Teachers Union Brings Educators and Families Together for Student Success

Close to 400 parents, students and educators attended the Learning Fair in Daly City

“Reclaiming the Promise of Quality Public Education” in Daly City Focuses on Literacy, Common Core

The Jefferson Elementary Federation of Teachers, AFT 3267, hosted a learning festival March 8 to provide useful resources for students, parents, and teachers and promote collaboration between educators and Daly City area parents. The “Reclaiming the Promise of Quality Public Education” conference, held at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, featured workshops for parents and educators on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), improving literacy and helping students who are English language learners. AFT 3267 partnered with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), California Federation of Teachers, and the Jefferson Council PTA to organize the conference.

“As education professionals we want the same thing for our students as their parents—a better future,” said Melinda Dart, president of the Jefferson Elementary Federation of Teachers. “Making academic success a reality for every child doesn’t take magic, but it does take commitment, focus and a great deal of collaboration between parents and school employees. That is something we really want to highlight.”

Dart said the union expected about 200 participants, and was thrilled when close to 400 parents, students, educators, support staff, district administrators, city officials and community partners attended. “The response from parents was very positive,” she said. “We educated parents about how they could get involved and have a voice to advocate for quality public education for their children. We felt we made progress towards building a positive image for teachers, school employees, and public education.”

AFT 3267 president Melinda Dart and Francisco Dulse, AFT member and Spanish language interpreter.

The event provided educators and parents with essential information about the Common Core State Standards and how to navigate the public school system. Common Core State Standards for mathematics and English language arts and literacy in history/social studies, science and technology have been adopted by 45 states since 2010.

The standards were designed to prepare students for college and careers; they standardize the core concepts that students are expected to understand at each grade level.

The AFT was involved in developing the CCSS and believes that, if implemented carefully and with the needed supports and resources, the new standards will help improve education for all students. A description on the union’s website points out that, “Common Core State Standards have the potential to transform teaching and learning and provide all children with the problem-solving, critical-thinking and teamwork skills they need to compete in today’s changing world. This approach to learning moves away from rote memorization and endless test-taking and toward deeper learning.”

Daly City Mayor David Canepa said that part of making sure that Common Core is implemented successfully is making sure that educators help English Language learners to meet the requirements. AFT 3267 president Melinda Dart noted that the conference included workshops conducted in Spanish, and that Spanish and Arabic translators provided translation services for parents who are not proficient in English.

Daly City Mayor David Canepa

Local author Tony Robles, illustrator Carl Angel, and Rebecca Douglass (school board president and children’s book author) also participated, reading stories to children.

The event in Daly City was one of several being held as part of the AFT’s nationwide Reclaiming the Promise campaign to build support for public education. A statement on the union’s website notes that, “Public services and institutions that Americans rely on are under assault. Decades of top-down edicts, privatization schemes, and polarization and austerity measures have taken their toll. These attacks stand in the way of meeting our collective obligation to help all children succeed through public education, strengthening our communities and advancing the common good. Our public schools represent our nation’s commitment to helping all children dream their dreams and achieve them. A high-quality public education for all children is an economic necessity, an anchor of democracy, a moral imperative and a fundamental civil right, without which none of our other rights can be fully realized.”

The AFT calls for, “fulfilling public education’s purpose as a propeller of our economy and an anchor of our democracy.” The union’s vision for Reclaiming the Promise includes:
• High-quality public education for all children that nurtures a joy of teaching and learning.
• Access to early childhood care and education for all families, including the supports they need.
• Access to affordable and excellent higher education.
• The resources and staffing our hospitals and medical centers need to provide world-class patient care.
• Properly funded and dependable public services and programs that meet the needs of our communities.
• Safeguarding the retirement security for all working women and men.

More information can be found online at www.aft.org/promise.