TNT is a locally owned and operated travel organization that knows how to respond to the lifestyle and schedules of educators,” said Maryann Robinson, MTA Benefi ts marketing manager. “Its specialties include trips oriented to school vaca-tions and family getaways. We’re delighted to present MTA Vacations through TNT Vacations.”

To fi nd out more, call the MTA Vacations Hot Line: 800.940.6541.

Destination:ParadiseNew programoffers discountson vacations

joy the ambience

M TA members can now enroll year- round for the MTA Dental Insurance Plan, which previously offered

enrollment only in October.Underwritten by MetLife, the plan offers

a larger-than-ever selection of dentists and op-tions. The policy year, which begins Oct. 1, will refl ect no increase in rates.

Members can select from fi ve plans, based on their needs, preferences and dentists. One of the plans, the MetLife Preferred Dental Provid-er, expanded its network by 11 percent last year in Massachusetts, offering members more than 2,900 dentists from whom to choose. More than 99,000 dentists are in PDP nationwide.

The MTA Dental Plan also offers the free-

dom to choose dentists who do not participate in MetLife’s PDP. It is important for members to determine whether their dentist is already in the PDP program before they make their choice. The Vision Discount Plan* is included with the MTA Dental Plan at no additional cost.

MTAB also offers discount dental plans.To enroll or get more information, call

MTA Benefi ts at 800.336.0990 or visit www.mtabenefi ts.com.

*The Vision Discount Plan, Vision One Eyecare Program®, is offered by Cole Vision Corporation (d/b/a Cole Managed Vision), Twinsburg, Ohio. Cole Vision Corporation is not affi liated with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company or its affi liates.

Enrollment now year-round for MTA Dental Plan

Imagine what you can do with your Flexible Rewards

A No-cost Flexible Rewards program is one of the exciting features enjoyed by users of the MTA Platinum Visa® Card.

With this program, you earn one point for every dollar you spend with your MTA Visa card. After your fi rst 1,000 points, you can se-lect from hundreds of travel, cash, merchandise and gift-card awards — everything from a Mar-riott Cheque to a Sharper Image® gift certifi cate.

“The card is custom designed for MTA members and their families — from its look to the special features for educators,” said Alan Kappauf, relationship management at Chase Card Services. “For example, members can skip payments in the vacation months of June, July, August and December with no penalty.”

Other advantages include such features as a 0 percent introductory rate, no annual fee, a generous credit card line, balance transfer sav-ings, extra cards at no extra cost and an educator hot line that provides service 24/7.

“We’ve had a very special relationship with MTA Benefi ts since 1998,” said Kappauf. “By working together closely, we’ve come up with a credit card program that has real value for MTA members.”

For information on the new No-cost Flexible Rewards program and all the features offered by an MTA Visa card, call 800.336.0990, ext. 7002, or visit www.mtabenefi ts.com.

‘I like having the advantages of an MTA Platinum Visa card, especially the Flexible Rewards program,’ says Tina Buonomo of the Malden Education Association.


Lawrence Stevenson, a 14-year-old from Dorchester who attended the Lincoln School from kindergarten on and is now a freshman at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, agreed that he has more work than many of his Boston friends, but he’s not com-plaining.

“I know that all this work is going to help me in the long run,” he said. “People ask me why I go to Metco and not Boston, and I just

say, ‘It’s a good opportunity for me, and I wouldn’t want to pass it by.’”

Lawrence, inspired by a social studies teacher who organized a mock trial around the Boston Mas-sacre, says his goal is to become a lawyer or public speaker.

“At Lincoln I participate in a lot of activities,” he said. “I play basketball in the winter, and I’m also an actor.” He has appeared in all school plays since sixth grade and played Romeo in Romeo and Juliet.

Asked if there was any down-side to being in the program, he said: “When I was in kindergarten it was kind of awkward at first. I really didn’t understand why I was being thrown into this school with people from another race. Later on I came to find out it’s a really, really good program, and I was so happy to be a part of it.” If Metco is abolished, he said, he will be “devastated.”

The attrition rate for the pro-gram is very low, and the successes are measurable. Students who participate in Metco have signifi-cantly higher test scores, gradua-tion rates and college attendance rates than students in the Boston Public Schools, though no stud-ies have been done controlling for demographics. The percentage of Metco students who qualify for free- and reduced-price lunches is much higher than the levels in the suburbs, but is lower than in Bos-ton and Springfield.

T here is a cost to suburban districts for participating in Metco, though how

high it is remains in dispute. When community opposition arises, it’s usually about the money.

Metco, funded by the Legis-lature, provides about $4,000 per student, plus an additional allot-ment in Chapter 70 funds. This combination generally falls far short of the receiving districts’ per-pupil expenditures, which often exceed $10,000. However, Brand-meyer, the Lincoln superintendent, said that the true costs can’t be calculated simply by multiplying per-pupil costs by the number of kids enrolled. After all, he said, just adding a few students from Boston to each classroom does not increase the number of administrators or af-fect the fixed costs of the building.

