VEA Members Walk for Friends of Public Education

Saturday, October 17th was the day that the Virginia Education Association selected to walk for our friends who are running for office in the General Assembly, for Governor, Lt. Governor, and Attorney General. We might have been able to pick a worse day weather-wise, but we would have had to work at it. In spite of the drizzly rain and chilly temperatures, however, dozens of our members turned out to canvas neighborhoods for our friends.

In Fairfax, we kicked off the day with a Rally for Creigh Deeds, our recommended candidate for Governor. Creigh joined us at the FEA Office and dozens of volunteers were there to cheer him on and gear up to either walk neighborhoods or work phone banks.

A huge thank you goes out to the FEA for their offering of the FEA office for the event. It was a great collaborative effort as not only did the FEA step up, but I was able to attend representing the state affiliate, and we were honored to have our Immediate Past President and current NEA Executive Committee member, Princess Moss who joined us for the event.

In addition to having Princess with us, another NEA officer also volunteered his Saturday. NEA Executive Committee member, Len Paolillo of Massachusetts walked with House of Delegates representative, Paul Nichols and members of the Prince William Education Association. I know that there were other walks that were being conducted all over the state, and I look forward to receiving reports from folks as to how their day went.

In addition to attending our own Rally for Creigh Deeds on Saturday morning, I also attended a rally at the Mason District Park in Fairfax where Governor Tim Kaine was traveling with Creigh and Jody Wagner, the candidate for Lt. Governor. We are also recommending Jody for that office along with Steve Shannon who is our recommended candidate for Attorney General.

The day was miserable weather-wise, but the good feeling being generated by our hopes that Creigh can come from behind one more time and prevail in this election was palpable. As Creigh himself said yesterday, we have 17 days and he's only 7 points down. As I have been saying for weeks now, I believe that our VEA members can make the difference in this race. We must make the difference. We know that Creigh is committed to taking Virginia forward--not taking us backward. We know that Creigh is committed to making Virginia's public schools the best in the nation. We know that his rhetoric matches his record. We know we can count on Creigh.

The day was topped off with the great news that the Washington Post has also recognized that Creigh should be the next Governor of Virginia. They offered an endorsement for Creigh in their "Mr. Deeds for Governor" article late last night.

We have just over 2 weeks to go.

Election day is November 3, 2009.

We have a lot of work to do, but we CAN do it.

Until next time.

Kitty

Pre-Legislative Dinners Begin Along with Budget and Resolutions Hearings

The past couple of weeks have been such a blur of activity that I can hardly remember everything I have done and everywhere I have been. This week, Meg Gruber, VEA Vice President, and I started our round of the state in conjunction with VEA Director of Government Relations and Research, Robley Jones, and his Assistant, Doris Boitnott for the purpose of gathering input on the budget and resolutions and presenting the VEA's 2010 Legislative Agenda. We were in Hampton on Monday night, Norfolk on Tuesday night, and in NOVA on Thursday night. I would like to thank everyone who turned out for these important events. It's always appreciated when our members take time out of their busy schedules in order to demonstrate their commitment to the association.

I am proud of our Legislative Agenda. We have worked hard to create a balance of issues that are important to all of our members. We address funding, we continue to address parity and the lack of it for our ESP members, and we are committed to opposing legislation that would be detrimental to public schools. We have also come to recognize that we need to prepare to fend off any and all attacks on our Virginia Retirement System (VRS). We are very concerned that the downtown in the economy is going to serve as too great a temptation to our legislators who may see that pot of money as a convenient fund to raid. We at the VEA will not allow that to happen, but our members need to understand the importance of protecting that benefit for the educators of Virginia.

Today, we held our All Committee Day at the Crossings in Glen Allen. We hosted just under 100 of our committee members and staff who convened for the purpose of reviewing their various committee's charges and creating recommendations that will be taken to the VEA Board of Directors for consideration.

We also got an update on the upcoming election. It is only a few weeks away, and I am increasingly concerned that our members are suffering from election fatigue. We worked so hard last year for President Obama, and it has been hard to work up the same kind of enthusiasm this year even though the state election in Virginia in 2009 is a critical one.

It hasn't helped that both campaigns have taken a negative turn. Unfortunately, negative campaigns work which is why candidates use them.

At the VEA we have stuck to the facts, and we are proud of the ads that the VEA sponsored and aired in the Richmond and Tidewater regions. The polls have demonstrated that our ads have been effective, and they have stuck to the facts.

I wish I knew what magic words to use to get our members energized enough to work as hard as they can in these final days. I also wish I could count on everyone going to the polls on November 3 and taking their family, friends, and colleagues with them to vote for Creigh Deeds, Jody Wagner, and Steve Shannon along with our other friends of education.

Somehow our members have got to start making the connection between politics, education policy, and the association's political power. We have talked about it to some degree, but we have a long way to go before we are ready to fully embrace our full potential as a political power player. Our friends and opponents see it...but our own members fail to understand and/or appreciate their own important part in developing the political landscape of Virginia.

