Sorry, I’m late replying, busy housework day, ugh
I can only share my thoughts/experience to your questions because I have been fighting schools since the early ‘80’s when my oldest was in grade 2. My teaching experience was only 4 years, 2001-’05.
AAG44:
So basically the NEA has total control??
WN:
Nationally the NEA had a great deal of lobbying power over legislative issues. We have only had a cabinet position for Dept if Education alone since Jimmy Carter. Prior to that education was part of Health, Education and Welfare within the executive branch of govt. Nationally the executive policy sways with who is in office, so policy zigzags with the party in power. Legislatively, Congress mostly bows to lobbyists. They are socialists.
There is more variation in the teacher’s union at state level with some states holding tighter control over curriculum and policy. As a teacher, when I was selected to attend a state conference on curriculum in Texas for my specialty, I was openly told that because I was not a TEA member my views were discounted.
AAG44:
Schools are taxpayer funded, how the heck do they get away with this?
WN:
I can only speak of Texas on this, I have no experience with other states.
Only a minuscule number of parents or citizens ever bother to attend a school board meeting or even talk with board members to discuss policy. Fewer still keep up with the policies at state level. People vote for school board members without a clue of what these people support.
As an election judge I have heard people laughing and chuckling with acquaintances at the polling place about knowing nothing about any candidates. I’ve heard everything from, “I’m just randomly picking names,” to I’m voting for “X” because he’s good looking.” A whole stupid list of irresponsible reasons.
With people not informing themselves about what is current in school and not vetting the people they vote in, they give more power to teachers. Many teachers, not all, bow to whatever their union wants to support. In my experience administration members are usually far left. I do know exceptions but the union structure makes promotion from teacher to administrator very difficult for those who don’t follow their socialist model.
The places I have known with conservative admins have been small towns, mostly rural. The bigger the city, the more leftist the admin. I think this is a main factor in cities voting blue. YMMV
AAG44
I understand the need for parents to be involved but being realistic, there has to be some oversight, no?
WN:
Yes, I agree.
The oversight should be our elected officials. But with the ample $$$$$$$ of the union it takes true white hat legislators to make an effort to stand up for conservative values within schools.
And here in Texas the legislature has limited power, it’s the state board of education. In our republican primary this year IIRC there were 3 candidates running for a seat. As I did my homework on the candidates running to be on the November ballot as REPUBLICAN, I felt all should be running under the Rat ticket. They were all too far left. *puke*
At the local school board level there should also be oversight as you mentioned. Only when we elect a majority of true conservatives do they ever challenge the status quo. To get the conservatives elected it usually takes a massive grassroots effort. And if we get conservatives in place on the board it takes annual effort to keep conservatives in the positions. Too many busy working families have too many other concerns to remain active and informed.
In my town, parents are far more concerned about the extracurricular sports like little league than they are about who is running the school board. This is tragic IMO.
sorry for the long soapbox. i know many will take issue with my take on this but it’s my experience.
Letter from Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson to leakers and Liars (pdf):
Am not looking for trouble and would never approach a stranger to give my unwarranted opinion or be unpleasant. Today I realized if we don't start to push back then we have already lost this war.
Another thing that happened today was my cousins husband was picking up some Hydroxychoriquine at our local pharmacy when one of the pharmacist piped up and said "that doesn't work". Why can't these people keep their opinions to themselves?
With people not informing themselves about what is current in school and not vetting the people they vote in, they give more power to teachers.
On this topic...where does one find this info? I have a new voter in our family who can’t find any information on anyone on the ballot. There are no voter guides anywhere that we can find.