Message From the President
Dear Colleagues,
In these times when teachers and unions are under seemingly constant attack, now more than ever we must do what we do best: educate.
Speak up when people use teachers and other school professionals as scapegoats. Use their attacks as opportunities to educate them about the work that we do. Help them understand that we are educated professionals with advanced degrees who work hard both during school hours and outside of the school day.
As educators, we teach our students to be critical thinkers. Critical thinkers will not blindly believe propaganda such as that being disseminated during the current anti-teacher and anti-union fad.
Moreover, we must teach about union history and the reasons behind our current rules about salary, seniority, and tenure. We study history to learn from past successes and failures. History has shown that without rules protecting workers’ rights, we will not be treated equitably and fairly. Let us not forget. We must continue to fight for this hard-won progress so that the repugnant working conditions of our past do not recur in the future.
It is time to advocate for what we believe in and know is right. We must stand together and do what we do best. Let us unite in solidarity while we preserve the rights of future workers.
In unity, Joanne Loring, President
Oyster Bay – East Norwich Teachers Association
OBENTA
Oyster Bay-East Norwich
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