CATE Resolutions - 2002
Board Resolution 1: Commendation to the Convention Committee
Background
Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamers.
Bring me all of your
Heart Melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.
...Langston Hughes
Teachers keep the dream of literacy and creativity alive. As dream keepers teachers share the vision of many through literature. We make it possible for students to awaken to a brighter day when their dreams come true, and they become keepers of their own dreams. The Dream Keepers of CATE 2002 provide opportunities because of the efforts of many dedicated dreamers.
Resolution
Resolved that the California Association of Teachers of English (CATE) congratulate and commend the following chair persons, committee members, and assistants who have worked so hard on CATE 2002, "The Dream Keepers."
Convention Co-Chairs - Lorraine
K. Tracey, Linda J. Stockton
Associate Chair - Al Adams
Audio Visual Chair - Charleen Silva Delfino
California Young Reader Medal - Lorraine K. Tracey
College Credit - Bev Kreps
Convention Coordinator - Punky Fristrom
Exhibits Managers - Julia Gottesman, Jan Burke
Graphic Design - Susan MacMillan Graphics
Hospitality - Linda Marohn
Lesson Plan Exchange - Bev Kreps
Meals - Edd Armstrong
Pre-Convention - Chiyo Masuda
Program Chairs - Don Mayfield, Anna J. Roseboro, Carole LeCren
Registrar - Linda Scott
Registration - Mark T. Sneed, Jennifer Ough, LuPaulette Taylor
Student Teachers/Volunteers - Chiyo Masuda
Treasurer - Anne Fristrom
Webmaster - Larry Jordan
Authors - Akiko Morimoto
Autographing - Judy Toll
Resolution 1 - Class Size Reduction
Background
In 1989, the California State Legislature enacted the Morgan-Hart Class Size Reduction Bill. Reducing English class size provides the opportunity to increase student literacy and overall academic growth. Presently, potential budget cuts threaten to eliminate high school class size reductions.
Resolution
Resolved that the California Association of Teachers of English (CATE) urge the California State Legislature and Governor Gray Davis to continue to fund high school English class size reductions.
To
State Board of Education, Reed Hastings, President
Governor Gray Davis
State Secretary of Education, Kerry Mazzoni
Senate Education Committee, John Vasconcellos, Chair
Assembly Education Committee, Virginia Strom-Martin, Chair
Delain Eastin, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
California Teachers Association, Wayne Johnson, President
California Federation of Teachers, Mary Bergan, President
Resolution 2 - Discontinue or Re-norm SAT9
Background
The California State Board of Education has mandated a norm-referenced test, the SAT 9, as a measure of student achievement in the California public schools. The norming population of the SAT 9, however, was very different from the heterogeneous population of California students. For example, while only two percent of the norming population were English Language Learners, approximately 25% of the students in California schools are English language Learners. Consequently, the test results do not accurately represent the skills of California students when measured against the normed population.
Resolution
Resolved that the California Association of Teachers of English (CATE) urge the State Board of Education to discontinue the use of the SAT 9 as a measure of our students' academic skills,
Or, at the least
to require the publisher to re-norm the SAT9 to reflect California's diverse population.
To:
State Board of Education, Reed Hastings, President
Governor Gray Davis
State Secretary of Education, Kerry Mazzoni
Senate Education Committee, John Vasconcellos, Chair
Assembly Education Committee, Virginia Strom-Martin, Chair
Delain Eastin, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
California Teachers Association, Wayne Johnson, President
California Federation of Teachers, Mary Bergan, President