NEA Delegates Heading for New Orleans
As the recently reauthorized ESEA law continues to fail in reaching its
stated goal, the NEA rolls into its 2003 Annual Meeting, July 1-6, in New
Orleans with a strongly-stated theme of its own: "The United States
of Education-Great Public Schools for Every Child."
The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will host the more than 9,000
elected delegates attending the NEA Representative Assembly, the world's
largest democratic, deliberative body, which meets July 3-6. The delegates,
representing and setting policy for the NEA's 2.7 million members, will
focus on several key issues, including ESEA, the problems facing teachers
in light of severe state funding cuts, and the strategies available to
make public schools great for each and every American child.
Reg Weaver will set the tone for the event when he delivers his first
keynote address as NEA president. Addressing the delegates to the opening
session of the Representative Assembly on July 3, Weaver will tackle the
problems arising from NCLB and rally those in attendance toward the common
goal of bettering public education.
Delegates are also invited to a two-session symposium on July 2 that
will address the ramifications of ESEA and help members deal with the
consequences of the law. The morning session, "ESEA: Early Effects
on Students, Members and Schools," will feature speakers Gary Orfield,
founding co-director of the Civil Rights Project at Harvard University;
and Jill Morningstar, co-director of Education and Youth Development at
the Children's Defense Fund. NEA General Counsel Bob Chanin will highlight
the afternoon session, "ESEA: Collective Bargaining and Local Policy
Development," by addressing the role of the Association in implementing
the legislation.
Other highlights of the Annual Meeting include:
- More than 2000 educators and invited guests will gather to honor an
innovative group of community visionaries at NEA's 37th Annual Human
and Civil Rights Award dinner on Wednesday, July 2. The dinner, which
will be held at the New Orleans Marriott Hotel, will celebrate the work
of dedicated educators, public servants, and activists who have sedulously
fought to promote justice and dignity for all. Among this year's honorees
are two members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Hilda Solis
and Rep. Bob Filner, both of California; Joseph Brouchac, the famous
American Indian author; and Barbara Williams and her student cast and
crew from the Newark (Calif.) High School production of The Laramie
Project.
- The late Senator Paul Wellstone, who died tragically last fall in
an airplane accident, will be honored with the 2003 Friend of Education
Award. NEA's highest honor, the Friend of Education Award recognizes
Wellstone's commitment to the improvement of education during his 12
years as U.S. Senator from Minnesota, including his 100% voting score
on the NEA Legislative Report Card for the 107th Congress.
- In addition to setting the Association's policy for the coming year,
the 2003 Representative Assembly will elect two new Executive Committee
members July 5. Incumbent NEA Secretary-Treasurer Lily Eskelsen is unopposed
for her position.
- Betsy Rogers, the 2003 National Teacher of the Year, will address
the Assembly on July 5. Rogers, a third-generation teacher, has spent
the last 22 years of her life educating children, most recently teaching
first- and second-graders in the underprivileged rural town of Leeds,
Alabama.
- The 2003 Education Support Professional of the Year, Martin Meyer,
will speak to the delegates on July 6. Meyer, the head custodian at
the 45,000-square-foot Skyway Elementary School in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho,
has been an NEA member since 1989.
- An original copy of the Declaration of Independence, printed on July
4, 1776, will be on display in Hall G of the convention center on July
1-2. The more than 225-year-old Dunlap broadsheet printing comes to
the NEA meeting as part of Norman Lear's Declaration of Independence
Road Trip.
- On June 27, NEA student, retired, education support professional
and higher education members will spend the day at the St. John's Child
Development Center in Garyville, La., repairing, painting, cleaning
and doing landscaping work on the school grounds, as part of the 9th
Annual Outreach to Teach Program.
- The Annual Meeting won't be all business. On July 3, NEA will host
a Mardi Gras extravaganza at the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium as
part of its annual Friendship Night. Delegates will have the chance
to experience the finest New Orleans has to offer, with Cajun and Creole
food, a full-scale parade, and three local bands performing Southern
Louisiana's famous brand of Zydeco music. A portion of proceeds from
the event will go to support the Ryan White Memorial HIV Education Fund
and the Vivian Roy Bowser Cancer Education Fund.
- Exhibits featuring educational products and services from more than
200 organizations and vendors will be on display in Hall H of the convention
center July 1-3, as part of NEA Expo 2003. Exhibits will include a "Hall
of Health" sponsored by the NEA Health Information Network (HIN).
The "Hall of Health" will contain interactive displays that
provide resources on health issues, ranging from alcoholism and teen
pregnancy prevention to gun safety and indoor air quality.
A number of pre-convention events will take place before the official
start of the Annual Meeting. These include: the 19th Annual Joint Conference
on Concerns of Minorities and Women, June 28-29 at the New Orleans Marriott;
the 10th Annual Men's Issues Meeting, June 30 at the Marriott; the 19th
Annual NEA Student Leadership Conference, June 26-29 at the Fairmont Hotel;
and the NEA-Retired Annual Meeting, June 27-29 at the Hyatt Regency New
Orleans.
Further information about the NEA's Annual Meeting and Representative
Assembly can be found at http://www.nea.org/annualmeeting.
Posted June 4, 2003