1-Monitor

Newsletter for Uniserv Unit 1-M

Volume 5 Issue 4.………………………………….……………………………………………………………….….November 2006

Political Action to Lobbying

Thanks to all who worked for endorsed candidates and who voted for public education by voting for our endorsed candidates.  Since the Democrats will now control the state House of Representatives, your task of lobbying for public education will be easier than in the past two years.  Bills to harm teacher rights and school funding are less likely to see the light of day.  As you know, we had been under a very real threat of losing status quo contract provisions for unsettled contracts, having to endure more ill-considered, nice-sounding, but impractical regulations, and having to make do with less if vouchers for private schools were to take precious money from the public coffers.  Money will still be scarce, but we’ll have friendlier ears listening. 

Your first opportunity to lobby officially is at Presidents Plus You, which is scheduled for Wednesday, January 24^th.  You’ll get more details later.

Protect Yourself in the Case of an Accusation of Child Abuse

As teachers, you have the legal obligation to report suspected child abuse.  You are also vulnerable to accusations of child abuse, valid or invalid.  Students and parents are increasingly willing to bring charges and Child Protection Services are more willing to substantiate those charges.  Such a finding could end your teaching career.  ISTA can help protect an accused member, but it’s best to avoid the accusations.  Corporal punishment and inappropriate touches or hugs can lead to accusations.  Here are some tips to prevent being accused of child abuse:

• Don’t leave your class unattended.  Make sure your students are adequately supervised and understand your rules.

• Don’t act in anger.  Follow your board’s discipline policies.

• If you must physically restrain a student, use only reasonable force.

• Primary students may need and expect a hug or a pat on the back, but older students may misinterpret that touching.

• Avoid compromising situations such as tutoring a student behind closed doors.

• After any incident, write down what happened, when, where, under what circumstances, and who were the witnesses.  Alert your principal.

• NEA/ISTA provides legal representation in these cases.  If called in to explain, say nothing until you have representation.  Call Val 1-800-434-1175 or 664-1244 immediately!

It’s Evaluation Time

For all the lip service given to the concept that teacher evaluations are to help the teacher improve, a poor or even unfair evaluation may lead to a teacher being fired.  By law, if you are a non-permanent or a semi-permanent teacher (less than 6 consecutive years in the corporation), you must receive a written evaluation before January 1, 2007.  Your master contract may have additional requirements.  Be sure your evaluator follows the contract or policy provisions.  If you are uncomfortable with how the conference is going or with anything on your evaluation, seek the help of your Association.  If the conference is really threatening, you have the right to reschedule it to a time when your advocate can attend.  Your Association can provide advocacy by accompanying you to a conference, by helping you draft a written response to be filed with your evaluation, by helping you make improvements.  Whether you agree that you need to improve or not is immaterial.  If your evaluator wants you to improve, work on improving.  Your career could depend on how you react to a less than sterling evaluation.  If you are too embarrassed to talk to your AR or your local president, call Val, 1-800-434-1175, for an objective assessment of your position. 

Conner’s Corner

The election is over.  It’s like having a new class at the beginning of the next semester.  Some of the students are the same as the previous term, and others are new.  It’s time to adjust our lesson plans to the new folks.  We do that by publishing our legislative program which is developed and voted on by you, the members.  As with education, you can have the best lesson plans in the world, but if the students don’t get taught, you won’t accomplish your goals.

That is where lobbying comes in.  Each year, ISTA encourages members to lobby the legislature for our legislative goals which are designed to improve public education, student performance, and your salary and working conditions.  An easy and efficient way to lobby your legislators is to log on to our website, ista-in.org, as a member and access Capwhiz, which provides talking points as well as an opportunity for original e-mails. Watch for the Hotline published daily during the session.  We e-mail it to your leaders who in turn are to forward it on to you.

ISTA also encourages members to come to Indianapolis to meet with legislators in person.  The send off of our season is Presidents Plus You, on January 24^th.  We hold a briefing and a reception for you and the legislators.  Periodically we hold lobbying days for you to come to a briefing and to invite your legislators to lunch.  The final dates will be announced later.  We also like each local to commit Work-a-Week, by attending a lobby day and contacting legislators from home.  Class is ready to begin.

Val

Indiana State Teachers Association,

765-664-1244, 800-434-1175