Eight members of the Sewanhaka Federation of Teachers were among almost 500 delegates to the 24th annual Delegate Assembly of the National Education Association of New York (NEA/NY), which was held in Saratoga Springs, from March 31 to April 2. In attendance were SFT President Matt Jacobs, treasurer Frank McHugh, Jennifer Gordon-Tennant, and Bill Paupeck - all from Elmont Memorial HS, SFT Vice President Al Klieger and Tony Katkowski of Sewanhaka HS, Tom Cook of New Hyde Park Memorial HS and Anna Zurawinsky, who represented retired teachers. NEA/NY President Greg Nash, a former English teacher from the Sewanhaka District, presided over the assembly.

Discussion at the assembly focused on the education, labor and social issues that impact children and public education, and on New York's US Senate race. "Many of the positions we resolved for our 40,000 members will affect national policy when it is forged this summer, at the Representative Assembly of the National Education Association," said SFT President Matt Jacobs.

Among the resolutions approved by the delegates were the following:

* Support for the immediate establishment of an alternative diploma to provide students with different learning styles, abilities, interests and experiences an equally challenging, diversified path toward graduation.

* Opposition to the creation of charter schools and other publicly funded non-traditional school programs that are not fully accountable to the local board of education, which are not staffed with certified personnel, which fund schools or activities that are pervasively sectarian in nature, and which fail to provide equal educational opportunity for all students.

This November, voters will decide who will occupy the US Senate seat from New York being vacated by Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan in January. "What matters to us," said NEA/NY President Greg Nash, "is a candidate that measures up on issues that matter to children, to students and to education."

On Saturday evening, Hillary Rodham Clinton took the floor to a standing ovation from the delegates who had just endorsed her candidacy. "It's inspiring for me to be in a room full of people that do the most important job in our society - that of educating our children," said Mrs. Clinton. Mrs. Clinton told how she planned to address NY's educational problems, including teacher shortages, deteriorating facilities and lack of resources. Among Clinton's proposals were establishing full college scholarships for those who agree to teach for four years in return, signing bonuses for teachers, expanding after-school and summer programs and making higher education tax deductible. She also reaffirmed her position against school vouchers, indicating the lack of evidence that they improve educational performance.

The NEA/NY is headquartered in Albany and represents Pre-K-12 and adult education teachers, community college faculty, educational support personnel and retired members in over one-third of the school districts in New York. It is affiliated with the 2.4 million member NEA.