Teachers Unite - July Newsletter

July 2008 Teachers Unite Newsletter In This Issue Cool Professional Development Join Teachers Unite A Youth-led View of Schools Foundation Supporters · Ben & Jerry's Foundation · North Star Fund · Yip Harburg Foundation · Rose & Sherle Wagner Foundation Partners Teachers Unite members receive special offers from our partners... IndyKids Panade Bakery A teacher-owned and operated bakery! Punk Rope Rethinking Schools P.D. You'll Love Are you a teacher looking to: · grow as an educational leader? · play a role in grassroots campaigns for social justice where you work? · participate in community-based Professional Development? Teachers Unite will be hosting an open informational meeting August 25th (please check back with Teachers Unite for details) where educators can learn more about our growing work with grassroots activists throughout the city. Teachers Unite is building a movement of public school teachers who play a critical role in working for social justice. Our members contribute their insight and expertise as educators to grassroots organizing campaigns that demand justice in New York City communities, particularly in schools. Teachers Unite seeks to defend public education by rebuilding the relationship between teachers, students, families and communities as partners building power for social change. Some examples of how teachers can contribute to community organizations: · lead a workshop about innovative pedagogy and educational issues · give an educator's perspective on life within a NYC public school · provide training around lesson- or workshop-planning, tutoring or other instruction · conduct outreach to neighborhood colleagues about a community issue Just some of Teachers Unite's ally organizations: FUREE ICOPE Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition VAMOS Unidos Please contact sally@teachersunite.net for more information. Build Our Power: Join as a member! * Define your role as a teacher - Be a part of the movement of educators working in solidarity with the communities they serve. * Build strength in numbers - Becoming a member is the most basic way to build and sustain power for our organization. * Support our work - Invest in a teacher organization committed to social justice. Your dues are a vital contribution! * Receive excellent benefits - Discounts and promotions from our partners: Rethinking Schools, Panade Bakery, Punk Rope, IndyKids and more! Teachers Unite membership dues are $50 for a WHOLE YEAR (that's approximately what NYC teachers pay in dues to their union per paycheck). We do not yet have online donation capability. Please send your check payable to Teachers Unite. Mailing address: Teachers Unite, c/o Brecht Forum, 451 West St., New York, NY 10014 What else besides mayoral control? For years Teachers Unite's ally organizaiton ICOPE (Independent Commission on Public Education) has been working to engage the city in a conversation about what schools could and should look like. Their Education is a Human Right Campaign has two main purposes: 1. To show that a more just, democratic, and effective education system is possible; 2. To encourage a citywide dialogue, so that all stakeholders can knowledgeably share their views before a legislative decision is made in Albany about the sun-setting of the current governance law, which gave the mayor total control of the system. The campaign insits that this decision, which affects the education of 1.1 million students, can be made only after open, public dialogue. ICOPE proudly presents the Y.R.N.E.S. (Youth Researchers for a New Education System) report. "We have done this research to contribute to a crucial conversation at a crucial time: the future of Mayoral control and school organization and leadership in NYC. We have written this report to widen the perspectives on this debate to include youth voices and concerns." Check out this impressive piece of participatory action research conducted by NYC youth! Teachers Unite is building a movement of public school teachers who play a critical role in working for social justice. Our members contribute their insight and expertise as educators to grassroots organizing campaigns that demand justice in New York City communities, particularly in schools. Teachers Unite seeks to defend public education by rebuilding the relationship between teachers, students, families and communities as partners building power for social change.