Akron Education Association: A History of Advocacy for Teachers and Students
The Akron Education Association (AEA) stands as a significant advocate for educators and students within the Akron Public Schools. Since its establishment in 1946, and operating independently since 1978, the AEA has played a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape of Akron, Ohio. Representing over 2000 teachers and support staff, the AEA addresses a wide array of issues, from ensuring fair wages and improved teaching conditions to championing student welfare.
Founding and Early Goals
The AEA emerged from the dedication and vision of Akron teachers who sought to improve their profession and the quality of education. These founding members, recognized for their profound impact on countless students, were pioneers in advocating for equitable treatment in the workplace.
One of the AEA's initial and most significant achievements was the establishment of a single salary schedule. In 1947, teacher salaries were determined on an individual basis, often resulting in unequal pay for women. The AEA successfully campaigned for a standardized salary system, ensuring that women teachers received equal compensation.
Beyond salary equity, the AEA also focused on enhancing the economic support for Akron schools. Recognizing that Akron lagged behind other Ohio cities in school funding, the association actively lobbied for a school levy. This effort led to a decade of extensive construction and renovation, replacing temporary classrooms with new schools and improved facilities.
A Decade of Construction
AEA's early leaders lobbied hard for a school levy that would move Akron off the bottom of the list of tax support among Ohio's large city school districts. The result was a decade of construction. Temporary wooden barracks that had served as classrooms around the city were destroyed. New schools were built, additions were constructed, and facilities were renovated.
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Collaboration and Advocacy
The AEA has consistently worked in collaboration with other organizations to address broader educational challenges. The Association assists with issues common to other urban school districts and teachers in Ohio, through its membership in such organizations as The Coalition for Public Education, and the Ohio Eight Coalition.
A Strong Voice for Teachers
The AEA quickly gained recognition as a powerful voice for teachers in Akron. By 1962, the association boasted a membership rate of 98% among Akron teachers, demonstrating its widespread support and influence.
Superintendent Martin Essex recognized the value of the AEA, stating that "a strong teachers' association, such as the AEA, is good for education and the best instrument in protecting a teacher's interests." This sentiment reflected the growing respect and recognition the AEA had earned within the Akron school system.
Resisting Anti-Union Legislation
In 2011, the AEA demonstrated its commitment to collective bargaining rights by joining forces with other public and private sector unions in Summit County. Together, they formed a coalition to repeal Senate Bill 5, which sought to strip away collective bargaining rights for teachers and other public employees in Ohio.
The coalition successfully gathered over a million signatures to place SB 5 on the ballot. The measure, known as ballot Issue 2, was decisively defeated by a margin of 61% to 39%, marking a significant victory for teachers and public employees across the state.
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Sarah C. Caldwell: A Champion of Education
Sarah C. Caldwell, a prominent figure in the AEA's history, exemplified the dedication and passion of Akron educators. Caldwell, who organized the city’s first teachers union, loved to teach. She loved the children in her classroom. She loved reaching students and helping them learn. She served as president of the National Education Association (NEA). She believed in local control of schools and academic freedom.
Early Life and Career
Born in 1904, Caldwell's passion for teaching began early in life. She pursued her education and began her teaching career in Georgia before moving to Akron in 1929. She taught at Smith School and Portage Path Elementary before moving to Garfield High School in 1931 to teach biology. Caldwell quickly became known for her dedication to her students and her commitment to their individual growth.
Leading the Akron Teachers Union
Despite her love for teaching, Caldwell recognized the challenges faced by educators, including workload, pay, class size, and job security. In 1940, she organized the Akron Classroom Teachers Association, forerunner of the Akron Education Association, a union of professional educators. She served as president for the first two years.
National Recognition
Caldwell's influence extended beyond Akron as she became a respected voice in state and national education circles. The Ohio Education Association drafted Caldwell to testify on education matters before state legislators in Columbus during the mid-1940s. In 1948, the National Education Association elected her to serve as leader of its department of classroom teachers. She represented U.S. educators at a 45-nation conference in Switzerland in 1949. She also served as a delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization conference in Paris.
Caldwell was a staunch defender of academic freedom and opposed attempts to censor teachers or impose loyalty tests. She believed that teachers should be free to teach the truth and that students should have the freedom to learn all the facts.
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Later Years and Legacy
After her term as NEA president, Caldwell returned to the classroom, teaching biology at Roswell Kent Junior High School for 13 years. She retired in 1967 after nearly 40 years in the Akron district.
Sarah C. Caldwell's legacy as a passionate educator, union leader, and advocate for academic freedom continues to inspire teachers and students in Akron and beyond.
Current Challenges and Future Directions
The AEA continues to advocate for the needs of its members and the students they serve. Recent contract negotiations have highlighted the critical issue of school safety, with teachers expressing concerns about student behavior and violence in schools.
In 2023, Akron Public Schools teachers voted overwhelmingly to reject a fact-finder’s recommendations for a new labor pact, with their union issuing a news release saying “the reality is our schools are not safe.” Union members, she said, understand student behavior and violence is “a challenging issue. We understand it’s an uncomfortable issue to talk about but we cannot afford to let this kind of violence and chaos continue to happen in our buildings every day."Every 1.5 school days, a teacher is physically assaulted, she said. These assaults are ones that have been investigated and verified by building administrators and are then referred to hearing officers by district officials, she said.
The AEA is actively working to address these concerns and create a safer learning environment for all students and staff.
Concerns over potential dismantling of the Department of Education
The AEA has also voiced concerns regarding potential changes to the national education landscape, including proposals to dismantle the Department of Education. The AEA believes that the Department of Education plays a crucial role in ensuring equitable education and providing federal funding for public school systems.
Pat Shipe, president of the Akron Education Association: Our children are our future. What are we going to accept in this country without leaving marginalized people behind? What are we going to accept as far as how low we will lower the bar with the quality of educating our children in this country, in Ohio [and] in Akron Public Schools?
The AEA remains committed to advocating for policies and practices that support high-quality public education for all students in Akron and across the nation.
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