It’s that time of year again: the NEA Representative Assembly begins July 3 in Washington, followed by the AFT’s biennial meeting in Chicago July 11. This is where teachers from the national unions’ state and local affiliates get together to do serious union work at what looks like a giant party.
Most years, there’s little that goes on at these mammoth and raucous, yet well-orchestrated sessions that’s surprising: There’s a lot of NCLB-bashing, plenty of discussion on national and internal union policy, debate on a handful of resolutions that critics contend have little to do with education, and in the end, members vote on numerous other resolutions pretty much the way one expects them to vote. Even the election of top leaders, as will happen this year at both the NEA and AFT, is fully devoid of nail-biting suspense.
Still, in a room filled with thousands of teachers, just about anything is possible. And Education Week will be at both conventions this year to keep you updated. Stay tuned.