You would be doing the country a service and might make a little money on the side.
Posted on 07/07/2004 12:13:17 PM PDT by doug from upland
Many of you are aware that the National Education Association is really an arm of the RAT Party. At this year's convention, they are showing Slob Michael Moore's deceptive movie. They are endorsing F'in Kerry.
What can you do about it? How about helping to do some defunding. If a teacher doesn't like what the union is doing with its political funds, that teacher can make a written demand for a return of money used for political purposes. I believe that the teacher may even be able to demand to go back three years.
I have helped some teacher friends get some money back. In each case, it was hundreds of dollars.
Can you imagine the impact if 40% of those teachers who are Republicans each demand hundreds of dollars back? The impact would be staggering, and it might end the charade of the NEA claiming that it doesn't use union dues for partisan politics.
Come on, folks, you all know teachers you can help.
My wife is a member of NCAE here in NC, which in turn sends a certain amount to the NEA, IIRC. I doubt she would be able to recoup any money since she is not a member of the NEA directly, though they call her all the time and she gets their rag each month. I may be wrong about her membership, so if there are any NC teachers here, please feel free to correct me. Regardless, my wife's dues are automatically taken out of her paycheck. (sound familiar?) She doesn't make waves because the teaching community here is very cut throat. She goes out of her way NOT to get political because she does fear retribution. She wanted to refuse to "donate" $5.00 to the United Way, which is the brainchild of her local school's assistant principal, and was essentially told (by this person) that it "would NOT be a good idea" not to contribute.
I will tell you she is a member of NCAE ONLY because they will send lawyers to back up teachers regardless of the charges. In some cases, they are a teacher's only defense. My mother-in-law had a student's mother sue her once and the school & school district ignored it. NCAE lawyers exposed the mom for a fraud and got it tossed. My mother-in-law never had to pay out anything, to the mom, the lawyers no one. As much as I hate their stances on things, NCAE has come through. Now, as for the NEA, they are a worthless pile of cow dung. And that is putting it politely.
I believe you can retain the legal benefits because you will still by paying union dues for those benefits. You need to demand that they do an accounting of how much is used for political purposes. You have a right to get that back.
Another way public school parents can damage the liberal education establishment is by NOT JOINING THE PTA. TWO DOLLARS of a person's membership dues are automatically sent to the National PTA, which is an arm of the NEA and socialists of America. Go check out the National PTA website, and check out their voter guides. I had not done so until a few minutes ago, but I wanted to make sure of my accusations before I posted. The PTA is NOT an innocent organization for folks who want to support their children and their local schools. It is a scam.
Rush, Sean or Laura were talking to a caller yesterday, and they had something to say about this. There is some legislation about this being illegal, if used for political endorsements that members don't agree with.
My sister is a teacher in OK. I asked her whether she was required to belong to the NEA. She said no, but if she wanted to be a member of her local Classroom Teachers Association, she had to be a member of the NEA. My guess is that a teacher wouldn't want to be left out of the local association for fear of local consequences. So they are strongarmed into joining the NEA, even though the NEA would likely claim that they're not.
I just spoke with a union rep at OEA in Oklahoma. She claimed that they have a separate PAC for political purposes that is voluntary. I think she is lying. I suggest that you call OEA at 405.538.7785 and ask for the form to demand that a portion of your dues be returned that are used for political purposes. This rep cannot tell me that union dues are not being used to help RAT candidates. The union is totally partisan. Demand an accounting of the money. Are union dues being used to send anyone to the RAT convention? I bet they are. Are union dues being used to fund ads for RAT candidates? I bet they are. Get some other teachers to join you so they are not singled out.
It isn't just the teachers. My brother is a firefighter and pulled out of his union for the same reason. Ditto cops, etc.
LOL! That's exactly what I was thinking when I spotted this thread.
bump
Good thread, DFU. My sister is a conservative teacher appalled by the political activism of the NEA. I've sent her a link to this thread to monitor for details and suggestions.
That would destroy the teacher and not the NEA. If some puke Parent pulled this crap on my wife, I would make their life a living hell.
Let me know if she needs help. It would be very good if she could get several other teachers to do the same thing at the same time. They will try to intimidate her if she is alone.
Thanks so much. She works in the most conservative school in a likewise conservative, largely Republican district. She may be able to get a lot of support. Knowledge is power, and I appreciate you sharing yours regarding this important issue.
If a teacher is molesting students then tough noogies. You are aware that the incident of sexual abuse in schools makes the church sex scandal look like an itch opposed to a gunshot wound.
I'm doing my part by sending my children to a private, Bible-based classical school! I'll be bankrupted by the time they graduate, but at least they won't be brainwashed by a bunch of fascists!
You would be doing the country a service and might make a little money on the side.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.