Posted on 03/27/2006 4:26:06 PM PST by Nextrush
Members only but I just got ahold of this in print from an unnamed source and decided to share some excerpts with you:
In a section called Upfront on pg. 11:
Trading Spaces
Sure, your lawmakers went to school years ago, but do they remember? During the weeks devoted to testing, or the months when the school budget can't cover the cost of paper, it seems the statehouse is oh-so far from the classroom.
Getting community leaders into schools, so that they can see what really happens, was the goal of dozens of Indiana teachers, who hosted "Legislators as Teachers" in November. Based on NEA-Alaska's model, the Indiana State Teachers Association program didn't just invite legislators to stop by and smile, but actually required them to lead lessons, eat in the cafeteria, and keep students on task.
"I want our legislators to know that we are doing a great job," says Liz Chang, of Evansville's West Terrace Elementary, a school that participated in the program. "It is hard work, but we could do better with more funding."
On pg. 29 under 9 ways No Child Left Behind hurts:
Military Access-'Opt Out' vs. 'Opt In'
School districts receiving NCLB money are required to give student information to military recruiters. But parents and students can 'opt out' by asking that their personal information not be released. To help them, Portland, Maine schools added this option to student emergency forms. Of the 1,341 students at Deering High School this year, 698 chose not to release their information.
Last year's NEA Representative Assembly voted to propose that the law be changed from 'opt out' to 'opt in': No contact information would be released without student or parent approval. NEA is supporting a bill in Congress H.R. 559, to make that change.
On pg.55 on the "Diversity Calendar":
MAY 5-CINCO DE MAYO
The anniversary of the Mexican victory over the French army in the 1862 Battle of Puebla.
MAY 22-INT'L DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
This day focuses on raising awareness of how pollution, overuse, and habitat destruction threaten species and biological diversity. Go to www.biodiv.org/programmes/outreach/awareness/biodiv-day2006.shtml.
The first item comes off as "show me the money." Most of the money we spend on schools here is about pay and benefits and if education funding goes up, that's where most of the money will go. NEA advocacy of increased funding is mostly about more money and benefits for its member, not education for children.
The second item is interesting, showing how NEA is trying to hamper military recruiting.
The third item I'll leave to you all to comment on, but an insight into the NEA agenda, no doubt.
Bump to this important information.....is there more?
There's a whole magazine more, on NCLB they say the money is being cut every year, sounds like they mean the old trick of smaller budget increases being called a cut.
Earth Day is mentioned.
They reprinted an Anna Quindlen column calling for higher teacher pay
Did you know...Teachers unions can opt out of Social Security.
At least they can in KY. Have a private pension invested in the stock market.
Teachers and trial lawyers are the back bone of the Democrat Party.
They deny the rest of us, what they embrace.
I've seen an old NEA mag that critcizes pension plans that invest in the stock market as dangerous. They prefer the taxpayer backed, employee contributed to "defined-benefit" pension, not the "risk" of 401 K type programs. This is actually something the union is warning its members against because it would take the taxpayers off the hook in backing up pension plans when they fail in the future.
Why are they doing it?
The Education Association wants big pension fund plans with members and friendly politicians controlling the pot. They don't want members money going to the stock market directly.
They want a guaranteed benefit (monthly check like Social Security) for their members. So this contributing to 401K instead of old style pension plans bothers them big time.
The teachers in Colorado can do the same....there's another State too.
Krista Kafer, formerly of the Heritage Foundation, wrote some stuff about the options.
I just did a quick review of Nea Pensions .
States are responsible for their own.
Most of them are independent of Social Security.
ping
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