Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/189657
CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION CTA helped win establishment of the state teachers' retirement system – now CALSTRS – providing retirement salaries to public school teachers who planned to retire from the California state school system. CALSTRS is today the largest teachers' retirement fund in the nation, with a membership of 856,360 and assets of $154.3 billion. For the next several decades, CTA was an inclusive organization, with members representing every type of certificated personnel throughout the state – including counselors, school librarians, social workers, psychologists, and nurses – and gradually becoming more unified in purpose and identity. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, each of the organization's six regional sections had its own culture and governing structure, including its own board of directors. Some regions focused on professional and student advocacy, while others functioned more as professional associations, offering seminars and other opportunities for collegiality and growth. But the 1960s and 1970s were an era of turmoil, with strikes and contract disputes flaring up throughout the state; the obstacles to success for students and teachers alike could only be overcome by a unified state organization. With a nudge from key CTA leaders, the Association's regions voted to dissolve and consolidate themselves into a larger, stronger statewide union – a process that began in 1971. Still heavily influenced – and in some local chapters dominated – by administrators, the organization gradually became better known as an association of classroom teachers. This trend continued until the membership of administrators came to an abrupt end in 1975, when the Rodda Act established collective bargaining for California's public school teachers and made the inclusion of administrators impracticable. Ralph Flynn, CTA's executive director from 1976 to 1995, was the first executive director who was not a state superintendent of education. These legislative and organizational changes redefined the profession of teaching – and CTA itself, which immediately launched a campaign to become the exclusive representative of local affiliates. Virtually every CTA chapter filed for 60 Educator 10 Oct 2013 v2.1 int.indd 60 I 150th Anniversary Did you know? CTA established schools for children of migrant workers in 1967. Below: Delegates to the State Council, CTA's largest governing body. recognition as the exclusive representative of local educators; in less than 18 months, 600 of 1,000 local organizations statewide had secured collective bargaining rights. From the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s, membership in the organization more than doubled; by 1996 there were 270,000 members in CTA. As it has grown in size (its membership stands at 325,000 on its 150th anniversary), CTA has become both more powerful – it has been the leading voice behind some of the state's most important educational reforms – and more inclusive. In 2006, the Association extended membership to Education Support Professionals, welcoming about 5,000 school paraprofessionals, office workers, and custodians to the organization. In its present size and configuration, CTA remains, more than ever, entrusted and empowered to fulfill the uncannily prescient vision articulated by its founder, John Swett, in his last report before leaving the office of superintendent in 1867: It was my sanguine hope, for many years, that in this new State teaching might aspire to the dignity of a profession; that teachers might learn to combine their strength, respect themselves, command the respect of others, and honor their occupation. I have lived already to see the promise of the future. It has been and is my highest ambition to elevate the profession of teaching; for I well know that in no other way can the public schools be made the great educators of the State and the nation. O C T O B E R 2013 10/7/13 9:39 PM