Teacher eager to learn more


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Teacher eager to learn more By SHERRY HALBROOK © 2004 Bill Burke/Page One Photography Norman Parrish, a teacher at Linvingston Correctional Facility in Groveland, was still uncertain at this writing in mid-April, whether he would go to New Hampshire now or have to wait for the July deployment. As a teacher, Parrish said he was very impressed by the training he received in Maryland from SEIU and Camp Wellstone. “It was excellent training,” he said. “It was based on the political campaign philosophy and style of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota. It’s a grassroots approach based on really reaching out to people, face-to-face and getting them to register to vote, start thinking about the issues and come to a meeting with other voters to talk about them.” Parrish is no stranger to politics, having made an unsuccessful run for justice of the peace. “It was an interesting experience. I learned it takes a lot of people and a lot of time to run a campaign, even for a local office,” he said. “I had lived in the community for a decade, but I found it hard to compete with someone whose family had lived there for generations.” Parrish said he wants to be part of this national election campaign because of what he can learn from the experience. “I can use those skills on future political and PEF campaigns in New York state,” he said. “This campaign is union COPE money well spent.” COPE is the Committee on Political Education and is funded only by voluntary contributions from the union’s members. Federal law prohibits labor unions from spending their members’ dues on political campaigns for national offices, including the presidency. — Sherry Halbrook