Teachers with guns....and the rest of the week at AFT CT

Senators Murphy and Blumenthal and Representative Hayes came to New Britain High this week. Jan, Teacher President Sal Escobales and I were happy to join them, other educators, and students for a discussion on the plan by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to divert funds from the education budget to arm teachers in the classroom with guns.
There was universal agreement that this was a bad idea.
Our schools struggle for funds for critically  needed supplies like books and enough educators, nurses, and social workers. The idea of diverting such funds to arm teachers is ludicrous.
I remember such an idea being proposed for nurses after a shooting in a hospital.
I’m a nurse.
You don’t want me armed, that’s for sure. I’d probably accidentally shoot myself in the foot.

In a light moment, one of the students remarked that they have police in their building, but they wouldn’t want them to substitute teach. Everyone turned to the police in the room, who were all nodding in agreement.
On a somewhat related note, Sal is working on a program to help fellow Veterans, who wish to become teachers, to have a pathway to accomplish this.
BTW, they don’t think teachers should be armed either.

While there, we took the opportunity to speak to Senator Murphy about Co-sponsoring a bill on Workplace Violence protection for healthcare and social workers, something Congressman Courtney has worked on for several years and introduced in the House and Senator Baldwin in the Senate. Senator Murphy has promised to review the bill.

Congratulations to our Assistant Attorney General Local. After two years of work on organizing and their first contract, it passed overwhelmingly in the House and Senate and now goes to the Governor.
Well done and well deserved.

The first AFT Connecticut Podcast (AFT in Action)  was completed this week with Jan hosting Jody Barr from AFSCME and Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz. It can be accessed through the AFT Connecticut Facebook page.

It was a week for AFT visitors from Washington. Jennifer Diagostino was in to help with AFT Connect (Database) training with staff and members, Mark Bostic was in to discuss associate membership programs, and Kyle Arnone and Sara Markle were in for our Healthcare Professional Issues Day on Saturday. Thank you all for the work you do.

Speaking of the Healthcare Professional Issues Day, thank you also to Jenn Benevento, Lisa D’Abrosca and everyone who worked to make this a success and thank you to the members and staff who gave up a Saturday to attend.

We took a week off from our regional legislative breakfasts but will return next Saturday with two, one in Niantic at 8:30 and one in Coventry at 12:00.
Hope to see you there to meet your legislators.