MEA member Chad Downs almost left the field of education before he started. During his pre-student teaching at Eastern Michigan University, Downs said he couldn’t find a school or program that fit with his beliefs about education and creativity. Then an EMU advisor intervened and introduced him to Ann Arbor Open School, and the rest…
Dispute Resolution Centers exist in counties across Michigan, and they offer conflict mediation training for schools. Ann Arbor counselor Amy McLoughlin recommends it as the first step in exploring a restorative justice program. The Student Advocacy Center of Michigan offers an extensive list of resources for understanding Michigan’s new school discipline law and tapping into…
Grand Rapids paraeducator Jason Heemstra used to be the sort of union member who questioned and complained without getting involved. Maybe that’s why he’s such an effective advocate for MEA today. Two years ago, Heemstra quit grousing and stepped up to act in his ESP unit. He ran for building representative and won, then got…
After nearly five months without a new contract, the Ferris Faculty Association (FFA) reached an agreement with the Ferris State University Board of Trustees. The agreement was the result of a strong campaign of continuous pressure on the board and university president, which included a one-day strike on the first day of classes. Other actions by…
The deadline for nominating candidates for two prestigious MEA awards – honoring educational excellence and human rights advocacy – has been extended. The awards will be presented at the MEA Winter Conference this February in Detroit. Fill out a nominating form by Nov. 30 for the following awards: Educational Excellence The nominee should have demonstrated commitment to…
A bill with bipartisan support that would keep standardized test scores from taking on even greater importance in the lives of teachers and students in Michigan passed out of the House Education Reform Committee on Thursday.
Educators have more time and additional opportunities to provide feedback to both the state and MEA on controversial proposed changes to Michigan’s K-12 social studies standards.
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has extended the deadline for submitting online comments and added new dates for in-person feedback. In addition, MEA wants your thoughts on the proposed standards to help guide a formal position statement the union will be submitting. Visit MEA’s Action Network page to view the standards and share your feedback with us.
Proposed changes pushed by conservative Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton) have sparked criticism and heightened public interest in the debate over what children should learn about history and human society from kindergarten through high school.
