SUPPORT FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY TEACHERS' PPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD OF FOREIGN SCHOLARSHIPS

WHEREAS, opportunities under the Fulbright-Hays Act (Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961) are available to elementary and secondary teachers to teach in foreign elementary and secondary schools on direct exchange of a foreign teacher from abroad with a teacher from the United States or by a one-way placement of an American teacher overseas; and

WHEREAS, the Fulbright-Hays Program also provides participation for experienced elementary and secondary school teachers in group projects through United States educational institutions or nonprofit educational organizations for research, training, curriculum development and/or instructional materials preparation or acquisition in international and intercultural studies; and

WHEREAS, the Fulbright-Hays Grants also provide for the participation of elementary and secondary school teachers in seminars abroad; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Foreign Scholarships gives policy direction to all of the above-mentioned Fulbright-Hays Opportunities for elementary and secondary school teachers, makes the final selection of grantees, supervises the planning and operation of these programs; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Foreign Scholarships is composed of 12 members, appointed by the President, active in educational, cultural, and public affairs; and

WHEREAS, no elementary or secondary teacher is presently on the Board of Foreign Scholarships:

RESOLVED, that the AFT support the appointment of qualified elementary and secondary teachers to the Board of Foreign Scholarships that they may directly represent those teachers having direct contact with K-12 students and, thereby, at this level further the goal of the Fulbright-Hays Act, education for global understanding.