A proposal by an Oʻahu high school English teacher has been adopted by the National Education Association’s Representative Assembly. The measure aims to ensure equitable educational opportunities for English language learners and migrant students, irrespective of their immigration status.
The proposal, submitted as a legislative amendment, is now included in the legislative priorities that NEA members and lobbyists use to advocate for public school educators and students in Washington, D.C.
Jamie Stidger, an English teacher at Castle High School, introduced the proposal at the NEA RA held Friday in Portland, Oregon. Stidger noted, “The cool thing about the legislative amendment is it’s akin to our contract. It’s there forever until people change it or add to it or delete something.”
With nearly two decades on the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association’s Government Relations Committee, Stidger has taught English learners for 18 years before switching to teaching English several years ago. She emphasized the significance of her proposal: “It clarified that students in our classrooms, regardless of immigration status, have access to equal opportunities in education and public education.”
Stidger expressed concern over potential cuts to the U.S. Department of Education: “It’s important because the U.S. DOE being cut. The federal DOE was really put in place to ensure that the states follow the laws and ensure civil rights for all of our kids. And as we’ve seen, that’s clearly eroding.”
She further stressed the importance of protecting all students: “We need to protect all our kids. A kid shows up on my class. I’m gonna teach them and they should have the same opportunities, and we can’t be discriminating.”
Stidger acknowledged that getting approval for her proposal required collective effort: “(HSTA Human and Civil Rights Committee Chair) Jodi (Kunimitsu) helped me get the signatures. Ashley Olson (who is one of five members of the NEA’s Internal Editing Committee for resolutions) helped me figure it out. People from outside came in and told me to change wording.”
The National Education Association Representative Assembly convenes every summer with thousands of educators from across the country debating issues impacting public education and setting policy for the year ahead.
This year’s assembly took place in Portland with nearly 7,000 educators from every state participating.
