Congratulations, Jessica Tang, the newly elected leader of the Boston Teachers Union! What I admire about Jessica, in addition to all the firsts attached to her rise, is that she is determined to fight privatization. Despite the fact that Massachusetts is far and away the highest performing state on NAEP, the plutocrats have been trying to bust the public schools.
She is a fighter. Between Tang and Barbara Madeloni of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the state is well prepared to fight corporate reform.
The Boston Globe writes:
“The most remarkable thing about Jessica Tang’s ascension as head of the Boston Teachers Union might be just how unremarkable it feels.
“Tang’s election last week as president of one of the city’s most important unions was anticlimactic: She was unopposed. She’s the first person of color to head the union, the first member of the LGBT community, and the first woman in more than three decades. Since 1983, in fact, only two people, Edward Doherty and the retiring Richard Stutman, have led the city’s teachers.
“But Tang, 35, is a brilliant and passionate advocate for public schools and their teachers.She has learned the art of fiercely defending positions without sparking personal animus, and her rise through the union ranks has been so seamless that she was elected to the presidency unopposed.
“She takes office at a challenging time for the union, which is locked in a contentious contract negotiation with the city. This is also a watershed moment for teachers unions in general, facing fire from several directions.
“The only organized body standing in the way of privatizing education is teachers unions, and I do believe that’s why teachers unions are under attack,” Tang said last week, the day after her election. “The idea that unions obstruct learning, that’s just not true. That whole narrative that unions are the reason that public schools are bad, that’s just wrong.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Great news! And congratulations Jessica Tang. I’m actually hoping to move to Boston for the 2018-2019 school year….
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Let’s hope that she doesn’t get sucked in with the allure of power. Time will tell.
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I presume Tang is aware that the bio. of a current Massachusetts state higher education board member lists as credentials, former President of the Massachusetts Teachers Association (2010-2014) and Pahara Teacher-Leader Fellow.
If Tang is against the oligarchs’ plot that targets education, I wish her every success.
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Tang is right. Teachers’ unions do not obstruct teaching methods or what students learn. I can only speak about California because each state has its own requirements for what it takes to become a teacher and stay a teacher.
Back in the 1970s when I earned my teaching credential, California changed is credentialing laws and since then teachers in California were required by law to take state approved workshops and classes (150 hours every 5-hears) on a regular basis.
This may have changed since I retired. I’ve copied and pasted info below:
“Teaching Certification Renewal”
Preliminary teaching credentials may not be renewed after their five-year expiration. You must meet the requirements for a Clear Credential during the five-year life of your Preliminary Credential.
Requirements
One of the following options must be completed:
Once you receive your California Clear Credential, it is valid for five years. Although the Commission used to require 150 hours of professional growth to renew a clear credential, clear credentials may now be renewed without verifying any professional or continuing education requirements.
http://www.teaching-certification.com/teaching/california-teacher-certification-renewal.html
You see, in California, a teaching credential does not automatically guarantee a job for life, and the main purpose of teachers’ unions is not to advocate for curriculum or teaching methods but to support adequate teachers’ due process rights, a livable pay, healthy work environment, and benefits that include health and a future adequate retirement for teachers that work in the profession for decades.
It is the responsibly of elected school boards and state representatives in Sacramento to deal with legislation and ed-codes that focus on curriculum and safe teaching methods. This was the way it was during the 30-years I taught in California from 1976 – 2005.
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THANK YOU, Lloyd. So TRUE and you explain the situation well.
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Thank you Guru Lloyd Lofthouse:
I wholeheartedly agree with your expression about “the main purpose of teachers’ unions”, with an extension to all other work forces.
I would like to repeat your wisdom.
[start expression]
the main purpose of teachers’ unions is not to advocate for curriculum or teaching methods but
to support adequate teachers’ due process rights,
to ensure a livable pay, healthy work environment, and
to earn benefits that include health and a future adequate retirement
for teachers that work in the profession for decades.
[end expression]
I hope that every teacher will demand these conditions before entering a teaching career or to sign a teaching contract whether it is in public or private schools. May
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I was a Boston teacher for 36 years, and a union rep for about 25 of those. Our current leadership has valiantly held the gate against the vandals who would destroy all that we value about our profession.
The slate which ran together for and won the vacated seats (due to retirements) of president (Jessica Tang), vice president (Eric Berg), secretary-treasurer (Betsy Drinan) and political director (Johnny McInnis) represent the best of the Boston Teachers Union. They are a diverse group of knowledgable, capable individuals with many years of classroom experience and have also served in various capacities on the executive board, negotiation committee, and other standing committees.
We’re in good hands.
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