On the Rights of Teachers to Attend Professional Meetings

1971

NCTE Annual Business Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada

Background

This resolution grew out of a dilemma faced in recent years by many teachers seeking to develop their abilities. Although one of the criteria administrators use to evaluate teachers' professional growth is attendance at professional meetings, some teachers have nevertheless been denied permission to be absent from their classes to attend such meetings, or have been denied pay for attendance. Periodic budget-cutting at federal, state, and local levels continues to produce conditions that can result in similar denial of professional growth; thus the resolution remains relevant today.

Resolution

Resolved, that the National Council of Teachers of English affirm the rights of teachers to attend professional meetings during regular school sessions without loss of pay and that the Council urge administrators and school boards to encourage this attendance and to provide adequate financial support.