Posted on 08/30/2007 7:51:24 AM PDT by DeweyCA
Confidential strategy directives from the National Education Association urge the union's field representatives involved in the collective bargaining process to "attack the chief school administrator" and "mislead" their own members.
The confidential NEA documents obtained by OneNewsNow carry the title "NEA Strategy Directives to Field Representatives for Difficult Negotiations." The documents recommend strategies for field representatives who are engaged in negotiations with school districts that are reticent to certify the powerful teacher's union.
One strategy the NEA calls "Block the boss" calls on field reps to "Attack the chief school administrator. Charge him with poor mismanagement, poor working conditions and rotten personnel relations." The objective is to remove the school's chief from the bargaining process, giving the field rep "a clear shot at the [school] Board."
The directives urge NEA field reps to "mislead" their own membership during the collective bargaining process, the purpose being to "begin the process of dissatisfaction" -- and to "continue to mislead" the member teachers "to start to personalize the conflict in the negotiations."
California special education teacher Jeralee Smith is one of the founders of the NEA's Conservative Educators Caucus. Smith says she witnessed the NEA's strong-arm tactics during the Prop 75 campaign in California in 2005.
"We were made to watch a video -- without any discussion before or after of our own views -- about how much the governor was set to destroy teachers, just so that everyone would go and work really hard to defeat any of his proposals," she recalls. "They ignited our passions and made us fearful and angry." In contrast, Smith believes teachers should be disengaged from any political bias so they can train children to make up their own minds.
The confidential "Strategy Directives" include more than a dozen suggestions on what to do "if bargaining isn't going to your satisfaction." Among those suggested actions are:
* Establish a "crisis center" in a rented, visible storefront and "have teachers mill around -- the more the better. Put on a real show." The objective is to gain publicity, say the directives. "Gives the illusion that things are getting serious. That a strike might be near." * Coordinate staff usage of personal and sick leave days so they are used on the same day, demonstrating to the school board that "teachers will follow your command." * Create a "neighborhood nuisance" by picketing the homes and/or businesses of school board members. "Creates pressure from within the homes" and "hurts business more," state the directives.
One of the final strategies involves a public demand that all school board members -- the "decision makers" -- come to the bargaining table. "Once you get them there," says the NEA document, "turn them against one another." This strategy is labeled "Lambs to slaughter."
Smith says the NEA's strategies rival the hardball tactics of the AFL-CIO. "It's manipulative of people who are really trying to focus on helping children," she states, "and to me it's a wholly dishonest approach."
And she calls such heavy-handed tactics "un-American." She cautions that "people need to be really aware of all kinds of manipulation [by] those who are struggling to get power. I don't believe there is any sense of moral right and wrong behind many people who are seeking power -- and they'll do anything to get it. So we need to have extreme discernment in this day and age."
The NEA did not respond to OneNewsNow's request for an interview.
All Original Content Copyright 2006-2007 American Family News Network - All Rights Reserved
Yes. They should strive for the better mismanagement that the NEA can offer.
the NEA needs to be banned
Hmmm....if you’re engaging in “poor mismanagement”, doesn’t that mean you’re managing well? And these are TEACHERS! Pathetic.
BUMP
NEA has always offended me partially because in order to join my local organization, which is my legal support, I also have to pay dues to TEA and NEA. I once called NEA to log my complaint, and the representative kept me on the phone for an hour telling me what NEA does for teachers.
He didn’t want to listen to my disagreement with the political views of NEA nor to my opposition to the fact that my hard-earned money goes to lobbying congress on issues with which I almost always disagree.
If local organizations did not require membership in NEA, it would die quickly. Good riddance.
Good alternatives to the NEA...offer liability insurance without the liberal/Democrat agenda:
“”They ignited our passions and made us fearful and angry.” In contrast, Smith believes teachers should be disengaged from any political bias so they can train children to make up their own minds.”
Boy that just says it all. The NEA is all about power anyway they can get it. The children and their learning to think is just not too important at all.
Just more evidence of the left’s take-no-prisoners/do-anything/say-anything to get their way.
These people could give a rat’s ass about fairness, equality, tolerance, reasonableness. . . or a child’s education. Why many others can’t see these losers for who they really are is beyond me.
C’mon American people, wake up . . .please.
Good for the honest teacher to blow the whistle on the NEA.
This has RICO violations written all over it.
the nea cares about education like hitler cared about the jews.
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