Gina Halsted, a Lincoln parent and taxpayer, said she believes the benefits far outweigh any costs. She and her husband decided to move to Lincoln when they relo-cated from New York in the 1990s in part because they were pleased to see children of color when they visited the Lincoln School.

“We didn’t know why Lincoln had so many children of color, but

we were happy to see that they were there,” she said. Her sons, now 15 and 13, have made friends with many Metco students over the years.

“No matter what line of work my children choose to go into — whether they go into teaching, the medical field, science, the cor-porate world, or wherever — they are going to have to be comfortable working with people who don’t look like them,” Halsted said.

“It’s been great for my kids to see that a family can be perfectly happy in an urban environment,” she added. “They may not be able to play volleyball or soccer in the backyard as we can in Lincoln, but they have different things they can do, such as walk to the movies, play basketball at the Boys & Girls Club, listen to different music, learn different types of dancing. It’s not only racial diversity, but ur-ban-suburban diversity that Metco brings. The exposure is fantastic.”

Lawrence’s mother, Donna Ste-venson, agrees and is grateful for the advantages Metco has provided her two sons. Her oldest, she noted, is now in law school.

“I had the idea to send my kids to Metco because back in the 1990s my husband was killed,” she said. “I felt like all this stuff was going on, and I wanted a change for my kids. I knew I didn’t have the edu-cational background to help them. I wanted them to know, ‘There are other things out there for you, and I want you to want that.’

“I told them, ‘Being in this program is an honor. Don’t go into these towns thinking, I can do this or that, and take it for granted. If you don’t do the work, you can get up from that seat and give someone else a chance. You have to get an education so that you can go improve yourself,’” Stevenson said.

Lawrence said his mother’s message came through loud and clear, and he has never taken the program for granted.

The unanswered question now is whether Metco and similar programs will exist in the future. If not, will our schools become even more separate and less “equal” than they are today?

‘I know that all this work is going to help me in the long run. People ask me why I go to Metco and not Boston, and I just say, ‘It’s a good opportunity for me, and I wouldn’t want to pass it by.’’

—Student Lawrence Stevenson

Continued from Page 7

Metco experience helps students succeed



students. Under current federal law, states that offer in-state tuition to immigrants who are residents must provide the same discounted rates to immigrants from out of state. The DREAM Act would repeal this language, removing a barrier for individual legislatures seeking to offer tuition relief for immigrants who have established residency.

At the 2006 Annual Meeting, MTA delegates endorsed the state Education Opportunity Act, which would allow immigrant students who have attended a Massachusetts high school for three years and graduated to pay in-state tuition at one of the state’s many public colleges or the University of Massachusetts. Meghelli said the Peace and Justice Caucus is teaming up with other groups to pass the state legislation, which was re-filed this year under a new name, the Education Parity Act.

“The state legislation is just one piece,” Meghelli said. “Once these students complete their studies, they will continue to struggle if they are permitted to attend state schools at the same tuition rates as other state residents, but then cannot use their education to seek gainful employment because of their immigration status.”

Meghelli said she opposes the clause in the current version of the DREAM Act that allows students to earn special immigration relief in exchange for military service rather than a previous version that provided an option for students to complete community service.

DREAM Act would help students

O ne of MTA’s divisions has changed its name, but the staffing and

mission remain the same. The division formerly known as the Center for Educational Quality and Professional Development is now named the Center for Education Policy and Practice.

“The new name more accurately reflects the work of our

center, which is to make sure the teacher voice is heard on policy issues and to improve teaching practices, especially whole-school practices with regard to

the implementation of education reform,” said Kathleen Skinner, CEPP director.

Among other functions, CEPP staff members monitor

the actions of the Board of Education, advise the Department of Education on accountability, licensing, induction and other professional issues and provide MTA members with professional development workshops and guidance at the local level.

“The new name is shorter, and, quite frankly, easier to remember,” Skinner said.

New name a reflection of MTA center’s mission


RA delegates hear from candidates, flood Congress with calls on NCLB

Members of the Massachusetts delegation applaud during the NEA Representative Assembly. The RA was held in Philadelphia in July.

Photo by Bill Guy

W henNationalEducation AssociationPresident RegWeavertoldmore

than9,000educatorsattheRep-resentativeAssemblytotakeouttheircellphonesandcallCongressabouttheNoChildLeftBehindact,itdidn’ttakelongforlawmak-erstogetthemessage.

Afewminuteslater,Weavertoldthecrowdthatacongressionalstaffmemberansweringthephoneshadjoked:“Ifyou’recallingfromNEA,we’vealreadyheardfromeverybodythere.”

