FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT DEB PETERSON
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015
With the high visibility and significance of 2016 Election cycle, NYSUT reviewed 5 topics of importance to its membership in the July/August 2015 issue of NYSUT United including Pre-K-12; Higher Ed; Healthcare; Labor and Jobs; and Retirement. Based on that article, I put together my own “Standardized Test” for judging politicians and elected officials. The following represents a partial list of topics and questions.
Do you support or oppose:
* Providing comprehensive early learning services to nearly 1 million children from birth to age five each year from low-income families to reach kindergarten more prepared, to succeed in school and in life?
* Increased public school funding?
* Private school vouchers?
* Florida’s “Best and Brightest” program that provides scholarships to first year classroom teachers who scored in the 80th percentile or higher on the SAT/ACT and all other classroom teachers evaluated as “Highly Effective” and who scored in the 80th percentile or higher on the SAT/ACT?
* Evaluating students and teachers based on high stakes tests?
* Expanding financial aid for low income college students?
* The Student Loan Affordability Act that extended the reduced interest rate for Stafford Student Loans?
* Affirmative Action in colleges and universities?
* Expanded financial support for CUNY and SUNY schools?
* Affordable Care Act?
* Health Insurance Exchange?
* Increasing Minimum Wage?
* Strengthening and expanding collective bargaining rights?
* Free Trade Agreements?
* Right to Work Bills?
* Cutting or increasing Social Security Benefits?
* Privatizing Social Security?
* Raising the retirement age?
* Tenure?
* A NY Constitutional Convention in 2017?
Throughout the next twelve months, I hope you all take a moment to contemplate the above set of questions to help you make an educated decision when you cast your ballot on November 8, 2016.