'Social Action' as a Bogus Alternative to True Education

American Thinker.com ^ | April 14, 2020 | Jeffrey Ludwig

[Kaslin]

While sitting at home with my bottle of hand sanitizer, I received an email from the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) asking me which topics from a list of pressing concerns I would like to receive emails about. The UFT has 200,000 members in New York City alone and is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, which has 1.6 million members nationwide. Following is a list of some of the sixteen topics being advocated by the UFT: Environmentalism/Sustainability, Immigrant Rights, LGBTQ Rights and Issues; Literacy; Political Activism; Racial Justice; Restorative Justice; Student Debt Relief; Women's Rights and Issues. In case anyone tells you the teaching profession has not been politicized but that it is what it always has been — namely, composed of over-worked, dedicated, and underpaid teachers — this list should dispel that mistaken understanding. They are over-worked, dedicated, and underpaid, but at the same time, they are being used by their union leaders to promote a leftist agenda. It is important to see this in order not to sentimentalize the teaching profession.

[maddog55]

How about the basics:

Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and History

Everything else is BS and opinion.

[faithhopecharity]

many of the teachers’ unions, SEIU, and some more... have turned into virtual communist party agitation/propaganda/indoctrintion/and disruption cells..plus, intimidation or suppression of any genuine free speech within the ranks

these commie-corrupted unions focus much more on “radicalizing” their members and “mobilizing” or agitating the students to create as much disruption as they can

the history of the communist movement and take-over of countries includes a lot of this kind of “social action” activity on campuses ... and...the co-option or taking over of organizations like labor unions (and churches) “for the cause of the people”

USA would do well to take note of what’s going on ... and find ways to help the many good, honest union members regain control of their unions (clean house)

[Reily]

You would not believe the number of people on this site who have argued with me that the teacher’s unions’ hands are clean when it comes to the curriculum.