Having said that, I urge every individual who is reading this post to volunteer to do something for one or more of our recommended candidates between now and November 3.

Next Saturday, October 17 would be a great place to start. All over Virginia, the VEA will be sponsoring walks for our candidates. In Fairfax, I will be joining Past President and current NEA Executive Director Princess Moss at the Fairfax Education Association building in downtown Fairfax for a rally for Creigh. Others will be convening at different locations around the Commonwealth for walks, canvassing, and drumming up support for our recommended candidates. Please consider participating. It will only take a few hours, and it could be the effort that we need to turn the tide on the polls and tip the advantage toward our recommended candidates.

No matter what you do, please plan to vote for our recommended candidates on November 3. For Governor, we recommend Creigh Deeds. For Lt. Governor, we recommend Jody Wagner. And for Attorney General, we recommend Steve Shannon. For specific targeted races, please check out our election related web site at http://www.veaelection09.com.

Until next time.

Kitty

An Open Letter to VEA Members: Why We Need to Work Hard for Creigh Deeds for Governor

I am writing this entry from out of town, and I am writing regarding a topic that brings me no great pleasure, I assure you.

I feel compelled to share, however, how deeply disturbed I am now that I have read for myself the Bob McDonnell thesis that has been the topic of so much conversation and controversy since Sunday.

I have read it through myself instead of depending on the editorializing of the political pundits. I believe it is worth the time it will take for you to read it yourself.

Please understand. I get it that it was written 20 years ago. I get that it was an academic paper. I get that things change...people change...and perhaps, I could even get that we should give Mr. McDonnell the benefit of the doubt...until I actually read his words for myself.

In my opinion, they are quite chilling in their condemnation of a large portion of our society--working women, those who consider themselves "feminists," members of the GLBT community, heads of single-parent homes, singles who delay or choose not to marry at all, those who believe in and promote public education or government assistance of any sort for families in distress...and the list goes on. Anyone who isn't a conservative Republican interested in the preservation of the family unit as defined by the Christian Bible is subject to criticism and judgment.

His passion is clear. His intention for the Republican Party as a vehicle for social engineering is unmistakable. His longing for the 1950's "Leave It To Beaver" days is palpable.

I, too, remember the 1950's as an idyllic time. I grew up in a traditional two-parent family and had the luxury of a wonderful childhood. I knew I was loved. To this day, I know where my family's roots are. I am one of the lucky ones. In today's world, I may very well be in the minority.

That doesn't make me superior, and it shouldn't make me smug or judgmental of those who have had a different experience...either by choice or by happenstance.

The judgment around the issue of women needing to work outside the home; of women believing that they have equal rights in our society; the condemnation for those who are part of the GLBT community; the clear and unmistakable assessment that the family unit as a traditional mother, father, and one or two children with no deviation...it's all there.

It isn't a matter of putting words in the man's mouth. It is a matter of reading the man's words for yourselves.

Again, I get that he wrote these words 20 years ago. I get that people change, and certainly, I would hope that we all mellow a little from the rigidity of our youth as we experience life's various challenges.

But I find it very difficult to believe that one's personal, deeply held values and heartfelt beliefs would have changed that much. And frankly, as you read the responses of those who worked with Mr. McDonnell while he was in the House of Delegates, you will see that they believe the thesis does, in fact, portray Mr. McDonnell's personal and political views and gives us a peek at what sort of Governor he would become if elected.

Please don't just take my word or it, however. I am just one individual who has my own biases and filters. I am more than ready to admit that I run the risk of not being totally objective in my reaction to this document.

And please understand. I feel some compassion for Mr. McDonnell given that the firestorm around his words rouses a certain amount of compassion for anyone who finds himself in the midst of a media free-for-all...but in this matter we have too much at stake not to be aware so that we can know what our choices are in November.

It is up to us to be informed.

We have access to the actual document.

I think we should take advantage of the information available to us.

I am including the link to the thesis below so all you have to do is cut and paste into your browser and read.

It took me a little over an hour to read all the way through. You can get the gist of it by skimming it, I think, but like being at the scene of a car wreck, I found myself unable not to read it carefully all the way through, so it took me a little over an hour.

I suggest that you need to read it for yourself, because in my opinion, the pundits don't do it any justice. You have to see it for yourself.

In my opinion, it gives us all motivation to work as hard as we can to elect Creigh Deeds Governor of Virginia in November. We need an inclusive Governor who accepts people from all walks of life and who is looking for solutions to society's problems not for ways to condemn those who don't agree with one particular point of view.

The Bob McDonnell Thesis:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/McDonnell_thesis_082909.pdf?sid=ST2009082902758

Back to School and Fall Elections

The past two weeks have been filled with back to school events and preparation for the fall elections. It's just that time of year.

On August 10, I had the honor and privilege of speaking to the newest group of national board candidates who committed most of that week in August to preparing themselves for the most rigorous of professional development processes. They demonstrated their resolve and commitment to the process by going through the intense JumpStart training that is offered each year jointly by the Hampton Public Schools and the VEA.

