VOCATIONAL EDUCATION COMMITTEES

WHEREAS, a survey done by the AFT Standing Committee on Vocational Education showed that few AFT state and local affiliates have committees on vocational, technical, and occupational education; and

WHEREAS, declining enrollments and financial problems are causing many school districts to curtail or eliminate vocational, technical, and occupational education programs; and

WHEREAS, vocational, technical, and occupational education teachers face many unique problems relating to their terms and conditions of employment such as special requirements for licensure, different experience requirements, and special health and safety hazards; and

WHEREAS, federal programs such as the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) are creating problems for vocational, technical and occupational programs in the public schools:

RESOLVED, that it be the policy of the American Federation of Teachers to encourage all state and local affiliates to establish committees of vocational, technical, and occupational education teachers to discuss and make recommendations to their appropriate union governance bodies on such matters; and

RESOLVED, that such committees, once established, maintain communication and close relationship with the AFT Standing Committee on Vocational Education.