LESSONS FOR LIFE CAMPAIGN

Lessons For Life: Responsibility, Respect, Results,
Campaign for Standards for Conduct and Achievement

The St. Thomas-St. John Federation of Teachers urges the Board of Education and the Virgin Islands Government to adopt a Bill of Rights and Responsibilites for Learning, which sets out broad principles for conduct and academic achievement. Our campaign seeks to work cooperatively with parents, schools, and other public officials to focus on
high standards for conduct and student achievement-education reforms with a proven track record instead of dubious alternatives.

The Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for Learning recognizes that discipline is a prerequisite to academic achievement. It declares that all students and school staff have a right to safe, orderly, and drug-free schools and that codes of discipline should include consequences that are enforced consistently and fairly. THe BILL also states that alternative educational placements should be established for violent and chronically
disruptive students.

AFT'S BILL OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR LEARNING

1. All students and school staff have a right to schools that are safe, orderly and drug    free

2. All students and school staff have a right to learn and work in school districts and schools that have  clear discipline codes with fair and consistently enforced consequences for misbehavior.

3. All students and school staff have a right to learn and work in school districts that
   have alternative educational placements for violent or chronically disruptive students.

4. All students and school staff have a right to be treated with courtesy and respect.

5. All students and school staff have a right to learn and work in school districts,
   schools and classrooms that have clearly stated and rigorous academic standards.

6. All students and school staff have a right to learn and work in well-equipped schools that have the instructional materials needed to carry out a rigorous academic
   program.

7. All students and school staff have a right to learn and work in schools in which
   teachers know their subject matter and how to teach it.

8. All students and school staff have a right to learn and work in school school districts, schools and classrooms in which high grades stand for high achievement and promotion is earned.

9. All students and school staff have a right to learn and work in school districts and
   schools in which getting a high school diploma means having the knowledge and skills essential for college or a good job.

10. All students and school staff have a right to be supported by parents, the community, public officials and business in their efforts to uphold high standards of conduct and achievement.

-Mr. Oswin Sewer, 1st Vice President