April

LEADING

2 CEA ADVISOR APRIL 2018

Enough Is Enough: Share Your Truth

OUR PERSPECTIVE

As the saying goes, March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. But this year it is not going out like a lamb, because a growing community of student, teacher, and parent activists are roaring until something is done to end the scourge of violence in our schools. We are so proud of the hundreds of thousands of students and teachers who participated in Walk- Ins and Walk-Outs for Safe Schools, the March for Our Lives rallies, and meetings with lawmakers—all to keep our schools safe from gun violence and to protect our students and teachers from aggressive student behavior. This nationwide anti-school movement, Vietnam War protests, the women’s rights movement— that helped change the course of American history. And that is exactly what today’s students are hoping to do. They are calling on Congress to take action to strengthen the nation’s gun laws committed to not letting this be a one-and-done movement but will continue to push for change. They are already planning more activities and rallies on April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting. They say if they do not get changes and commonsense reforms from politicians now, they will get change at the voting booth in November. and prevent future school shootings. The students are We join our students in saying enough is enough. CEA members stood proudly with our students and were well represented at both the D.C. and Hartford March for Our Lives rallies. (See stories on pages 10-13.) We were in the crowd, and in Hartford at the podium and the voter registration table, where staff members urged high school students to sign up to register to vote. CEA is working with the Connecticut Registrar of Voters and with students, and in the coming weeks will hold voter registration drives in high schools across the state, encouraging students to participate in this important democratic right. As teachers, we teach our students classroom lessons about social justice and the need to stand supporting them in their social activism as they strive for change. These students are our future, and we are standing up and violence movement, led by students, is similar to other actions—the civil rights

up and be heard. We are now applauding and celebrating their courage to do just that. Students like Parkland survivor Emma Gonzalez, who has become one of the faces of the national movement, who gives impassioned speeches and called BS on lawmakers who say laws could not have prevented the Parkland shooting. And Naugatuck’s Tyler Suarez, who spoke so powerfully at the Hartford rally about dedicating his life to speaking out against gun violence and promoting commonsense gun laws after his aunt, Dawn Hochsprung, principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School, was killed in 2012. These students are our future, and we are standing up and supporting them in their social activism as they strive for change. We are their teachers. We taught them about civic responsibility, and this has been a powerful learning opportunity for them to see that government is theirs, and if they engage— especially as voters—they will effect change. Your voice matters While Connecticut has among the toughest gun and school safety laws in the country, more must be done, especially to help protect students and teachers from continued aggressive behavior and assaults by students. We are so grateful to the thousands of teachers who took time to send written testimony to legislators on the issues of aggressive student behavior and the need to roll back the teacher tax. (See stories on pages 4-5.) Our democracy works when individuals participate. You stepped up and shared your personal stories, and they were impactful. Legislators told us they were shocked at the prevalence of teacher assaults. Three courageous teachers testified in person before legislators. Hundreds more told their stories in emails to legislators. You make a difference, and when we stand together, our voices are stronger and more powerful. Speak your truth! The teachers who went on strike in Connecticut, especially in Bridgeport 40 years ago, spoke their truth. They were not concerned about calling out their district or administrators. They were concerned about their colleagues and their students. They spoke out, and many of them were arrested, threatened, and terrorized. Though they were treated like criminals, if you ask any of the teachers who participated in the Bridgeport strike, they will all tell you it was worth the fight, and they would do it again. They shared their truth, and because of it, we have fair wages, good benefits, and the ability to negotiate for them. Hundreds of thousands of teachers have

benefitted from these now commonly accepted and expected—but hard-won benefits—brought about by these teachers’ brave actions. The lessons from the Bridgeport strike are more relevant today than ever before as we tackle societal issues that are causing harm to our teachers and students—issues that include not just gun violence but aggressive student behavior in the classroom. Teachers are being kicked, bitten, knocked down, and having chairs and books thrown at them. They are dealing with a sharp rise in aggressive student behavior that impacts not only them, but also their students. Because of the bravery of some teachers willing to share their truth, legislators are standing up and taking notice. We know that many administrators are telling teachers not to report being assaulted by students, and that their jobs are in jeopardy if they do. We know students are committing assaults and being returned right back into your classrooms with no consequences for their actions, and more importantly, with no mental health services or guidance. We know that teachers are fearful of retribution—of being targeted as troublemakers for reporting assaults—and nontenured teachers risk not being renewed. We know you need to make a living. We understand, but we cannot remain silent. Enough is enough, and we are always here to help you. Because of the bravery of some teachers willing to share their truth, legislators are standing up considered that would strengthen laws regarding assaults on teachers and keep our schools safe from gun violence. We are hopeful that the proposals CEA has put forward will be adopted by legislators. There are just a few short weeks left in this year’s legislative session. When we reach out to you and send you Action Alerts, we urge you to respond, take action, and share your truth with your legislators. We are teachers, and we must educate lawmakers about our important issues. Tell them why they must vote for the issues so important to us and to our students. Always remember we are in this fight for our students, our profession, and our future, and as teachers we must always tell our truth and stand up for what is right. Enough is enough! March 27, 2018 and taking notice. Several Connecticut bills are being

Sheila Cohen CEA President

Donald E. Williams Jr. CEA Executive Director