New Orleans teacher Gwendolyn Adams testifies at a hearing on the future of education in the city. Photo by Nijme Rinaldi Nun.

Until schools reopen and houses are rebuilt, residents will not want to return to New Orleans, AFT member Gwendolyn Adams told Democratic members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce at a March 21 hearing in the city on the future of education in New Orleans.

"Katrina destroyed so many lives and homes," said Adams, a 25-year veteran teacher and member of the United Teachers of New Orleans, "but we cannot allow post-Katrina policies to destroy the hope and opportunity that public schools represent." Adams and other educators and students who testified at the hearing urged the lawmakers to get more federal money to New Orleans to help rebuild and reopen schools, buy new equipment, rehire staff and cover healthcare costs for laid-off employees (see our related stories to help AFT members affected by the hurricane.).

The hearing at the New Orleans Hilton was part of a two-day tour of the area led by Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the committee's ranking Democrat. The lawmakers visited schools in St. Bernard Parish as well as Southern University in New Orleans. Adams told them that many critics of the New Orleans school system "have never stepped foot in our schools" and have favored "quick fixes over long-term reform and resources." While schools in neighboring parishes reopened quickly after Katrina, only five non-charter public schools are open in New Orleans. "There's no excuse why we're not reopening more schools in New Orleans," she said, adding that the school where she taught, Harney Elementary, suffered only minor damage.

She also told the representatives about the "shameful" treatment of New Orleans school employees. In February, the vast majority of the school system's 7,500 teachers, PSRPs and other employees were laid off. Adams said she found out by word of mouth and never received an official termination letter. One of the biggest hardships has been the lack of health coverage, which most former employees can't afford now that they lack jobs.

"We cannot truly bring New Orleans back to life until we bring her schools back to life," Adams said. "My colleagues and I desperately want to help in this effort but cannot do so under the current circumstances."

March 28, 2006