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Wednesday, November 6, 2024

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Donald Trump wins US presidency and the GOP flips the Senate; UT electric provider taps into the potential of 'virtual' power plants; Ohio State course bridges science and faith in polarized times; MI mayor prioritizes health, climate with 'health-in-all-policies' plan.

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Trump wins the White House. Republicans will take over the Senate after flipping several seats, and seem to be on track to hold the House. In spite of bomb threats and charges of fraud, a very high-turnout election mostly went smoothly.

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A Cambodian poultry farmer who lost his livelihood could be a hero for others, rural Montanans are anxiously awaiting a court ruling over a climate lawsuit brought by young people, and Northeast states say more housing for working families could boost jobs.

Florida educators rally at convention to address 'critical challenges'

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Tuesday, July 23, 2024   

Florida took center stage at the American Federation of Teachers national convention in Houston this week, as educators rallied to support and improve public schools.

Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association, was among the attendees, who noted teachers nationwide are watching the Sunshine State. He highlighted a moment when a former Jacksonville teacher, targeted by the DeSantis administration for displaying a Black Lives Matter flag, introduced AFT President Randi Weingarten, whose State of the Union speech addressed such ongoing battles.

"Even in Florida, where we're constantly under attack by a governor and a commissioner of education aimed at undermining public education, we fight back and we win," Spar asserted.

As Gov. Ron DeSantis promotes charter schools and claims Florida leads in education, Spar argued the governor and Legislature have neglected public school funding, calling for better support, pay and health insurance for teachers and staff.

In her address, Weingarten focused on political battles nationwide, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president and emphasized the importance of unions, addressing teacher burnout, wellness and support for education for all.

"Public schools are essential to our children's future and to our democracy," Weingarten argued. "Every public school should be a place where families want to send their children, educators want to work, and all students thrive."

The convention's agenda also includes discussions on academic freedom, affordability in higher education, and the fight against the "adjunctification" of faculty, the practice of using adjunct instructors to cover courses which could be taught by full-time faculty members.

Disclosure: The American Federation of Teachers contributes to our fund for reporting on Education, Health Issues, Livable Wages/Working Families, and Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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