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Statement by CFT President Marty Hittelman on national AFT President Randi Weingarten's Call to "Reinvest, Don't Disinvest"
The CFT, like the AFT, believes that the election of Barack Obama represents a clear call from the people of the United States for a change in direction for public education. In a major policy presentation to the National Press Club on November 17, American Federation of Teachers' President Randi Weingarten proposed that "With the exception of vouchers, which siphon scarce resources from public schools, no issue should be off the table, provided it is good for children and fair to teachers." Her address began with an acknowledgement of the state of the economy, but proposed that neither the economy nor public education could be strong if the other is weak. She specified three areas of traditional controversy—tenure, teacher assignments, and differentiated pay—on which the AFT welcomes discussion. Weingarten's speech also enumerated "ten smart investments" that would create the best possible educational opportunities for the country's children.
Weingarten's analysis of the deeply negative impact of "No Child Left Behind" on the ability of educators to deliver the high quality education experience their students deserve and need is proven every day in California classrooms. Teachers have been forced to abandon research-based, tried and true methods for crafting a holistic education, and replace them with narrowly teaching to tests. This situation has to be turned around, and Weingarten's policy proposals are a great place to start the discussion.
The CFT, a state affiliate of the AFT, believes that the election of Barack Obama represents a clear call for a change in direction in education policy making and we look forward to taking part in producing that change.
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