Help protect Virginia's teachers and schools!

I am a teacher in Virginia, and right now the radical right house and senate are jamming bills through to weaken public education.

Currently teachers get a continuing contract after 3 years of successful teaching in one school division. This is not tenure, it only means that they cannot be fired or released except with documentation of poor performance, Reduction in enrollment, courses, or funds.

Right now there are two bills in subcommittees that. HB576 wants to extend the probationary period to 5 years. In that time a teacher can be released for any reason, or no reason at all. After that, a teacher will be placed on on a 3 year term contract. Every three years teachers will face being dismissed for no reason at all. A superintendent only needs to tell teachers that they will not be given a new 3 year contract.

What does this mean for Virginia Schools? It means that teachers will become even more afraid to speak out or challenge decisions by Superintendents, School Boards, and principals. There will be a rise of cronyism, where teachers become "Yes Men" and "Yes Women" even when they are uncomfortable or morally disagree with what is asked of them. Schools often resist identifying students for Special Education because of laws that prohibit over testing and identifying students for Special Education.

It means that our "Unions" will be further weakened in this right to work state. Leadership of all local officers can be decimated every three years.

We need your help! Please go to http://capwiz.com/nea/va/issues/alert/?alertid=60621591 to send an email to your delegate.