TEACHER-COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN URBAN AREAS

WHEREAS, the responsibility of American education is that of assisting youth in the development of their maximum potential in order to make creative contributions to society; and

WHEREAS, education in the cities especially in the black, Puerto Rican and minority communities has not met those responsibilities; and

WHEREAS, the improvement of education must come from a redefinition of the purposes of education and a complete restructuring of the school system by the community; and

WHEREAS, the American Federation of Teachers is numerically strongest in large cities and has the responsibility of supporting parents and community groups in this restructuring of education:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers recognizes the need for community control of schools in the black, Puerto Rican and other minority communities of America; and

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers accepts the responsibilities of rendering cooperative assistance to these communities in developing the structure, content and processes of the school system, subject always to the terms of contractual negotiations with the union, due process, and of the state tenure laws; and

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers and its affiliated locals will work with the community and students in establishing criteria for personnel selection and evaluation; and

RESOLVED, that such criteria will be included in the collective bargaining agreements.