“DelegatesleavePhiladelphiatoday knowing their firsthand ex-perienceswithNCLBwereheardloudandclearbyeightpresidentialcandidatesandmembersofCon-gress,”WeaversaidastheRAdrewtoacloseonJuly5.“NEAmem-bersfromall50statesareheadinghome, and they’re fired up to influ-enceNCLBreauthorizationandtomakesureafriendofpubliceduca-tionheadstotheWhiteHouse.”

TheNEAdelegateswereaddressedbysevenDemocraticpresidentialcandidates:JoeBiden,HillaryClinton,ChrisDodd,JohnEdwards,DennisKucinich,BarackObamaandBillRichardson.TheyalsoheardfromGOPcandidateMikeHuckabee,whowastheonlyRepublicantorespondtoNEA’sin-vitationtoaddresstheconvention.

MTAPresidentAnneWass,oneoftheMassachusettsdelegatestotheRA,saidthathearingfromthecandidateswasthehighlightofthegathering.

“It was really exciting, and theirspeechesenergizedthehall,”shesaid.“Itisverygratifyingtoknowthatsomanycandidatesrecognizehowimportanteducatorsareasaconstituency.”

WassaddedthatshewaspleasedtohaveBaljeetGhale,presidentofBritain’sNationalUnionofTeachers,attendtheRAasMTA’sguest.Ghalereturnedto

theU.S.inAugusttoattendMTA’sSummerConferenceinWilliam-stown,whereshespokeduringtheopeningsessionandparticipatedinaforumoneducationissuesaroundtheworld.

D uringhiskeynoteaddress totheRAdelegates, Weaverannouncedthat

theassociationwasembarkingonanationaleducationinitiativethatwould seek to close tax loopholes

tostrengthenthenation’sinvest-mentineducationatalllevels.TheExtension Service for Knowledge, InformationandDevelopment,orKIDs,ismodeledafterthesuccess-ful Agriculture Extension Pro-gram.Theprogramwouldincludedesignatedresearchcentersatstateuniversities,whichwouldprovidegrassrootssupporttolocalschoolsandbusinesses.

Tomaketheprogramareal-ity,theNEAplanstoreachoutto

Congressandeverysegmentofthebusinesscommunity.

Weaveralsopresentedwhathedescribedasan“EducationBillofRights.”HetoldtheNEAdelegatesthatthe10-pointNEAcommitmenttopublicschoolstudentswould“guaranteethebasicrightofeverystudentinAmericatoaqualityeducation.”

AspartoftheRA,associa-tionleadersunveiledaprogramtoengageminoritycommunities.JoiningNEAtoannouncetheim-plementationofthenewinitiativewereMayorAntonioVillaraigosaofLosAnglesandformerDenverMayorWellingtonE.Webb.

OtherhighlightsoftheRA:n NEAESPoftheYear

VeronicaHendersonstressedtheneedforlivingwagesforallschoolemployees.

n NationalTeacheroftheYearAndreaPeterson,anelementaryschoolmusicteacher,deliveredaninspiring speech full of examples ofhowmusiceducationhasposi-tivelyaffectedherstudents.

n Morethan300collegestudentsandeducatorspickedupshovelsanddugintogiveGotwalsElementarySchoolinNorristown,Pa.,amuchneededfacelift.

n AsanactofappreciationforeffortstobringaveryrarecopyofMagnaCartatotheUnitedStates,theLincolnCathedralunveiledastonecolumnnamedafterWeaver.

“NEAismadeupof3.2mil-lioninformed,passionateeducatorswhoarealsoeducationvoters,”Weaversaid.“Theyareleadersintheirschoolsandintheircommu-nities,andthisweektheymadeitcleartothepresidentialcandidatesthat they’ll be taking their first-hand classroom experiences to the polls.”

For more information, visit http://www.nea.org/annualmeeting/raaction/07keynote.html.

Weaver begins new term as Education International vice president

NEAPresidentRegWeaverbeganhissecondtermasvicepresidentofEduca-

tionInternationalwithavowtohelpbringeducatorsaroundtheglobetogetheraroundtheprincipleofensuringgreatpublicschoolsforallstudents.

Weaverwaselectedtothefour-yeartermbyacclamationontheopeningdayoftheWorldCon-

gressofEI,whichcomprises348member-organizationsrepresent-ingmorethan29millioneduca-tionworkersin169countries.ThecongresswasheldinBerlininlateJuly.

“Justaswebelievethateverystudentshouldhaveaccesstoagreatpublicschool,sodoourcol-leaguesacrosstheglobe,”Weaversaid.“Butmorethanthat,justas

wedo,theybelievethatthisaccessisabasicright.”

GermanPresidentHorstKöhleropenedthecongresswithaspeechthatvoicedathemesimilartotheNEApresident’scallforagreatpublicschoolforeverychild.

