by Steve Schessler
Issues. Our union’s Committee on Political Education (COPE) needs your help and support as we gear up for this year’s issues. As educators and support professionals, we understand the importance of pedagogically-sound class size, the funding required for student success, and the State’s duty to provide access to quality public education. If we want to have a voice in this year’s State Budget and advocate for the funding we need, we need to work with our allies to communicate with representatives and decision makers.
Elections. The issues we care about – access to education, the funding and support of our profession, the funding and support of our students – manifest themselves often in political races. This year, our race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction has become a referendum on our educational system and on our values. The battle over quality public education continues with this latest round, pitting a second-generation teacher and a firm advocate for public education (the incumbent superintendent, Tom Torlakson) against a leader in the movement for Charter Schools who believes firmly in teacher evaluations based on test scores and the rollback of the professional rights we’ve fought for over the decades.
You. We need you. In all of our work, we recognize the importance of direct contact. Who better than you to explain to colleagues, friends, and neighbors the issues and elections that are important to our students and our work? The COPE Committee works to inform our membership about upcoming issues and elections, registration drives and political events, and chances for direct involvement with our allies.
So what can I do? Contact your Council representatives or your COPE chairs, Sadie Reynolds (sareynol@cabrillo.edu; 831.477.3292) and Steve Schessler (stschess@cabrillo.edu; 831.477.3240), to participate on the COPE Committee or serve as an Issues Advocate on campus. Authorize a payroll deduction to fund our work on issues and elections; you can start at as little as $2 a pay period, and know that you’re supporting the Committee’s work to inform policy and promote those who support our values. Sign up for email updates from the COPE Committee and stay plugged in to issues and opportunities for advocacy around us.
| The battle over quality public education continues with this latest round, pitting a second-generation teacher and a firm advocate for public education (the incumbent superintendent, Tom Torlakson) against a leader in the movement for Charter Schools who believes firmly in teacher evaluations based on test scores and the rollback of the professional rights we’ve fought for over the decades. |
