A wide variety of individuals have been named “Friend of Education” at conventions of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. The award is the highest honor the LFT bestows, and in the past it has been presented to senators, representatives, superintendents of education and other individuals for making significant contributions to public education.
For this year’s award, though, the Federation went in a different direction.
“For their perseverance in the face of adversity, for their service to our children, and for their refusal to be defeated by unfounded and unfair political assaults, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers names all 80,000 Louisiana teachers and school employees as the 2012 Friends of Education,” LFT President Steve Monaghan announced.
The200 convention delegates to the Federation’s 48th annual convention erupted into cheers and applause at the announcement, thrilled at the recognition given to dedicated public servants who spend every working day trying to build a better future for our state.
Monaghan said the state’s educators have been the victims of massive budget cuts and unprecedented attacks on their profession by self-described “reformers” whose main agenda is replacing public schools with a network of private and quasi-private providers. The goal, he said, is to open the state treasury to venture capitalists and corporate sponsors who value profit over the education of children.
“Educators have been demonized, marginalized and privatized, and yet they remain dedicated to the constitutional promise of a free and appropriate public education for all children,” he said. “No one deserves to be recognized as Friends of Education more than the teachers and school employees of Louisiana.”
