Posted on 02/09/2003 4:53:01 AM PST by JohnHuang2
As I looked around the news outlets of the Internet for a decent topic about which to write, I came across something interesting at the National Education Association's website. Although I have written about this detestable organization many times before and I doubt they're worth the kilobytes taken to store this column, the NEA is still relevant and still dangerous because of its enormous power.
Anyone who follows politics realizes that the NEA has a strong hold on the public education system and has had it since the '70s when Jimmy Carter created the Federal Department of Education. The NEA boasts 2.7 million members, holds affiliates in every state, and has a budget larger than $250 million. With firepower like that, any organization would play a little bit of a role in its "special interest."
So, what's the NEA's problem this time? Well, the organization's new president, Reg Weaver, is whining about (what else?) money. On Feb. 3, in a press release titled "Student Success Not a Priority in Bush Budget," Weaver expresses his concern about the Bush administration's 2004 budget.
For context, on the same day as the release of the NEA statement, President Bush released the 2004 budget that will give $53.1 billion for education – an increase of $2.8 billion from 2003 and $3.2 billion over 2002.
Back to Reg Weaver: "The modest increase in the President's budget does not disguise the fact it eliminates vital programs, promotes a risky voucher program and ignores the dire fiscal crisis communities are facing," he said in the Feb. 3 press release.
I guess these people really believe all problems can be solved on a federal level by way of mammoth funding increases.
Continuing, Weaver said, "The programs that are on the chopping block are those programs that will ensure accountability and high standards – training of quality teachers and providing safe and supportive after-school environments. This budget would effectively eliminate the school-wide reform program touted by the No Child Left Behind Act, which the President himself signed into law last year."
But if you look at the reports released by the administration, they tell a different story. Besides the NEA's obvious disinterest in real education of children, it seems that all it demands is money, more money. Yet, with funding to schools, in some cases, at $6,000 to $10,000 per pupil, no one can seem to teach anything.
Take a look at the policies of the National Education Association in respect to alternative educational methods that have proven success.
The NEA's 2000-2001 Resolutions claim that home schooling cannot provide a comprehensive education experience (i.e., not enough socialization), coupled with other such negative statements. Yet, year after year, homeschoolers have been in the top placements for the National Geographic Bee, the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee, and the USA Math Olympiad.
In section A-24 of the resolutions, the organization states, "The National Education Association believes that voucher plans, tuition tax credits, or other funding arrangements that use tax monies to subsidize pre-K through 12 or private school education can undermine public education," and it goes on to a long list of reasons. Cutting to the chase, however, the NEA is saying it wants to force American children to stay in our inept, inadequate, and unproductive school system rather than receive real education.
The NEA seems to always want to bar other educational options and feed the monster that is known as the public educational system – its rather large baby.
The NEA ignores real education options, demands more funding for the inept education system, complains about lack of funding when the education budget is increased and demands an all-around enlargement of government.
Personally, I'd like to see a massive decrease in Department of Education funding rather than an increase, but if you look at the statistics, the budget, the results, and the actions of the NEA – well, you may see that the word "education" shouldn't be a part of the organization's name.
No, the National Education Association does not care one bit about the crisis in our government educational system – fixing that would probably put it out of business. The NEA's true special interest is in politics, a partisan way of thinking and nothing but a voice for the liberals in this nation.
Once again, the kid is right.
this is awesome...but it doesn't address the NEA's "socialization" issue.
Homeschoolers truly are some of the most well-rounded, socially mature individuals I've ever met. I hope Kyle totally spanks the NEA someday, somehow, by proving that socialization is far better done by parents who choose with whom their kids hang around rather than simply relying on the public schools.
I know of only one organization struggling against the forced unionization of education in America - the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation: http://www.nrtw.org/
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