On Monday evening, the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers (NFT) and the Neshaminy Educational Support Professional Association (NESPA) came together to host a community forum discussing the achievements and hardships of public education.
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Speakers from a variety of backgrounds came together to speak out about problems and struggles facing public education today. The event took place as part of a May 1 Day of Action involving educators around the country.
“We will celebrate the achievements of Neshaminy school students, teachers and staff and provide a forum to discuss the challenges facing public education, including efforts to undermine local control, silence educators and target students based on their gender identity or nationality,” said Tara Huber, the president of the Nashaminy Federation of Teachers.
“We want to get the word out about positive things going on throughout the country and right here in our own backyard,” said NESPA President John McGinley, who works as a dispatcher for the transportation department in Neshaminy and was formerly a bus driver.
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The non-certified professionals in the schools, basically all workers who aren’t educators, make up a much bigger piece of kids’ days than most parents think, McGinley explained.
“As a bus driver, we are told that we are the first representative from the school district that the kids see,” McGinley added.
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The line up of speakers included elected officials, teaching professionals and teachers. State representatives Frank Farry and Tina Davis were present to give remarks to the union members.
“We have a lot to celebrate here in the Neshaminy School District,” Huber said during her opening remarks. “We believe that access to a quality education is a right.”
“So many of us interact with children as they come through our halls, so when we are all dedicated to the same thing, we can accomplish bigger and better things,” said the Superintendent Joe Jones.
