Exposing the problem of child labor in America
AFT resource highlights an issue that affects as many as 500,000 children

Child labor in America is an outrage that touches the lives of as many as 500,000 children.

The AFT and other concerned groups hope to bring increased attention to the problem with the new Web-based resource “In Our Own Backyard” (www.ourownbackyard.org).

Unveiled on the World Day Against Child Labor (June 12), the resource was developed by the AFT in cooperation with other organizations.

AFT executive vice president Antonia Cortese spoke at a Capitol Hill briefing on June 12 to inform lawmakers about the problem of child farmworkers in the United States and to introduce the union’s new resource.

“The notion that oppressive child labor occurs legally within the United States shocks us as educators, and will likely shock students as well,” said Cortese, who also co-chairs the Child Labor Coalition. “This topic is important for us to address in the classroom and can serve as an effective tool for teaching students about the human impact of public policy and how they can change it.”

Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) has introduced the Children’s Act for Responsible Employment of 2007 (CARE Act), which would substantially increase protections for young farmworkers.

“In Our Own Backyard” is structured to facilitate a public policy approach to studying child labor. Students can learn about the current state of the problem, assess alternatives for addressing it and, ultimately, recommend solutions. The resource also will help students consider the roles of government, citizens and businesses in protecting America’s children.

“In Our Own Backyard,” which includes a poster and DVD, is available for free (with a $2 shipping and handling charge) at www.aftstore.org in the “special resources” area.

Dual and unequal systems undermine learning in New Orleans
Report cites reasons for teacher shortage, makes recommendations

As long as New Orleans continues with its dual and unequal school systems, students in the district of last resort—the state-operated Recovery School District (RSD)—will be shortchanged. Current policies are perpetuating an acute shortage of experienced teachers. These are the chief conclusions of a report released this summer by the AFT, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers (LFT) and the AFT-United Teachers of New Orleans (AFT-UTNO).

“No Experience Necessary: How the New Orleans School Takeover Experiment Devalues Experienced Teachers” chronicles the missteps made during the state takeover, including the creation of a Balkanized school system; the firing of virtually all teachers and other school district staff, which prompted a mass exodus of experienced teachers; and the refusal to restore collective bargaining rights.

“By dismissing thousands of school employees, state officials have forced the RSD into a constant recruitment mode that is drawing resources away from programs needed to raise student achievement,” says LFT president Steve Monaghan.

Today, veteran teachers make up less than half of the teaching staff in RSD regular and charter schools. “The post-Katrina education decisions made by Louisiana officials turned a pre-existing challenge—retaining experienced teachers—into a full-blown crisis,” the report says.

The dearth of experienced teachers is especially disturbing given the research demonstrating the connection between experienced teachers and higher student performance.

“The ‘No Experience Necessary’ sign must be taken down. Teachers and school staff can no longer be excluded from the dialogue on reshaping New Orleans public schools,” says AFT-UTNO president Brenda Mitchell. Teacher pay does not appear to be the most significant factor in the shortage of seasoned teachers; the major issues are respect, working conditions and having a real voice in education decisions.

The report makes several recommendations for attracting and retaining teachers, including making experienced teachers partners in the rebuilding effort.

Other recommendations for addressing the teacher shortage include providing incentives to encourage teachers who retired prematurely to return to teaching, the development of a nationwide recruitment and retention strategy, the targeting of experienced teachers from other urban school districts who have been laid off because of declining enrollments or budget cuts, and working with AFT-UTNO and its state and national affiliates to strengthen existing staff-development programs.

LFT and AFT-UTNO leaders presented the report’s findings and recommendations to the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

“Although some RSD officials have met with us to discuss our findings, we have yet to see a genuine commitment by the state to work with the union and change their approach to recruitment and retention,” says Mitchell.

“Until they address the working conditions inside our schools and give employees a real voice in decisions, their recruitment strategy is likely to fall short.”

For more information on what’s happening in New Orleans schools, visit  www.aft.org/topics/neworleans/
index.htm.