TSTA President Rita Haecker is shown with John Hand of San Benito. (Courtesy photo)
Special to the NEWS
In a speech to the Texas State Teachers Association of San Benito (TSTA), Association President Rita Haecker of Austin described the current crisis in public education as a war between those who value public education and those who do not.
“We are at war with a group of people who want to spend money on charter schools and vouchers rather than spending it on your children,” she said.
Beginning her second term as state president of the organization, Haecker was in San Benito on Friday, May 20, to help honor out going officers, retiring members, and newly elected officers of TSTA. She had met the previous evening with regional officers.
Haecker said some bills being considered in the Texas legislative session would “prevent the majority of Texas children (from getting) the kind of quality public education that they need and deserve.”
“What is happening in the Texas Legislature is wrong,” she said.
Haecker also addressed pending legislation that would tie student performances on tests to the evaluation of teachers and vowed TSTA will “continue to oppose it because we believe it does not truly assess the quality of the teacher.”
She warned that some legislators were advocating the privatization of such educational support jobs as custodians, bus drivers, and cafeteria workers.
“If anyone asks you what you think about privatizing these services, tell them that you live here, pay taxes here and raise your children here. The people in your community need these jobs, and your school district needs your financial support,” she said.
Haecker addressed the TSTA members at a dinner at El Gallito, held in celebration of the end of the year. The event also honored outgoing President Patricia Sandoval, Vice President Pau Hernandez, and Secretary Gloria Hernandez. Vice President Irene Fiscal and Treasurer Betty Flores, who remain in office, also were honored.
New officers – President John Hand, Vice President Debbie Castillo, and Secretary Isabel Butiedra – were introduced, and a special presentation honored retiring TSTA member Rafaela Robles, who had served the San Benito school district for 43 years.
To see this story in print, pick up a copy of the June 8 edition of the San Benito News. Or view our E-Edition by clicking here.
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