CTA's State Council vote demonstrates commitment

The 800 members of CTA's State Council of Education and the members they represent have shown near unanimity of purpose in their effort to make sure the association is strong enough to counter the governor's attacks on public education.

Despite a campaign by the governor to divide CTA members, the delegates took a nearly unanimous vote to assess themselves $60 a year for up to three years in order to keep the organization solvent and allow it to conduct other business while it fights to protect minimum funding for public schools.

The temporary assessment, which will raise an estimated $50 million, was proposed at the March meeting. Delegates then met with the teachers they represent back home to get their input.

In the past, the teachers James Williams represents in Chico have directed him to vote against any and all dues increases and special assessments. "But when the membership was faced with deciding on this one," he said, he discovered "the governor has done a wonderful thing: He has galvanized the Republicans and the Democrats in our area. They overwhelmingly directed me to support this dues increase."

Delegate after delegate came to the microphone to announce similar support.

"California teachers are upset with the governor's broken promises to our students and schools," CTA President Barbara E. Kerr told the news media after the vote. "We didn't pick this fight, but this vote clearly shows teachers have never been more united than they are today. Teachers had to fight to win professional rights, smaller class sizes in our lower grades, and school funding guarantees in Proposition 98. We refuse to let this governor roll back all of that progress."