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| Welcome to the
SLATE Newsletter! This online newsletter is mailed to you at the email address NCTE has on file for you. In it you'll find articles and information on and about issues that affect the teaching of the English language arts. You may access an archive of past SLATE
Newsletters, SLATE Starter Sheets, and other SLATE-related material at http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/slate SLATE is NCTE's grassroots network that • seeks to influence public attitudes and policy decisions affecting the teaching of English language arts at local, state, and national levels; • seeks to implement and publicize the policies adopted by the National Council of Teachers of English; and • serves as NCTE's intellectual freedom network, providing support for those facing censorship challenges. A separate membership fee is not required to join SLATE. Every NCTE member will receive SLATE updates on a regular basis, will have an opportunity to participate in SLATE campaigns, and will occasionally be invited to support SLATE through voluntary contributions. Share These Materials SLATE Newsletters are offered as resources for dealing with current issues affecting the teaching of English language arts. Reproduce these materials and use them to help promote better understanding of the goals of English teaching. December 2006 | |
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Letter From the Editor Fred Barton Michigan State University For those of you not familiar with SLATE (Support for the Learning and Teaching of English) it is an NCTE standing committee whose goal is to influence public attitudes and policy decisions affecting the teaching of English language arts at all levels. Read the letter http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/slate/126186.htm NCTE Recommends Changes for NCLB During a meeting in Nashville last week, the NCTE Executive Committee approved recommendations that changes be made in NCLB through the 2007 reauthorization process. http://www.ncte.org/about/gov/cgrams/126092.htm Legislative Platform Guides NCTE’s Advocacy Efforts Each February, the NCTE Executive Committee adopts a legislative platform outlining key priorities for congressional action, along with a basic rationale for the positions adopted. This document guides strategy for development of policy research briefs, for reaching out to selected policymakers, and for hosting conferences or seminars so that non-educators may better understand literacy education policy and its implications. http://www.ncte.org/about/policy/guidelines/124259.htm New NCTE Statements on Literature in the Curriculum, Increasing High School Graduation Rates, and the Role of Teachers in Selecting Reading Programs (The Council Chronicle Online, November 20, 2006) Members attending the Annual Business Meeting during the NCTE Annual Convention in Nashville passed three resolutions on issues important to teachers of English language arts. http://www.ncte.org/pubs/chron/highlights/126091.htm 2007 NCTE Advocacy Day Sign up to attend NCTE's Advocacy Day on April 26, 2007 in Washington, D.C. See http://www.ncte.org/announce/115893.htm How to Submit a Resolution One of the most important ways you can make a difference is to submit a resolution on an issue of importance to English language arts education. NCTE resolutions, along with NCTE guidelines and position statements, tell the world what we feel is best practice (and sometimes what we feel is not) in English language arts education. These resolutions are voted on at the Annual Business Meeting for the Board of Directors and Other Members of the Council, and they do make a difference. Submissions for resolutions are due on October 15 of each year. To see current resolutions, which are good models for resolution format, and the rules and procedures governing the submission of resolutions, visit http://www.ncte.org/about/over/positions/107214.htm NCTE Praises Reading First Audit: Calls for Further Investigation The Inspector General should be praised for doing a conscientious job of identifying blatant non-compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act and for publishing the findings. The investigation should continue… http://www.ncte.org/about/press/key/125668.htm NCTE Reasserts Its Position on Grammar Instruction The Council's position on the teaching of grammar remains the same. See http://www.ncte.org/about/press/key/125935.htm Censorship Challenges Down during First Quarter The good news this quarter is that the number of challenges is down a bit from the same time last fiscal year. However, there are some disturbing trends to note. Read the entire report at http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/slate/126179.htm Contribute to SLATE Your donation to SLATE will help us to implement and publicize the policies adopted by NCTE, to support NCTE’s anti-censorship work, and to influence public attitudes and policy decisions affecting the teaching of English language arts at local, state, and national levels. Donate through the NCTE online store at http://www.ncte.org/store/givingopps or use the donation form available at http://www.ncte.org/library/files/About_NCTE/Gifts/SLATE_Donation_Form.pdf to fax your donation to SLATE (217-278-0977) mail NCTE your donation to SLATE (National Council of Teachers of English, 1111 W. Kenyon Rd. Urbana, IL 61801-1096). NCTE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and all donations are tax deductible. Donations received by December 31 may be deducted from your income taxes for that year. Important Policy Connections NCTE's Action Center and the Latest Action Alerts http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/action/alerts NCTE's Anti-Censorship Center http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/censorship NCTE Position Statements http://www.ncte.org/about/over/positions NCTE Policy Collections http://www.ncte.org/edpolicy NCTE Executive Committee Strategic Governance Policy (scroll to Strategic Governance near the bottom of the page) http://www.ncte.org/about/gov | |
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Copyright 2006
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