With Americans facing out-of-control health care and energy costs, and the cost of living far outpacing real wages, "there is a disturbing complacency among Ameri-cans," NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan Lubin told RA delegates. "There seems to be no outrage."

Lubin challenged delegates — and all NYSUT members — to remember what led them to their chosen profession in the first place and to take the action needed now to push the country in the direction it is supposed to go.

"Which English teachers among us did not feel a deep thrill when at long last a troubled student not only wrote a complete sentence correctly, then he wrote a paragraph, then he wrote an essay and he then put his ideas together in a proper and persuasive manner," Lubin asked. "Who among you were not lifted up?

"We educate the next generation, we heal the sick," Lubin said. "Whether you teach in a pre-K or university or whether you serve hot lunches to hungry kids, drive a bus, or help immunize a child, your calling is of value to society."

While such noble work should be respected, Lubin said, often educators do their jobs against tremendous challenges, including some from seemingly natural allies — school boards.

"This year their major goal was making it more difficult for new members to earn tenure ... basing the granting of tenure on student test scores," Lubin said. "Had they prevailed, it would be impossible to keep qualified teachers in schools that need them the most."

Closing the gaps

Millions of Americans are struggling daily to do more with less. Meanwhile, the average CEO earns 411 times the salary of an average employee, a statistic which should outrage more people, said Lubin.

"One sure fire way to help close the achievement gap in education is to close the wealth gap economically," Lubin said. "The progressive income tax that we tout could pour billions into our needy schools to reduce class size, provide before- and after-school educational activities and help those who need it most."

Although the battles are somewhat different, Lubin called on members to draw on the passion evident during the turbulent 1960s. "No gain will be made without struggle," he cautioned.

All Americans — not just union members — need to recommit ourselves to social justice. "We must mobilize and fight for those things in which we believe to move the country in the right direction," Lubin said. "Be a part of something larger than yourself."

Touting the union's endorsed presidential candidate, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Lubin urged delegates to not only vote to ensure progressive leaders are elected at the state and national levels, but also to "volunteer to work on a campaign, go door to door, go to the phone banks, and contribute to VOTE-COPE like your future depends on it — because it does."

Lubin described complacency among members as unacceptable.

"Working toward social justice is not extracurricular activity," he said. "It's our responsibility as teacher-unionists, citizens, parents and grandparents."

Like Albert Shanker, Sandy Feldman, A. Philip Randolph, and Bayard Rustin, Lubin stressed, "We see the need to move this country and this union forward. Let's get on the move. Let's get it done."