NYSUT leadership meeting April 27
Commencing Friday, April 27th our leadership of NYSUT a Union of
Professionals representing more than 585,000 professionals in education
and health care, met in Washington, D.C. with one central theme,
"WE ARE NYSUT," guiding proceedings over the weekend.
Perhaps the major point to this historic first gathering of the
united AFT/NEA-NY delegates came in NYSUT VP Kathleen Donahue's
presentation; "We are like a quilt, each piece unique and more
beautiful because of our differences, stitched together by our solidarity,
and more essential than each of us alone."
Former rivals now united
Key presentations of solidarity came from former "rivals"
including long time Buffalo Teacher Federation President Phil Rumore
of NEA-NY's largest contingent, and NEA's Secretary-Treasurer Lily
Eskelsen, who included reference to past organizational difference
as having fought "like brothers and sisters" but now having
a shared task to present a strong voice for public education in
America.
President Dick Iannuzzi, in just three simple words -- "We
are NYSUT" -- brought the delegates to their feet and then
concluded with "We are the Union...We are the Mighty, Mighty
Union." And, with New York's Gov. Eliot Spitzer taking time
to travel to the Washington convention site and Hillary Clinton
making special provisions to insure attendance, the recognition
of our union's impact has been clearly demonstrated.
While much more was covered including support for the Katrina ravaged
New Orleans educational unit, the presentation of NYSUT VP Maria
Neira truly reflects the concern many of us retired in Florida recognized
long ago. Maria said, "We are no longer educating 'the whole
child.' We are educating the 'fill-in-the-bubble child.' "
She later stated, "We don't need the federal or state government
creating more lists of failing schools. We need them to help us
improve instruction and student achievement."
Willing to be held accountable but need the tools
Finally, as state and national news media took keen interest in
NYSUT's position on No Child Left Behind and, in a nod to the union's
political clout as noted by appearances of Governor Spitzer and
Senator Clinton, the media quoted NYSUT President Iannuzzi praising
Clinton's challenges to NCLB: "The senator understands we are
willing to be held accountable as long as we are given the tools."
