NEA Statement Regarding Secretary Paige's Comments

releases.usnewswire.com ^

[chance33_98]

NEA Statement Regarding Secretary Paige's Comments

2/24/04 8:31:00 AM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: National Desk, Education Reporter

Contact: Kathleen Lyons of the National Education Association, 202-822-7213 or 202-669-6902 (cell); http://www.nea.org

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is a statement from Reg Weaver, president of the National Education Association, regarding the comments from Secretary Paige calling NEA a "terrorist organization":

"It is morally repugnant to equate those who teach America's children with terrorists. NEA is 2.7 million teachers and educators who are fighting for children and public education. Yet this is the kind of rhetoric we have come to expect from this Administration whenever one challenges its world view."

[hchutch]

Paige stepped in it. I've known about the double standard for about as long as I've been following politics.

Doesn't make it right, but he should have known.

[AreaMan]

I can't wait for the NEA and their ilk to sink into the obscurity and irrelevence they so richly deserve.
Unfortunately Sec. Paige and the administration talk tough but don't do squat. The Dept. of Education is a frustrating waste of money and time.
This Dept. should be eliminated post haste. Until it is eliminated, or the adminstration outlines a plan for it's elimination, everything else is just talk. Cheap talk at that.

[Dante3]

It was just a joke. NEA should get a life. Paige is an intelligent and honorable person. We should be allowed to have a little humor in our lives.

[truthingod]

Just read on Drudge-Kerry used the terrorist word to describe house republicans in Jan 1996-did the media kill him over it? Heck no-it was used against republicans and that is okay with them. The "terrorist" word is a word in the culture of today-describes lots of emotions and is a powerful image word given 9/11.

[lonestar]

When I was a public school speech therapist, I thought the NEA was a terrorist organization.

I haven't changed my opinion!

[Bobby Chang]

Remember the NEA's tactics violate laws. They take teachers' union dues to fund political campaigns and pro-terrorist, pro-homosexual, and pro-liberal causes IN VIOLATION of Beck rights won in 1988 by union workers.

They hope a Kerry win will permit them to take union dues to fund more leftist causes, including teaching we are the problem and form more peaceniks. They also want private schools to use their recommended textbooks to teach mediocrity so the government will be a deity.

Consider the NEA's agenda, and why teachers aren't happy. Rod Paige knows the union endorsed the terrorists by asking teachers NOT to teach Usama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda organisation were NOT the cause of the Terrorist Atrocities, but the United States was.

They also want federal protection so child molesters can work in child care facilities.

[Esther Ruth]

Truth is constant, unchanging and demands to be spoken, needs to be heard. We do not and should not decide what to say and not say regarding the truth based on whether it will get us in trouble. We speak the truth in spite of the fact that it may "get us in trouble"! This is called courage of conviction and that's is one of the main reasons we choose the leaders we do. If your knees are a shaking - time to get to the gym for some daily workout to make them strong!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Guess the truth hurts.

[truthingod]

The NEA is a joke in and of itself-without Mr. Paige trying to tell one about them. These people are an abomination-now there's a word they don't hear every day! They try to hide behind the teachers who are working-and influence the political climate-not for children or for families. They want the power to desensitize kids to the rights of their parents to teach decency and morality and religion without interference. Too often it has been teachers and the support of the NEAer's pushing their gay agenda that has ruined many an American family-as evidenced by the Gay-straight alliance-actively working in schools under the guise of "tolerance" yet subjecting kids to hideous, filthy talk.

[familyofman]

"Your garden needs more weeding."

I don't think so. Your comment I assume implies that I should "weed out" my 2 very nice neices. That, if true, is very presumptive on your part since neither of them are subversive in any way.

[hobbes1]

Paige was right.....Go Rod!

[Colonel_Flagg]

"It is morally repugnant to equate those who teach America's children with terrorists.

As I understand it, Paige didn't equate teachers with terrorists. He equated the NEA. I think there's a difference.

The ongoing political indoctrination of schoolchildren in public schools and the attendant bias in the NEA should be seen as perhaps the greatest scandal in our history. Yet they don't seem to have much to say about that.

[truthingod]

There are christian education associations in American too.They just don't get the publicity or endorsement the NEA forces out of teachers. People can choose to withdraw support from a union whose actions are as deplorable as the NEA--quite frankly it takes alot of guts to hand them money in dues knowing what they do with it. It is a choice.

[familyofman]

"...We speak the truth in spite of the fact that it may "get us in trouble"!"

That's great when you speak the truth, but when you speak an opinion - it should be stated as that. Can you show proof that the NEA is a terrorist organization; are they listed as such by the FBI, CIA, or any other organization. This comment will be equated to the "jack-booted thugs" line from a few years ago.

[G.Mason]

"I haven't changed my opinion!"

IMHO - nor should you have.

Many people, like "familyofman", think we are have some minor policy differences with the "Democratic" Party.

The fact is we are at war for the very heart and soul of the United States.

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical"… Thomas Jefferson

[truthingod]

When a group of people hold another group of people hostage against their will, then they are acting in a way that causes terror in those being held captive. In America families and schools have been held hostage by this group lobbying its voice and power over the wishes of parents-that is terrorism. They are not elected by the whole will of the people--just certain people. They are not democratice nor held accountable for what they do.

[fightu4it]

Paige is correct in his assessment of the NEA. Power breeds corruption and most all of the state chapters are just another branch of state government, joined at the hip with state legislatures. At the grassroots level, input by people promoting fiscal responsibility is unwanted and ignored. Any attempts to measure performance by independant means is seen as an assult on their authority.

[headsonpikes]

Bump your post, truth.

The NEA is at war with American ideals and American children.

Fight back, kids - disrespect wrongful authority!

[onedoug]

Terrorist "support" organization, for sure.

[Esther Ruth]

When was the last time you went to McDonalds and watched as the 18 or 20 year old could not figure out how much change to give you back - when was the last time you read some of these post from kids under 20, look how they write and spell in their posts! When was the last time you cried because these lives have been totally ruined, totally -- this is an INTENTIAL assault - and that is a fact. You can try to disprove it, but it has already been proven. They want the children to believe 2+2=5!!! You have some beautiful flowers in your garden (your nieces) but the weeds (denial in your mind) needs to come out!