Bedford Teachers Fight For Public Education!

On Monday, December 9th, the teachers in
the Bedford schools will be wearing BLUE.  Why are the
teachers wearing BLUE?  To put it simply, public education is under
attack.  A movement that is promoting an agenda of corporate reform
threatens to destroy America's greatest resource, it's public education system.
 The Bedford teachers will be sending a message to John King, the
Commissioner of Education in New York State, and the Board of Regents asking
that they commit to make the right solutions for public education.  



Please join the Bedford Teachers by
signing this resolution to the Regents and help change
the course of education in New York State - click here for petition.  Call
on the Regents to commit to these New Year Resolutions for 2014 and take
action:
·        
Implement
high standards the right way.

·        
Ask
the Legislature and governor to increase funding for public schools and
colleges, and help all student succeed.

·        
Push
for a three- year moratorium on high-stakes consequences linked to state
standardized tests.

·        
Emphasize
teaching and learning, not testing and consequences.

·        
Listen
to the real education stakeholders: parents, educators, student, and community
members.

The Common Core State Standards
deliver a promise, but bring along a new set of challenges that must be
recognized and when changes are demanded, they must be implemented.  The
undemocratic Tax Levy Cap creates unneeded obstructions for districts
to staff and fund their programs, while delivering the guarantee of draconian
cuts to schools and the needs of students. The new APPR regimen has sucked
away resources from schools without improving teaching or learning.  The NYS Education Department's focus on high stakes standardized tests has created an
obsession with scores and consequences instead of a focus on teaching and
learning.

  

The Bedford Teachers' Association will join
educators all over the country to RECLAIM THE PROMISE OF
PUBLIC EDUCATION.  Please join us by wearing BLUE on Monday,
December 9th as we fight for our our students, our schools and our profession!



To understand more about the challenges being
presented to public education, please watch this video created by the American
Federation of Teachers - click here.