Finding common ground
By Tom Major, Teacher and Member of the MEA Board of Directors
When Governor LePage rolled out the latest proposals for reforming Maine's public schools, colleagues again wondered how I could remain in the Republican Party. At my local caucus last month, fellow Republicans wondered how I could remain on the Board of Directors of the MEA.
A few members of each group loudly proclaim that they can find no common ground with the other side. I would argue that the two groups are not only compatible, but that each needs to engage the other more.
What they need to understand is that MEA is delighted to support Republicans running for office when Republicans support public schools. Not only can such endorsements encourage more Republicans to support public schools, but they can also remind the Democratic caucus not to take our support for granted.
It is good politics to demand support from both sides of the aisle, and to support all your friends when they support you.
Two years ago, five of the thirty-five races for state senate involved Republicans endorsed by the MEA. True, that's only one race in seven, but that's because they were the only Republicans who agreed with us on key issues like charter schools, retirement, and funding for K-12 and post-secondary schools.
MEA will support legislators-Democrats, Republicans, Greens, and independents-who defend public schools against short-sighted attempts to cut spending or transfer control to private, for-profit corporations.
Those who want to channel public money to private interests, who seek to end the basic right of employees to organize and bargain collectively, who want to chisel away at the meager benefits extended to educator support professionals and retirees, and those who deny students protection from bullying in schools will find that MEA is a vocal and active opponent.
Governor LePage and a handful of legislators would like the MEA to be less political; again, I cannot agree. If politics is the process of deciding who gets how much, then folks in the public schools need to advocate for those schools. To do less would be to abdicate our responsibility as citizens in a democratic republic.
In years past, the analysis of which legislators agreed with MEA on key legislative issues was largely an internal document. Most folks, we figured, weren't interested in the details.
This year, the MEA publish every legislator's vote on the seven bills that the MEA scored in the 2011 Maine Legislature. It was printed in the December Maine Educator and is available online.
Like a student's academic transcript, it doesn't tell the whole story, but it is useful. Several legislators with low scores were important allies in committees to change the most onerous provisions of some bills. Others were strong allies in previous years and no doubt will be again when the bills are different.
This 2012 legislative session promises to be rich in education-related votes. In addition to the anti-bullying and parental involvement bills, legislators will be voting on the governor's four proposals for "reforming" K-12 schools. Bills affecting retirement and collective bargaining rights could also come up.
MEA will need support from both sides of the aisle to defend the interests of public education. And, we will need all MEA members, regardless of party label, to exercise their responsibility as citizens and be advocates for public education.
Tom Major is a member of the MEA Board of Directors.
Legislative Action
Locate your state and congressional representatives and share your views through our CyberLobby program.
