It is easy to judge the character of some legislators; their actions say it all.  The following poem is from the archives of MEA voice Magazine.  Stay UNITED HCEA!!!

Dec. 1, 1966

A Fable About Teachers

Once upon a time, there was a meeting of many, many teachers.

"Who will do the work of the organization?" the president asked.

"Not I," said the elementary teacher, "for I must plan my lessons, put up a bulletin board - so many things."

"Not I," said the secondary teacher, "for I must correct these papers, prepare a test, work on a new unit - so many things."

"Maybe next year," said the new teacher.

"I worked last year," said the old teacher.

"I would, except I have a second job after school," said the husband, father, and teacher.

"Our job is teaching," they told each other as they left the meeting.

The president sat almost alone, and very discouraged.  Then he noticed a small group of teachers still sitting there.

"We will work for the organization," they said quietly.

And the sturdy little band attacked problems of great magnitude, and made gains in working conditions, salaries, and teachers' rights.

And who benefited?

"I did," said the elementary teacher, "but it wasn't enough."

"I did," said the secondary teacher, "but it should have been more."

"We did," said the workers, "and it isn't enough.  We must work harder and longer this year."

- Jean Cogill, Livonia Education Association 

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