1. Advocating for Exemplary Health and Physical Education
Introduce ourselves
Overview of morning: start w/ a bit of fun about politics in NJ and which branch of government handles which issues, then talk to you a little about the state government in NJ and the legislative process, then discuss the importance of advocacy/lobbying and why we should do it, and then how you can get involved by taking action.
MAHPERD Annual Convention
Evelyn J. Gordon
The University of Southern Mississippi

2. Just because you do not take an interest in politics
doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you!
Pericles
Start off with this vital quote…..I know that many of you are likely uninterested in politics or are confused by the process, but it is important for all citizens to be involved in politics/advocacy, because it touches so many aspects of our lives, which you will see in the next slide. We are hoping that this presentation will help de-mystify the process a abit (while we have some fun doing it) and that when you live here you too will also want to get engaged.

3. Political Action: Why Bother Who Makes the Following Decisions for You?
Certification and Licensure Standards
Tenure
Due Process Rights
Salary
Health Benefits/Medical Coverage
Pensions
Class Size
Length of School Day
Length of School Year
School Funding
Course Content
Health/Safety Standards
Social Security Coverage
Unemployment coverage
PE/PA/Recess Policy

4. The job of a school employee is governed by law and regulation.
Some members think politics doesn’t really affect their lives – that school employees’ jobs aren’t political. Guess again. Everything you do as a school employee, from before you start working (certification), to class size and testing during your teaching career, to pension/SS etc. after you retire all covered by laws and regulation. Also it is imperative that you get involved: Trenton hates a “vacuum” and if you don’t get involved someone else will. So now we are going to talk a bit more about why you should be involved and how to do it.
Before you started working in a school, you needed to get fingerprinted (for ESPs and teachers), have a certificate of eligibility (for teachers). This comes from a law, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor. State Board members are appointed by the governor, and approved by the legislature; the law was passed by the legislature and signed by the governor. How much recess time your elementary school students have is governed by law: either through your state school board or state law. We are working to change the state law, to require a 20 minute daily recess period in elementary schools in NJ. We will be discussing that issue momentarily.
When you retire after 25 years, you’re eligible to receive medical benefits from the state, although you might have to pay for some of it depending on when you achieved your 25 years of service. This comes from a law, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor.
And depending on your choice, when you die, your spouse could continue to receive part of your pension. This too, comes from a law.

5. Regulation, or administrative code, is a rulemaking process done by executive agencies. The Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Education – all of them create regulation. It is done by appointed officials and goes through an adoption process.
Law, or statute, starts out as “bills’ that are passed or enacted by the legislature and signed by the governor. Law is made by elected officials and has a more transparent process.

6. Mississippi Legislative Process
Mississippi State House of Representative
122 Members
Mississippi State Senate
52 Members
Websites to know!
Basic summary of state legislative process: there are many steps (e.g. committee hearings in each house, sometimes more than one, different actions by the Governor); this must be completed during 2 years legislative session, otherwise need to start over; we just started the current legislative session last month. For more specific details see hand-out “How a Bill Becomes Law in New Jersey”

7. How a bill becomes a law in Mississippi

8. (NJ Department of Education)
What Are We Looking At?
Regulation
(NJ Department of Education)
Legislation
(Legislature & Governor)
Evaluation
Professional Development
Special Education
Certification & Licensure
Core Content Standards
Student Assessment
Pensions
Health Benefits
Health and Physical Education Teacher Certification

9. Mississippi State Issues
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
-Replaces No Child Left Behind Act
-School Health and Physical Education included in ESSA, on same level as other academic subjects; states and school districts will now have access to significant funding for health and physical education programs.
Physical Education Requirements
-K-8th – 150 minutes per week (PE, PA, and activity based instruction).
-9th- 12th – Two semesters of PE to meet graduation requirements.

10. Why Advocate? Why Lobby? Communicate our views
Opportunity to provide information that can
shape educational policy
Ask for something from an elected/appointed
official to achieve a policy goal
Successful policy change has large impact
New partnerships/alliances
Credibility for our profession and better informed public
If you don’t speak up – who will?
Now that you have learned about the process, let’s talk about advocacy/lobbying and why you should get involved. There are so many different reasons to advocacy: first to get our position out there: If successful, large impact of policy decision (state or district wide).

11. Taking Action Follow education issues in the Legislature and at
State Board meetings
Get to know your local public officials: set up a meeting, invite him/her to a school event and then contact them on important issues
Attend your local school board meeting
VOTE! Volunteer for elections and campaigns
Stay involved with your association (MAHPERD and MDOE)

12. Effective Advocacy HOOK Name, Town, School LINE Personal Story SINKER
The “Ask”
If you remember nothing else about how to speak to legislators, remember “hook, line, sinker”
The hook is your name, and where you are from: policymakers always care the most about their constituents
The line is your personal story, personalize the advocacy issue, it will keep their attention, draw on their emotions, and make them easily remember why they should care about this issue. For example on the recess bill, if you could personalize the issue by talking about your school, children in your class, and why it is so important to have recess in the school. If you have a story on topic about a particular class or student, even better.
Lastly, don’t forget to ask them for what you want: therefore I would like to ask you to consider support the legislation that would make a 20 minute recess period mandatory in elementary schools in New Jersey. I will follow up with your office next week on this topic--

13. A political system does not change because something is right, moral, or just!
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” Plato

14. SPEAK Out! Day

15. Evelyn J. Gordon evelyn.gordon@usm.edu
Thank You
Evelyn J. Gordon
Conclude by Call to Action on local recess policy