Interesting Perspective

Let me see if I've got this right. You want me to go into that room with all those kids, and fill their every waking moment with a love for learning.

Not only that, I'm to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, behaviorally modify disruptive behavior, and observe them for signs of abuse.

I am to fight racism, patriotism, the war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, check their backpacks for guns and raise their self-esteem.

I'm to teach them good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, how and where to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook and how to apply for a job, but I am never to ask if they are in this country illegally.

I am to check their heads occasionally for lice, maintain a safe environment, recognize signs of potential antisocial behavior, offer advice, write letters of recommendation for student employment and scholarships, encourage a respect for the cultural diversity of others, and, oh yeah, teach, always making sure that I give the girls in my class fifty percent of my attention.

I'm required by my contract to be working on my own time (summers and evenings) and at my own expense towards additional certification, advanced certification and a master's degree, to sponsor the cheerleaders or the sophomore class (my choice) and after school.

I am to attend committee and faculty meetings and participate in staff development training to maintain my current certification and employment status.

I am to be a paragon of virtue larger than life, such that my very presence will awe my students into being obedient and respectful of authority.

I am to purchase supplies, room decorations, bulletin board supplies, supplies for children who can't afford them, and luxury items such as scissors, glue, scotch tape, paper clips, note book paper, red pens, and markers with my own money as there is no money in the budget for these items.

I'm to do all of this with just a piece of chalk, a few books and a bulletin board, and on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps in many states.

Is that all?
Author Unknown

Only in America

Check out the "interesting" architecture at http://money.aol.com/mortgage/roadside-architecture.

Remembering OKC

On the 12th anniversary of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building, let us remember the 168 men, women and children who lost their lives.

May today be the beginning of the end of violence in our world.

Virginia Tech University

My thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted by this tragedy.

Honoring Jackie Robinson

In honor of the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color line in baseball, many players and some teams wore his jersey number, 42, during Sunday's games. You can get a recap of the activities at http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070415&content_id=1901218&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Ironically, I just finished a historical-fiction novel by Kevin King called "All the Stars Came Out that Night." The book is set in 1934 after the Cardinals' victory over the Tigers in the World Series. A game between major league players and members of the old Negro Leagues is secretly set up and played. While it's both interesting and entertaining, the book is for adults and fans of baseball.

Say NO to ABCTE Again

EMERGENCY ACTION NEEDED!

VOTE NO ON ABCTE AMENDMENT

On Tuesday an ABCTE amendment will be added to SB 481. This action will take place on the House Floor. Please contact your House member today or tomorrow morning and ask them to vote no on the ABCTE amendment.

ABCTE, the AnyBody Can Teach Everything program, allows unqualified people into our classrooms. The program has no GPA requirement, no formal recommendation required, no field observation or experience required, no student teaching experience required, no professional education coursework component, no portfolio requirement, and finally no residency year requirement.

This is an attack on teacher quality. Email your representatives today at
http://capwiz.com/nea/ok/state/main/?zip=73132&action=setaddr&view=myofficials&state=OK&submit=GO.

A $893 Raise is Not Equal to a $1200 Raise

Our members worked very hard to ensure they got the raise they were promised based on what happened in 2005.

In 2005, the Oklahoma Legislature passed a $1200 average salary increase for all teachers with
intent language that stated:

It is the intent of the Legislature that Fifty-seven Million Seven Hundred Seventy-four Thousand Four Hundred Forty-three Dollars ($57,774,443.00) of the new funds appropriated to school districts through the State Aid formula for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, be utilized by the districts for teacher salary increases in the interests of attaining the regional average.

RESULT: OKLAHOMA AVERAGE TEACHER PAY INCREASED $893

The 2006 Legislature passed a $3,000 + step salary increase for all teachers with
guarantee language:

The salary level of each state-paid teacher who was employed in a public school district during the 2005-06 school year shall be increased by at least Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) for the 2006-07 school year,. The salary increase provided for in this section shall be in addition to, and not as a re­placement for, the step increase indicated for the certified employee pursuant to the State Minimum Salary Schedule Oklahoma Statutes.

This year teachers received a $3325 raise compared to an average of $893 that was suppose to be $1200--when people tell you it was the OEA that got the raise for teachers, they are right.

Catoosa continued...

On March 30th, Catoosa teachers Michelle Means and Terry Newton won their board hearings and their jobs were not eliminated. While the victory is important to our teachers, the students of Michelle and Terry are the real winners.

For more information about the hearing, check the Tulsa World web page at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070330_238_A11_spanc25553&breadcrumb=Article%20Search.

Grassroots Lobbying Program

OEA's grassroots lobbying program was held in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City in an effort to meet the needs of the number of people interested in participating in the program. The program is designed to find people who are interested in becoming more actively involved in the legislative process when it comes to legislation that impacts education.

A variety of issues were presented to the groups on Saturday morning including OEA's current legislative agenda. Our members looked at research showing the impact of taxation, economic development and school funding all play in the success of our schools and state. They also discussed a number of issues and concerns with the reauthorization of the "No Child Left Behind Law" and NEA's positive agenda for change to be considered in the reauthoriztion talks.

It was another great meeting of our members coming together on a Saturday to learn about how they can make a difference in the legislative arena.

100 Ideas for Oklahoma

Despite severe weather in the Oklahoma City metro area, including a tornado, many concerned citizens attend the 100 Ideas Initiative for Oklahoma last Thursday evening. The meeting was held in Edmond at Westfield Elementary School where Speaker of the House Lance Cargill talked about the initiative and asked the attendees to be creative. The participants brainstormed in small groups and then presented their ideas, to the larger group, for a better Oklahoma through education. The Executive Director of the program, Thad Balkman, said the goal is to have the best 100 ideas put into book form and presented to the legislature.

The 100 Ideas Initiative is a nonpartisan project to solicit the best ideas for Oklahoma's second century. To learn more about the initiative, you can log onto the web page at
http://100ideasok.org/.