And 30 Years Later...

NEA Today, Mar 2004

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DECADE (OR THREE) MAKES. It had been that long since Alaska State Representative Beth Kerttula spent an entire day in a public school classroom. But last fall, she and 40 other state legislators packed a lunch, grabbed their book bags, and headed back to school for a daylong event sponsored by NEA-Alaska.

Most legislators visited schools in their home districts, where they not only observed, but also learned the job duties of teachers and education support professionals. They even "helped" out with lessons.

"We hope lawmakers' experiences will better prepare them for the important policy and budget decisions they'll face," says NEA-Alaska President Rich Kronberg. "One of the main differences teachers have to deal with nowadays is "No Child Left Behind." We want legislators to see what impact that's having."