“Agoodeducationisnotjustaquestionofluck,”saidKöhler,addressingthecrowdof1,700delegates.“It’sahumanright.It’sa

rightforallofus.”Duringhisopeningaddress,

EI President Thulas Nxesi, of the SouthAfricaDemocraticTeachers’Union,offeredacallforunityandactivism.

“Wearealleducators,weareallworkers—regardlessofanydifferenceincolororcreed—andwefacecommonchallenges,”hesaid.


G reenparkMortgage recentlydonated$5,000 toTheMassachusetts

Child,acharitablecorporationestablishedbytheMassachusettsTeachersAssociationtohelplocalscometotheaidofstudentsinneedofextrasupport.

PaulGershkowitz,presidentoftheNeedham-basedGreenparkMortgageCorporation,whichistheexclusivehomemortgageproviderof MTA Benefits, said that his com-panymakesapracticeofdonating

tocharitablecauses—especiallythoseinvolvingchildren—onaregularbasis.

“AtGreenpark,wevalueagoodbalanceinlife,”hesaid.“Weenjoyworkingwithoneanother,supportingoneanother,andwedoourbesttogivebacktothecommunity—especiallywhenitcomestohelpingkids.”

AlanJacobson,presidentofTheMassachusettsChild,saidthedonationwillgoalongwaytohelppublicschoolstudentsinshort-term

Bush on NCLB: vouchers, charters and weaker unions

I ncaseyouwerewondering abouttheBushadministra- tion’slong-termagendafor

theNoChildLeftBehindact,wondernomore.

TherespectedjournalEducation Weeksummarizedtheadministration’splansforhowtoamendthelawinarecentfront-pagearticle(“TurnaroundsCentralIssueUnderNCLB,”June20,2007).

“Thecenterpieceoftheadministration’splanwouldbetoofferupto$4,500apieceinvouchersforstudentsattendingschoolsintheso-calledrestruc-turingphase—theonesthathavefailedtomake[AdequateYearly Progress] for five consec-utiveyears—togotoprivateschools,”thearticlestates.

“TheBushplanalsowouldgive local officials new gover-nanceoptions,suchasallowingthemtoexceedstates’capsonthenumberofcharterschoolsorlettingamayortakecontrolofatargetedschool,”Educa-tion Weekadds.“Italsowouldgive local officials the authority toignoreprovisionsofcol-lectivebargainingagreementswithteachers’unionsandotherswhen the officials design school improvementplans.”

Greenpark donation gives boost to MTA charitycrisis.Thecharityprovidesmatch-inggrantstolocalassociationstoaddressstudents’immediateeducational,medicalorclothingneeds.

Thematchinggrantprogramisona“costs-shared”basis,whichmeansthatlocalassociationswillreceivereimbursementfor80percentoftheamountspentoncereceiptsforthequalifyingprojectaresubmit-tedandapproved.Localsusethemoneytopayforvariousexpenses,

includingbasicmedicaloreyeexams,dentalprocedures,

educational field trips or outerwear.

“GreenparkMort-gageisamodelforothercompaniesandcorpora-

tionsthatwanttogetinvolvedwitheducatorsthroughtheMTAandmakeadifferenceforchildren,”Jacobsonsaid.“I’dliketoperson-allythankGreenparkprincipalsPaulGershkowitzandPatriciaO’MearaforsupportingTheMas-sachusettsChild.”

GershkowtizandO’MearafoundedGreenparkMortgagein2001.Gershkowitzrecentlyrodein his fifth Pan-Mass Challenge, raisingthousandsofdollarsfortheJimmyFund.

MatchinggrantapplicationsforTheMassachusettsChildarebeingmailedtolocals.Theyarealsoavailableatmassteacher.orgorbycalling617.878.8265.ApplicationsmustbecompletedandreturnedbyNov.1.


TheInternationalReadingAssociationisseekingnominationsforanannualawardthathonorsanelementaryorsecondaryschoolthathasenhancedstudentliteracylearningthroughimprovedinstructionandprograms.

PastwinnersoftheExemplaryReadingAwardhavebeenrecognizedfordesigningandimplementinginitiativessuchasacomprehensiveandbalancedliteracymodel;aK-2assessment-drivenguidedreadingprogram;curriculummapping,strategicplanningandimplementation; unification of professional development, assessment-based instruction and communityinput;andsupportandprofessionaldevelopmentformiddleschoolcontentteachersinliteracyskills.

ApplicationsarewelcomeuntilNov.15.TheselectedschoolisrecognizedattheMassachusettsReadingAssociationconference

inSturbridgeinthespringandisinvitedtomakeapresentationattheInternationalReadingAssociation’sannualconference.

Forinformation,calltheInternationalReadingAssociationat800.336.7323orvisitwww.reading.org.Goto“awardsandgrants,”then“exemplaryreadingaward”andclickon“application.”

QuestionscanalsobesenttocoordinatorYvonneGunzburgeratyvgunz@aol.com.

