Amendments to resolutions are recommended
M TA Resolutions are the association’s statements of principle on issues relating to members, public education, the welfare
of students and human and civil rights.
Resolutions may be submitted by any member
to the Resolutions Committee by the second Friday
in January. They also may be submitted by the end
of business on Friday at the Annual Meeting of
Delegates. In addition, the committee may propose
resolutions.
All resolutions submitted are considered by
the committee, and those submitted by the January
deadline are also brought before the Board of
Directors. To become an official position of the
MTA, a resolution must be adopted by the delegates
at the Annual Meeting.
The revisions printed in this edition of MTA
Today were recommended by the Resolutions
Committee. The Board voted on March 18 to
recommend passage by the delegates.
In instances where the proposal is to amend an
existing resolution, the current version is shown first
and the proposed modifications are shown below it.
A section that has a line through it is proposed
for elimination; a section that is underlined is a
proposed addition.
All current resolutions are posted on the MTA
website. To review the resolutions and bylaws,
please visit www.massteacher.org/resolutions.
Current B- 11
The Environment, Natural Resources
and Climate Change
The Massachusetts Teachers Association
believes that preservation of natural resources is vital
to the future quality of life. The MTA also recognizes
the importance of all matter within the life cycle
and urges the establishment of programs to teach
students the concepts of and appreciation for the
interdependence of all living organisms.
The MTA urges its members to support and
teach educational programs that develop in students
an understanding of their responsibilities to all
living and non-living things, positive behaviors
toward the environment, and an understanding of the
need to protect the Earth’s resources. The MTA also
recognizes the importance of programs designed to
improve the ecological balance and shall actively
support federal, state and local programs that seek to
combat the pollution of the environment.
The MTA further believes that students should
be taught about the impact of human behavior on
global climate change and about environmentally
sound practices that lessen that impact.
Additionally, the MTA, recognizing that
alternative energy use will reduce dependence on
fossil fuels, strongly urges the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and its cities and towns to actively
pursue the use of alternative energy resources. (70,
79, 80, 85, 88, 89, 91, 99, 02, 15)
Proposed Amended B- 11
The Environment, Natural Resources
and Climate Change
The Massachusetts Teachers Association
believes that preservation of natural resources is vital
to the future quality of life. The MTA also recognizes
the importance of all matter within the life cycle
and urges the establishment of programs to teach
students the concepts of and appreciation for the
interdependence of all living organisms.
The MTA urges its members to support and
teach educational programs that develop in students
an understanding of their responsibilities to all
living and non-living things, positive behaviors
toward the environment, and an understanding of the
need to protect the Earth’s resources. The MTA also
recognizes the importance of programs designed to
improve the ecological balance and shall actively
support federal, state and local programs that seek to
combat the pollution of the environment.
The MTA believes that global climate change
causes significant measurable damage to the Earth and
its inhabitants. The MTA further believes that students
should be taught about the impact of human behavior
on global climate change and about environmentally
sound practices that lessen that impact.
Additionally, the MTA, recognizing that
alternative energy use will reduce dependence on
fossil fuels, strongly urges the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and its cities and towns to actively
pursue the use of alternative energy resources. (70,
79, 80, 85, 88, 89, 91, 99, 02, 15, 16)
Proposed New B- 37
Education of Immigrants
(at the end of Section B)
The Massachusetts Teachers Association
believes that, regardless of the immigration status of
students or their parents, every student has the right
to a free public education in an environment free
from harassment.
The association also believes that all parents
should have equal access to all services provided by
the school system regardless of their immigration
status. The association opposes Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations on school
property.
The association supports access to higher
education for undocumented students and access
to financial aid and in-state tuition to state colleges
and universities in the states where they reside. The
association also believes that neither educational
systems nor their employees are responsible for the
determination and enforcement of legal residency
status. ( 16)
Current D- 16
Teacher Licensure
The Massachusetts Teachers Association
believes that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
or any independent standards board governed by
members of the profession, if one is established,
is the only entity that should have the authority to
award or deny teacher licenses in Massachusetts.
(00, 09)
Proposed Amended D- 16
Educator Teacher Licensure
The Massachusetts Teachers Association
believes that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
or any independent standards board governed by
members of the profession, if one is established,
is the only entity that should have the authority
to award or deny teacher educator licenses in
Massachusetts.
Professional development required to maintain
an educator license should be relevant, practicable
and respectful of educators’ professionalism and
time. (00, 09, 16)
Proposed New F- 28
Equitable Support for Collective Bargaining
(and renumber the rest of Section F)
The Massachusetts Teachers Association
believes that solidarity among all members of
a bargaining unit is integral to supporting and
defending public educators through collective
bargaining. The MTA supports requiring all members
of a bargaining unit to become dues-paying members
of that unit or to pay a fair share fee to sustain the
benefits that all members receive under the collective
bargaining agreement. ( 16)
