July 4th for teachers

Each year, the NEA holds its annual Representative Assembly (RA) over the 4th of July... and there seems to be no more fitting way to celebrate our nation's heritage and the birth of our freedom. From Kansas, 170 teachers representing every corner of the state joined almost 9,000 educators from across our country to discuss a wide range of issues: how to ensure every child has access to a great public school, ensuring quality health care is available and affordable for our students as well as for educators, equality and civil rights guarantees - it was a list worthy of the 4th. In addition, a choir of music educators sang patriotic songs, prayers, and readings from our nation's great leaders were all part of a midday celebration in the convention center.

I should also mention that the high point of this RA may have been at the annual Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner. Matthew Heck and seven other members of his cross country team from Wichita East High School were honored for their relay run from Wichita to Washington, DC to raise funds to help refugees from Darfur. These fine young men exemplify the kinds of values of hard work, caring, and responsibility that each of us as teachers hopes our students will see in our lives and learn from our examples. Read more about these students on the KNEA web site's record of the 2009 KNEA RA. This group humbles us all and makes us proud of public education and our students. Watch for more about the RA in a couple of days.