Nominations sought for reading award

By Bob Duffy

WhiletheBostonCelticsmadebignewsbyacquiringsuperstarKevinGarnettinamidsummertrade,the

MTAwasalsomakingablockbusterdealwiththeCelts:addingpointguardRajonRondotoitsrosterofeducationalrolemodels.

Asschoolsopentheirdoorsforthenewaca-demicyear,theMTAisteamingupwithRondotorewardstudentachievementthroughtheMTABostonCelticsHonorRollprogram,whichisbeingsponsoredbyVerizonFios.Lettersde-scribingtheprogramwillbesenttoprincipals,along with certificates that can be redeemed for ticketsthatwillallowselectedstudentstoattendgamesforfree.

Rondo,asecond-yearpointguardfortheCeltics,willbefeaturedonpostersandpublicserviceannouncementspromotingtheprogram.

“Schoolwasveryimportanttome,”RondotoldMTA Today.“IthelpedmegettowhereIamnow,soIamveryexcitedaboutbeingaspokespersonforthisprogram.”

Thehonorrollprogramisanexpandedversionoflastyear’sCeltics3.0initiativeforstudentsinkindergartenthroughgradeeight.

Thisyear,theprogramisopentoallstu-dentsinkindergartenthroughgrade12.InadditiontorewardingstudentswhomaintainaBaverage,schoolsacrossthestatecanchooseto award certificates based on criteria such as perfectattendanceormarkedimprovement.Thecertificates can be redeemed on a first-come, first-served basis for tickets to a series of games throughouttheseason,subjecttoavailability.

A certificate also entitles a winner’s family andfriendstopurchaseandreserveadditionalseatstothesamegame,alsosubjecttoavail-ability. Each person redeeming a certificate for afreegamemustbeaccompaniedbyapayingadult.

For further information, call Jillian Paine at 617.854.8064, visit celtics.com or e-mail [email protected].

Celtics star hits the court for MTA honor roll program

Your Web link to news and

member advocacy

www.massteacher.org

Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo poses with students during a photo session for a poster promoting the honor roll program. From left to right are Shani Walker, a student at Franklin High School; Jack Barry, a student at the Oak Street School in Shrewsbury; Kelvin Valdez, a student at Haverhill High School; and Kristen Walker, Shani’s sister, who also attends Franklin High School.

Photo by Rick Friedman


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Negotiations continue for higher ed contracts

A number of MTA higher education affiliatesremainedengagedincontract talkswiththestateBoardofHigher

EducationandtheUniversityofMassachusettsadministrationasMTA Todaywenttopress.Thetalksinvolvedeightunitsrepresentingabout6,000full-andpart-timeemployeesatUMassandthestatecolleges.

Thetalkswereexpectedtoproduceone-yeardealsretroactivetoJuly1,2007.

“Weareontracktoreachone-yearsettle-mentsforeachofthesehigheredunitsandarelookingtothenextroundofnegotiationsto

makecomprehensiveandsignificantimprove-mentstotheworkinglivesoftheseMTAmem-bers,”MTAHigherEducationDirectorArthurPipposaid.

TheaffectedunitsincludetheClassifiedStaffUnionatUMass-Boston;theClassified/TechnicalUnionatUMass-Lowell;GrantandContractFundedEmployeesatUMass-Low-ell;theMassachusettsStateCollegeAssocia-tion,whichrepresentsfacultyandlibrariansatBridgewater,Fitchburg,Framingham,Salem,WestfieldandWorcesterstatecolleges,aswellastheMassachusettsCollegeofArt,theMassa-

chusettsCollegeofLiberalArtsandtheMassa-chusettsMaritimeAcademy;theMassachusettsSocietyofProfessorsandFacultyStaffUnionatUMass-AmherstandUMass-Boston;theMassachusettsSocietyofProfessors-LowellatUMass-Lowell;theMaintenance/TradesUnionatUMass-Lowell;theProfessionalStaffUnionatUMass-AmherstandUMass-Boston;andtheUniversityStaffAssociationatUMass-Amherst.

Negotiationsforthenextroundofcontractsareexpectedtobeginafterthefirstoftheyear.

For updates on the contract negotiations, please visit www.massteacher.org.



During the State House ceremony, she asked all of the educators whom she had worked with over the years to stand and be recognized. O’Halloran thanked them for “encouraging inde-pendence and creativity in teaching” and for showing her “how to engage children in learning.”

“I also especially want to thank the guides at our museums and national parks because they open wide the doors to the past, and Mas-sachusetts is full of endless treasures,” O’Halloran said.

History honoreepraises colleagues

N ineteen schools, 14 of them in districts where educators are represented

by the MTA, have been approved for state Expanded Learning Time grants this fall and will extend their school days by 25 percent.

Staff in these schools are paid for the additional time they work.

The new grants add 10 schools to those that opened last fall. Col-lectively, these schools will educate more than 10,000 students.

