Sept. 6, 2024: ‘We are tired of losing’

Two educators and two students were killed Wednesday at Apalachee High School in Georgia in yet another preventable instance of gun violence on America's school campuses. Nine of their fellow students and educators were wounded by a 14-year-old gunman.

We could say many things here about the epidemic of violence in our schools, about the all-too-easy access to gunsfor teenagers, or about the lack of mental health support and social workers available to families.

But you already know all of that. It'swhy the fifth right of our Educator's Bill of Rights(more on that below) is the right to a healthy, safe, and secure working environment.

For now, we will mourn the four newest reasons that we must pass an Educator's Bill of Rights and commonsense gun safety laws in next year's Texas Legislature:

• Mason Schermerhorn, a 14-year-oldwith "the biggest smile"
• Christian Angulo, a 14-year-oldwho was "loved by so many"
• Richard Aspinwall, a math teacher, football coach, and fatherto two daughters
• Christina Irmie, a dedicated math teacherdescribed as "patient and caring" by her students

In this week's Hotline:

• Texas AFT has unveiled our 2025 legislative agenda: an Educator's Bill of Rights.
• Another highly consequential State Board of Education meeting happens next week.
• The horrifying ordeal of a Corsicana ISD assistant principal is another consequence of Texas' underfunding of its schools.
• Texas AFT Retiree Plus members had the opportunity to discuss Social Security fairness with Rep. Colin Allred this week.

On Tuesday, after several months of gathering our members' input, Texas AFT unveiled our union's agenda for the 89thLegislature in 2025: a real Educator's Bill of Rights.

That agenda is both ambitious, but it'salso quite simple. We asked our members not only what they needed to remainin their jobs but also what they considered essential rights for all Texas educators - certified and classified, in K-12 and higher education, active and retired.

Last week, we previewedthe public hearing the State Board of Education (SBOE) will conduct related to House Bill (HB) 1605and the proposed instruction materials for mathematics and English and Spanish language arts and reading. Thefullboard agenda has been published, and the hearing will take place as the first order of business on Tuesday, Sept.10,at 8a.m.CT.

In addition to what is expected to be a lengthy hearing on instructional materials, the board has an incredibly full agenda of items to discuss and take actionon; several will be consequential for the next year(s) of work for the SBOE.

On Aug. 15, a Texas assistant principal was the victim of a violent attack by a studentin a case that has received nationwide attention and sent ripples through the public education community. Candra Rogers - assistant principal at Collins Intermediate School in Corsicana ISD - was left blind in one eye by the assault. This incident underscores the urgent need for improved safety measures and increased funding for public schools.

Rogers rightly said she believes that Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Legislature share some responsibility for the attack due to the chronic lack of adequate funding for public schools, a situation thathas reached a crisis point in recent years.

Texas AFT calls for Education Bill of Rights amid debate over school choice and funding.Greenwood Hills Elementary School in Richardson ISD is one of several campuses that districts across North Texas didn'topen this year.Texas AFT, a union representingmore than 65,000 educators and support staff, blames Gov.Greg Abbott. Zeph Capo, president of Texas AFT held a virtual news conference Tuesday. "That's what we're referring to as Abbott's elementary," said Capo. (CBS News Texas, Sept. 3)

His school district is a rarity in Texas with a surplus - but it could change.In August, the Round Top-Carmine school board managed to do what most districts in Central Texas - big and small - could not. His district adopted a budget for the new school year with a surplus. The superintendent is quick to point out if the district were fully staffed (they are looking for two more teachers), they too would be in a deficit like most districts in the area. (KXAN, Sept. 2)

Who Would Be the Better President for the Working Class?| Opinion.For working people, the choice in the November election could not be clearer. On the one hand, you have Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, who chose careers that serve working people and our communities. They have walked picket lines with us, created breakfast programs for our kids, and stood up for us in court. Donald Trump and JD Vance, on the other hand, have alternated between serving themselves and serving the richest and most privileged among us. (Newsweek, Sept. 4)