Statements of principle

Six Statements of Principle:  (Approved by March 2009 Education Minnesota Representative Convention)

Education Minnesota is the preeminent source of excellence in teaching and learning in Minnesota. Education Minnesota is responsible to its members, the profession, the learners, the community, the organization, and the labor movement.

I. Commitment to the members
Education Minnesota is responsive to the will of its members and is committed to promoting the welfare of each member by pursuing all political, legal, economic and professional support necessary. Education Minnesota will pursue this support through the development and enforcement of collective bargaining agreements, the promotion of local, state, and federal policies and legislative initiatives that ensure equitable compensation, comprehensive health care, due process protection, continuing professional development and appropriate working conditions to ensure a successful career in education.

II. Commitment to the profession
Education Minnesota believes in promoting professional excellence in education. Professional excellence includes recruitment, effective training and retention of education professionals. Education Minnesota believes that all teachers and educational support professionals who are involved in the direct student contact instructional process must be appropriately licensed or credentialed; this includes proper credentials for higher education faculty. Further, Education Minnesota believes that all school related personnel must be trained and governed under internal mentoring and self-disciplining procedures.

III. Commitment to the learners
Education Minnesota believes in enhancing all areas of education for the learner and access to affordable life-long education.  Education Minnesota is committed to promoting the successful development of each learner. Learning environments should be safe, comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and technologically current. Within these environments, Education Minnesota is committed to promoting practices and policies that recognize different learners’ needs and the importance of family involvement.

IV. Commitment to public education and the community
Education Minnesota believes public education, early childhood through higher education, is the cornerstone of our social, economic and political structure. The involvement of the entire community is essential for the future of public education.

V. Commitment to the organization
Education Minnesota believes members have the responsibility to work together to advocate fairly and equitably for all and promote high standards of professional excellence.

VI. Commitment to the labor movement
Education Minnesota believes individuals are strengthened when they work together for the common good. As education professionals, we improve both our professional status and the quality of public education when we unite and advocate collectively. As part of the larger labor movement, Education Minnesota supports workers’ rights to bargain collectively and extending the benefits of unionization to the unorganized.