As a former trainer, I used to be thrilled after I heard that Vice President Kamala Harris could be talking on the American Federation of Lecturers Conference right here in Houston. Realizing this was one in all her first speeches as a presidential candidate, and figuring out absolutely the prepare wreck of the state takeover of Houston I.S.D. this previous yr, I knew I needed to be there.
Dodging the rain, I headed to Houston’s George R. Brown Conference Heart early this morning and went via press check-in. Whereas ready, I chatted with fellow academics, AFT workers, and media personnel about their expectations for Harris’ speech. Many expressed a mixture of pleasure and curiosity about her plans for training.
Lastly, as soon as the delegates from the AFT conference had taken their seats, AFT president Randi Weingarten took the stage and launched Vice President Kamala Harris.
Listed below are my 5 largest takeaways from her speech.
1. Lecturers are prepared for change.
The vitality within the room was palpable. Harris’ acknowledgment of the struggles academics face and her name for systemic change resonated deeply.
“On this second, we’re in a combat for our most elementary freedoms,” Harris mentioned. “And to this room of leaders, I say deliver it on. Carry it on. Carry it on.”
The gang’s chants of “Carry it on!” in response made it clear: Lecturers are prepared for change.
2. Harris is not any stranger to advocating for academics.
I knew Kamala Harris had a robust historical past of supporting training initiatives. In her profession, she has advocated for common preschool, trainer pay raises, and free greater training. She’s been a robust advocate for desegregation, and in response to Schooling Week, “has endorsed payments to enhance STEM training for ladies and underrepresented minorities, and provides faculty districts funding to assist aligning the varsity day with household work schedules and constructing stronger relationships with households.”
In her speech at the moment, Harris centered on scholar debt forgiveness, notably for academics struggling to repay scholar loans over many years. Quoting a trainer she spoke with, Harris mentioned, “Will I’ve to depart this job to pay the payments?” A sentiment practically each trainer I do know has grappled with at one time or one other.
She additionally talked about the threats to academics’ security, humanity, and professionalism within the type of gun violence, anti-LGBTQ+ laws, and ebook bans. Clearly, Harris is aware of what academics are dealing with.
3. There was an enormous deal with the long run.
“In the present day we face a selection between two very totally different visions for our nation, one centered on the long run and the opposite centered on the previous,” Harris mentioned. “And we’re centered on the long run.”
With a lot negativity in academics’ rearview mirrors these previous few years—going from heros to zeros throughout COVID, ebook bans, hostility from communities, and even violence in some circumstances—academics are greater than able to look forward.
“We’re not going again. No,” Harris mentioned. “We’ll transfer ahead.”
4. One other massive focus: our nationwide character.
Lecturers know higher than nearly anybody that achievements imply little or no in the event that they’re born from hate, hostility, or ignoring the foundations. Harris spoke to this notion throughout her speech:
“We every in our nation face a query, that query being what sort of nation will we wish to stay in?” Harris mentioned. “A rustic of freedom, compassion, and rule of legislation? Or a rustic of chaos, concern, and hate? The fantastic thing about our democracy is that we every have the facility to reply that query once we vote. And once we vote, we make our voices heard.”
5. It’s vital that one in all Harris’ first speeches as a presidential candidate was to academics.
I discovered myself getting choked up as I watched Harris within the remaining moments of her speech.
Lecturers aren’t used to being “seen.” Positive, we’ve Instructor Appreciation Day and the occasional electronic mail from a former scholar. However as a rule, aside from the scholars whom we influence straight, we’re kind of within the shadows. I believe a lot of the public expects that we’ll present up, irrespective of how insulting the pay is or how little assist we get.
To have the present vp and presidential candidate deal with educators straight, Harris signaled to academics, “I see you. Your issues matter to me, and I hear them.”
Some say politics and political discussions haven’t any place in training. However that’s basically unfaithful. Each a part of training—from our curriculum to our pay to the variety of college students in our school rooms and books in our libraries—is predicated on political selections. Instructing in itself is a political act.
I gained’t let you know who to vote for. However I’ll let you know this: If training is a trigger on the poll that issues to you in any respect, please, please present as much as the polls in November.
I do know who has my vote.