The national board process is not for sissies...and it's not for people who are looking for a few easy professional development points. It's a process that requires individuals to delve deeply into their teaching practice, their philosophy, and to question and reflect on the multitude of decisions that they make as professionals each and every day. It is also a process for those in our profession who are deeply committed to students and achievement and want an opportunity to prove their mettle. I am a national board certified teacher myself, so I am very well aware of the sacrifice that these folks will be making as they immerse themselves in this most rigorous process. I wish them all well and congratulate them on having just made the decision to put themselves on the line in this way.

I also attended and presented at the Northern Virginia Regional Rep Training in Loudoun. I presented a session on "Current Issues and Advocacy." I found out later that the session was listed as "Critical Issues" on their agenda, so I had apparently misread the topic when I got my assignment. I decided that since our current issues are also, for the most part, critical in nature and they require our collective advocacy, it all worked out.

My presentation included the current debate over health care, the recognition that the economic crisis is having a major impact on what we do in the classroom as declining resources bump up against growing needs. We all know that we worry everyday about those students who don't have enough support at home to be successful in school. That means adequate housing, a healthy diet, and good health care that includes preventive medicine as well as an opportunity for medical attention when needed. Those essential needs impact the quality of life of our students, and when they come to school after spending a night in the car--assuming the family still has a car--hungry and/or sick--is it any wonder that their attention in school is lacking and their level of achievement is negatively impacted?

The upcoming elections here in Virginia are also beginning to heat up. I don't think most people will start to pay serious attention until after Labor Day when the traditional election season begins. There are many political pundits who are already weighing in, however, and within the circles where folks have something riding on the upcoming gubernatorial election, the debate is already heated.

We at the VEA are wholeheartedly recommending to our members for their consideration the gubernatorial candidate, Senator Creigh Deeds.

Creigh has been a long time friend of the Virginia Education Association. His 18-year record as a legislator--first in the House of Delegates and later as state Senator--has yielded a 93.5% voting record on our issues. In most school divisions around the state, that would round up to an "A" on his report card.

Even more significantly, Creigh has been consistent in his support, and we appreciate his heartfelt belief that the right to a quality public education is the responsibility of the state and an obligation that we owe every child in the Commonwealth.

Some will dismiss our recommendation because there is the mistaken belief that the VEA is only ever going to recommend those in the Democratic party. I suggest that those critics take a closer look. We are, in fact, recommending some Republican friends because we are issue driven and party blind. We don't care what party one belongs to. We care about their position on our issues.

There are those who would misrepresent or mis-characterize or take our comments out of context for their own political aims, however. And while they think they are clever in their derision, they just strike me as unable to debate the merits of the issue every time they feel the need to criticize me personally or the VEA in general.

Just this week, for example, my name was used in not so flattering terms with regard to characterizing our VEA legislative and policy positions in at least three different forums: the Family Foundation Blog; The Richmond Times Dispatch opinion section on Friday, August 21; and today in the Washington Post, as the head of the Virginia Republican Party attempted to mis-characterize comments that I made to a group of our members with regard to our position on charter schools.

What I said was that we were working with the administration in Washington on those issues because the "devil is in the details." And I believe that to be the case. I also contended in an article that was printed in the Washington Post a few weeks ago that in Virginia, we don't need a proliferation of charter schools because we believe that we already have many avenues already available to our communities that allows for innovation and creativity within the public school sector. I also contended and continue to contend that the authority for establishing charter schools should remain with the local school board--not with the state board of education.

What I find unfortunate is that the folks who disagree with us on these and similar issues can't seem to separate the issues from personalities. Please, let us debate the merits and demerits of the issue of charter schools, pay for performance, vouchers and tax credits. But can't we do it without the negative tone of implied derision and open disrespect that comes with name calling and the deliberate mis-characterization and misinterpretation of positions?

Whatever happened to the process of civil public discourse?

I think we as adults set a terrible example for our children when we engage in disrespectful public debate. We know better. We should do better.

In the meantime, however, as the President of the VEA, I will continue to advocate for the policies and positions that have been adopted by the VEA Delegate Assembly who gives me my marching orders.

We are very clear that as professional educators, we know something about best practice and what is in the best interest of the students we teach. We will continue to advocate for them because that is what we do.

That is why this week, the VEA sponsored the "Caps Hurt Kids" Rally at the Bell Tower in Richmond. We contend that the Governor's proposal to permanently cap the number of support personnel hired by the school divisions around the state, if made permanent, will do irreparable harm to our ability to do our job and to the students we teach.

I wound up this week attending the New Teacher Orientation of the first-year teachers starting out their careers in Page County. I talked to those new teachers about the fact that they have entered a time honored profession. They have many challenges before them, but there is something so special about the first day of school where we all feel the excitement that surrounds new possibilities and new beginnings.

For those of you who are already back to work, I hope you are having a great year.

For those who have yet to go back but will be going back sooner rather than later, I hope you have a great beginning.

Know that the VEA is here to support our members and our students. That's who are are. That's what we do.

Until next time.

Kitty