The MTA has supported the ELT initiative because it is a pilot project and can only move forward with teacher and local association approval. All of the schools that received grants last fall reapplied for renewal grants this year, with the exception of the N.B. Borden School in Fall River, which was closed for unrelated reasons. Stu-dents at that school will be trans-ferred to the Osborn Street School, which is also an ELT school.

U nder the ELT grant program, schools may design their own sched-

ules, but must include additional time for academics, enrichment and teacher collaboration. The longer day adds approximately one and one-half hours to the length of the school day.

“Redesigning the school day is no easy task, but it is the right thing to do for our children,” Education Commissioner David Driscoll said in a press release issued in July. “Our children need more time in school to learn the tools they will need to succeed in school and beyond.”

It is too early to know whether the longer day will translate into higher test scores, better retention and graduation rates, increased col-lege attendance or other indicators

of improved achievement among students who participate.

Last spring, the MTA surveyed teachers at the N.B. Borden school for an article in MTA Today and

found widespread support among the small staff there. Nearly nine out of 10 said they would support continuation of the ELT program at their school, including all of the

teacher respondents and all but two of the ESP respondents.

This fall’s ELT schools will be located in Boston, Cambridge, Chicopee, Fall River, Fitchburg, Greenfield, Malden, Worcester and probably Lynn.

The strong interest from urban communities suggests that the lon-ger day may be a harder sell in the suburbs, where many stu-dents already participate in enrich-ment activities in the after-school hours.

Expanded Learning Time initiative widensThe strong interest from urban communities suggests that the longer day may be a harder sell in the suburbs, where many students already participate in enrichment activities in the after-school hours.


Paul Reville

“Accountability is not going away — that’s a legitimate demand by the public to understand that they are getting some return on the investment that they are making in schools in terms of student learn-ing,” he said. “Some people think if they duck down long enough, it too shall pass. But real teacher leaders, to my mind the leaders of the MTA, know ac-countability is here and are part of the conversa-tion.”

Reville said that while it is too soon for him to outline his agenda, his first order of business is to restart the search for a new state education commissioner following the Aug. 31 retirement of David Driscoll, who had held the post since 1999. While an interim commissioner has been named and a search firm chosen, the process has been stalled for months.

Reville plans to continue serv-ing as president of the Cambridge-based Rennie Center for Education

& Research, an independent policy and research organization focused on preK-12 public education. He will also remain a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Edu-cation.

Reville spent a great deal of his childhood in Longmeadow and

has lived in Worcester since 1975. He has six children, ranging in age from 5 to 28. Two of them attend the Worcester Public Schools.

“You now have a board, a governor and, I think, a Legis-lature that say, ‘We want to hear your voice,’” Reville said. “We don’t want to be naive, simplistic

kinds of policy people who go on assumptions or stereotypes or the last three people we happen to have talked to, or the pushing and pulling of interest groups, to make policy. We want to know what actually is going to make a differ-ence here because we are focused on student learning.”

Reville: Accountability ‘is not going away’Continued from Page 11

In his own wordsOn the Education Reform Act of 1993:

“While we’ve achieved some remarkable gains and hit some proud benchmarks — particularly relative to other states — we still have troubling, persisting achievement gaps.”

On testing data:

“We shouldn’t just be about collecting data for ‘gotcha’ purposes. We should get data that is going to help teachers be more effective in targeting their work.”

On MCAS:

“Multiple measures is one of those things that’s easier said than done, at least at the level of state education policy ... which doesn’t mean that I don’t think it isn’t something worth considering or thinking about.”

On being a teacher in Massachusetts:

“I think there is a commitment here from the governor on down to doing even better than we’ve done so far. This is a particularly opportune time because I think teachers are being looked to for guidance on how we improve the capacity of schools to do the job, this ambitious job that we’ve set for ourselves, of educating all students to high standards.”


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THE PHILOSOPHY FOUNDATION is offering a new course, “Socrates Meets Road Rage.” Learn how to bring ancient wisdom to your busy life through simple techniques to be-come more efficient and peaceful and improve your relationships. Try our free Thursday evening open houses or Saturday workshops. For information, visit www.philosophyfoundation.org or call 781.647.0020.

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NOW HIRING Part-time after-school staff to teach fun and games in New-ton, Mass., three to five days a week. Send resume to [email protected].

FIELD TRIPS

IN-SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS — Social studies presentation and hands-on workshops. “Hands-on Geogra-phy” (e.g., 4th-grade focus on U.S. regions); Ancient civilizations archaeology, Greece; China; Pioneers; Columbus. Workshops for educators: geography, primary sources, biology. Carol Cohen, Now Voyager Educational Programs: www.nved.com, 781.784.5197 or [email protected].

