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Teachers’ representative urges South San Antonio ISD board to sign Educators’ Bill of Rights
Summary
Tom Cummins of South San AFT urged the Board of Trustees to sign a 10-right Educators’ Bill of Rights, arguing it addresses teacher working conditions, pay and safety and urging unified public-school support as the Texas legislative session approaches.
Tom Cummins, speaking for South San AFT, told the South San Antonio ISD Board of Trustees on Oct. 16 that the union has drafted an Educators’ Bill of Rights and asked trustees to sign on. “As that voice for the community, we hope you will sign on,” Cummins said, noting a QR code on board members’ desks to facilitate signing.
Cummins outlined the 10 articulated rights, which he said include “the right to reasonable working conditions, to a secure retirement, to a healthy, safe and secure working environment, to meaningful training and development, to democratic representation, to fair wages, to quality childcare, to academic freedom, the right to organize and to be free from religion in schools.” He framed the measure as addressing teacher shortages and improving student learning conditions by improving teachers’ working conditions.
Cummins criticized current state-level proposals favoring school vouchers, saying those policies “ignore the needs of students in public education” and are a priority of Governor Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. He called for public-school supporters to press for increased state allotments and other meaningful legislation in the January legislative session.
The board did not take action on the request at the meeting; Cummins concluded by again asking trustees to sign the educators’ statement and to join “the fight for public education.”
