How Do Teachers Walk The Line Between Education And Advocacy?

Published: Friday, January 4, 2019 - 12:46pm

Updated: Friday, January 4, 2019 - 7:02pm

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Even without newly proposed laws at the Arizona Legislature this session, there are already rules around advocacy that teachers have to follow.

Recently, two teachers — including Arizona Education Association Teacher of the Year Kareem Neal — faced disciplinary action for their advocacy for the failed Invest in Education initiative during class time. State law says teachers are forbidden from using public resources to influence an election.

As teachers in Arizona and around the country become more politically engaged, how can they walk the line between being public employees and education advocates?

Dr. Keith Catone has studied that line and how important is for teachers to be involved in shaping education policy. He’s executive director at CYCLE, the Center for Youth & Community Leadership in Education at Roger Williams University.

He joined The Show to talk more about it.