TRAVEL

2008 GROUP TRAVEL — April 25-May 3, Tulip Time River Cruise through Holland and Belgium, high-light Keukenhog Gardens, $2,849. Aug. 15-23, NCL Hawaii 4-Island Cruise, $2,315. Sept. 6-16, Scotland and Ireland, Edinburgh to Shannon with everything in between. Includes Air/Meals/Tours/Hotels/Cruise. Don’t travel alone! Travel with us! Call Seabrook Travel Center, 800.459.9080.

EUROPE FEB. VACATIONS — Award-winning inclusive vaca-tions. Five-night Rome City stay Feb. 17-23rd or seven-night Sorrento, five-night Sorrento/two-night Rome Feb. 16-24th. Group leaders: We offer winter, spring and summer 2008 competitive group bids. Call Durgan Travel at 781.438.2224, or 800.234.9959 or visit www.durgantravel.com.

RETIRED TEACHERS — Durgan Travel, an award-winning Europe tour operator, has full schedule of all/mostly-inclusive vacations. September through May 2008, including Xmas markets, and Rose Parade New Year’s. The highest-value/best-priced tours plus individual arrangements are available now.

Call Durgan Travel at 781.438.2224, or 800.234.9959 or visit www.durgantravel.com.

APRIL SCHOOL VACATION TOURS — Award-winning inclusive vacations. Tuscan vacations or Rome, Florence, Venice; Taormina, Sicily; Greece w/four-night cruise. Custom group promotions (domestic or international); cruises (group rates for individuals); competitive bids for groups (winter/spring/summer) spe-cial group/leader promotions. Call Durgan Travel at 781.438.2224, or 800.234.9959 or visit www.durgantravel.com.

SICILY WITH PETER & ELLIE SANTOS, FEB 16-24, 2008 — Taormina, Mt. Etna, Siracusa, Agrigento, Palermo and more. Please call us for a flier at 413.567.3046, e-mail [email protected] or see www.crocker.com/~santos.

CHOIRS, ORCHESTRAS, CULTURAL TOURS are some of the C-tours specialties. Imagine the experience of a lifetime as your stu-dents perform in other cultures. Call us at 877.595.6027 or e-mail us at [email protected].

IRELAND-FEBRUARY — School vacation — 9 days visiting Dublin, Killarney, Blarney, Galway and more, round-trip Aer Lingus, excellent ho-tels, breakfast daily, luxury coach, and the joy of travel with America’s best tour guide. $1,479 per person double-occupancy. For more information, e-mail: [email protected].

VACATION RENTALS

FOR RENT KISSIMMEE CONDO — 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 4 miles from Disney. Sleeps 8. Handicap-acces-sible. $75/night. E-mail [email protected] for availability.

LOON MT. LUXURY CONDOS — 3 bedrooms, 3 baths. Sleeps 8-12. All amenities: linens, pool, Jacuzzi, saunas, health club, gas fireplace and central air. Award-winning winter and summer resort. In the heart of the White Mountain National Forest and Franconia Notch. Call Bob @ 978.686.1568 or e-mail [email protected].

RENT MARSHFIELD OCEAN-FRONT — September 2007-June 2008: Commute to any South Shore town; family or adult group welcome;

new renovation — 5 bedrooms, 2 full baths, spacious open living areas; fully furnished and appliances incl. washer/dryer, dishwasher. No smok-ing. $1,800 mo. & utilities. Call Annette at 508.339.8262.

CAPE COD, OCEAN EDGE RESORT, Brewster, MA. — Perfect vacation resort setting. Spacious, nicely appointed villa, spiral staircase to large loft; 2 baths, sleeps 6. Excel-lent location within resort, steps from indoor/outdoor pools, tennis. Nearby beaches, shopping, bike trails and more. Available summer weekly, off-season spring/fall weeks or weekends. 413.594.4056.

WATERBORO, ME. — Cottage, 3-BR, kitchen, bath, LR, near seashore and mountains. Across street from lake. $500/wk, $250 long weekend. May-Oct. 978.546.7580.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Beautiful oceanfront 3-BR, 2-BA condo with a breathtaking view and many ameni-ties. Please call 508.238.1308 for rates and availability.

CAPE COD WEST YARMOUTH — Colonial Acres Resort on Nan-tucket Sound. Sleeps 4, 8/2-8/9, 8/9-8/16. Call for price and details 781.335.6849.

NAPLES, FLORIDA, CONDO — Royalwood golf and country club, 2-BR, 2-BA, full kitchen, living room, dining room, lanai, pool, much more. Short distance to beaches. Rent $2,800 plus tax, monthly. Available, Jan., Feb., March. Bet-ter rental fee for more than 1-month stay. Call 978.372.6228 or e-mail [email protected].

JENSEN BEACH, FLORIDA — Oceanfront monthly rental for Dec., Jan., April. Fully furnished, newly renovated, 2/2 condo. No Smoking. Call Susan at 978.468.4657. $2,400 plus utilities.

WANTED

AVAILABLE TO CARE? — Our non-medical caregivers provide one-on-one support and interaction with the elderly to reduce feelings of isolation and depression. Join a team that makes a difference by simply caring. Home Instead Senior Care, 17 Offices throughout Massachusetts. Call the Norwell Office to learn more: 781.878.2994.

1-800-392-6175 | Extension 8265


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Genoveffa Grieci, the recipient of the 2007 MTA Human and Civil Rights Award, and Framingham Teachers Association Co-President Rosemary Jebari wave to the Fenway faithful prior to a game. Grieci, who was nominated for the award by Jebari due to her leadership in promoting opportunities for immigrant students, was the first educator recognized this year through the MTA Red Sox Most Valuable Educator program.

Rounding the bases for literacyAll players are winners as MTA Red Sox Reading Game completes seventh season

By Bob Duffy

Tensofthousandsofstudentspledgedtoreadhundredsofthousandsofbooksover

thesummer,settingthestageforanothersuccessfulseasonoftheMTARedSoxReadingGame.

Theresultwasawinforeveryoneinvolvedasthecollabora-tionbetweentheassociationandBoston’shometeamsmoothlyroundedthebasesforaseventhstraightyear.

“Thispartnershipisnoth-ingshortofaneducationalgrandslam,”saidMTAPresidentAnneWass.“It’sanimportantcatalystforstudentachievementandagreatwaytorecognizethegreatworkofeducatorsaroundthestate.”

Thecontestisdesignedtoen-courageeachstudentwhopartici-patestoreadninebookswhileonvacation—oneforeachpositionon the baseball field. This year, approximately30,000studentsingradeskindergartenthrougheightsentincardspledgingtoreadabout270,000books.

JasonVaritek,theSox’starcatcher,againservedastheleadspokespersonfortheprogram.

“Ireallybelieveinthepowerofreading,”Variteksaid.“Whatev-erprofessionyouarein,everythingisbasedonreading.”

Tokickoffthecontest,theMTAdistributedroughly700,000entryformsand20,000postersfea-turingVaritekreadingtoWallytheGreenMonster,theSox’mascot.The cards were filled in by the stu-dentsandreturnedtotheMTAtobeincludedinadrawingforprizes.

Asthecontestdrewtoaclose,about200studentsandeducatorswhowonticketsasaresultoftheirparticipationwereexpectedtobeonhandforanearlySeptembergameatFenwayPark.

“ThankstothesupportofIdearcMedia,whichfundsthispro-

gramthroughagrant,theMTARedSoxReadingGamehasbecomeourmostsuccessfulsummerliteracyinitiative,”saidWass.

InadditiontothefundingfromIdearc,thecontestreceivescontri-butionsfromThe Boston Globe,Saturn,BordersandtheNewEng-landSportsNetwork.

Recentresearchbuttresseswhateducatorshavelongknown—thatthemorekidsread,thebettertheydoinschool.Aground-breakingstudyfeaturedrecentlyinEducation Weekmagazineindicat-edthatalargepartofthereadingachievementgapbetweenstudentsofdifferentsocioeconomicback-

groundsrelatedtothereadingtheydidwhileawayfromschoolduringthesummer.

ProgramssuchastheMTARedSoxReadingGameplayakeyroleinencouragingstudentstokeepuptheirskillswhiletheyareawayfromschool.

Anothersegmentofthepart-nershipbetweentheMTAandtheteamistheMostValuableEduca-torProgram,whichrecognizeseducatorswhoarenominatedbystudents.

Whilethereadinggameisgearedtowardyoungerstudents,theMost

ValuableEducatorprogramisfocusedongradesninethrough12.StudentscannominateeducatorsforMVErecognitionbydownload-ingentryformsandwritingessaysof500wordsorless.

Theteachersoreducationsup-portprofessionalsselected—andthestudentswhonominatethem—receiveticketstoFenway.Thewinners are recognized on the field duringSaturdayhomegames.

The first MVE honoree to be cheeredbythefansthissummerwasGenoveffaGrieci,therecipientofthe2007MTAHumanandCivilRightsAward.GrieciheadsFram-inghamHighSchool’sEnglishasaSecondLanguageprogram.

For information on the MTA Red Sox Reading Game, the Most Valuable Educator program and the MTA Boston Celtics Honor Roll program, please pay a visit to www.readingmatters.org, a Web site that focuses on ways to help parents and communities raise suc-cessful readers. The reading game season is over for this year, but the program is expected to enter its eighth year in the spring of 2008. For information on the honor roll program, see the story on Page 26 of this edition of MTA Today.

‘This partnership is nothing short of an educational grand slam. It’s an important catalyst for student achievement and a great way to recognize the great work of educators around the state.’

—Anne Wass MTA president

Official Publication of the Massachusetts Teachers Association

Volume38,No.1August/September2007

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