HOPE FOR AMERICA: Growing Non-Union Teacher Associations Provide Alternatives to NEA and AFT

3/30/03

[Visioneer]

BE ENCOURAGED... THERE'S HOPE FOR AMERICA'S CHILDREN AND FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHICH THEY ATTEND!

Growing Non-Union Professional Teacher Associations across America are providing increasingly influential and viable alternatives to the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) whose self-serving chokehold on American education over the past 30 years has helped usher in the current national crisis in our nation's public schools.

One of the best kept "secrets" concerning the state of education in the U.S. today, is the fact that the Coalition of Independent Education Associations (CiEA) comprises the third largest teacher's alliance in the nation. And you can bet your boots this organization is NOT another labor union in disguise. In contrast to the "members-first;everyone else second" priority structure which typifies both NEA and AFT, this alliance and the independent teacher associations which comprise its membership, represent a dedicated force of results-oriented, excellence-driven teachers.

Without a doubt, the existence of these refreshingly distinctive independent teacher associations portends to be the long overdue breath of fresh air thousands of anxious parents and concerned citizens across America have been seeking for decades.

Best of all, thanks to forums such as this, this information will not remain a secret much longer....

(Note: All Professional Teacher Associations participating in the growing CiEA alliance are legally incorporated in their home states as 501(c)(6) "Professional Associations" instead of as 501(c)(5) "Labor Unions" or "Organized Labor" groups as are the state affiliates of NEA and AFT--which are both labor unions.)

The coalition's mission statement defines four guiding principles:

1. Priority on children

2. Emphasis on professionalism

3. Focus on educational issues while avoiding partisan political causes.

4. Freedom of choice. Every teacher must be free to choose which educational organization(s) he or she will support.

Most Americans would probably be surprised to learn that three of these independent state teacher associations have already attained the distinction of having more dues-paying members than NEA's state affiliate. Membership statistics for these groups are:
Texas – 100,000 members
Missouri – 44,000 members
Georgia – 54,000 members

As NEA membership growth slows in some states and begins to decline in others, non-union Professional Teacher Associations continue to experience steady growth across the country. Currently, over 200,000 dedicated and courageous public school teachers have chosen to affiliate themselves professionally with their state's independent, non-union professional teachers' association instead of NEA or AFT.

It is important to note that this growth among independent teacher associations is taking place in the midst of well-funded and well-staffed membership containment campaigns which, sadly, are often brutally relentless and include such nefarious tactics as outright intimidation, name-calling, subtle and not-so-subtle threats, workplace harassment, civil rights violations, and outright lies.

A partial listing of non-NEA state teacher associations follows:

Alabama
Alabama Conference of Educators
http://goacoe.org/

Arkansas
Arkansas State Teachers Association
http://www.astapro.org/

Arizona
Arizona Professional Educators
http://www.azpe.org/

Florida
Professional Educators Network of Florida
http://www.penfl.org/

Georgia
Professional Association of Georgia Educators
http://www.pageinc.org/

Iowa
Professional Educators of Iowa
http://www.peiowa.org/welcome.htm

Kansas
Kansas Association of American Educators
http://www.kanaae.org/

Kentucky
Kentucky Association of Professional Educators
http://www.kentuckyteachers.org/

Louisiana
Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana
http://www.apeleducators.org/home.html

Mississippi
Mississippi Professional Educators
http://www.mpe.org/

Missouri
Missouri State Teachers Association
http://www.msta.org/

North Carolina
Professional Educators of North Carolina
http://pencweb.org/

Oklahoma
Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators
http://www.apoe.com/

Pennsylvania
Keystone Teachers Association of Pennsylvania
http://www.keyta.org/

South Carolina
Palmetto State Teachers Association
http://www.palmettoteachers.org/

Tennessee
Professional Educators of Tennessee
http://www.teacherspet.com/

Texas
Association of Texas Professional Educators
http://www.atpe.org/

Virginia
Virginia Professional Educators
http://www.virginiaeducators.org/

Washington
Washington State Northwest Professional Educators
http://www.nwpe.org/

[Visioneer]

There is reason to be encouraged. I should know...because I am a teacher.

[metacognative]

No Indiana? What can I do then?

[Clara Lou]

Please add my organization, Texas Classroom Teacher's Association, http://www.tcta.org to the list for Texas organizations.

[dis.kevin]

Thanks for this post, I am passing it along to my wife. She is a teacher here in PA.

[Visioneer]

Contact CEAFU -- Concerned Educators Against Forced Unionism

8001 Braddock Road, Suite 500 Springfield, VA 22160 800-336-3600, Fax: 703-321-7342

Someone there may be able to assit you with contacts or know of independent teacher organizations within Indiana.

Independent teacher associations are most common in "Right-to-Work" states. In many non-Right-to-Work states, teachers are literally forced to join one of the teacher unions as a pre-condition to employment. Still, even in those states, there are sometimes "pockets" of teachers in local districts or regions who form alternative groups. I suspect there may be something somewhere in Indiana you could latch on to. Otherwise, a core of dedicated teachers can always establish a new organization anytime they wish.

[BlueOneGolf]

For my two sisters-in-law who are teachers, here's the link in HTML:

http://www.kentuckyteachers.org/
Kentucky Association of Professional Educators

[EdReform]

BTTT

[concerned about politics]

I still prefer open school choice. That way, I choose what I feel is best for my kids.
These teachers may not be union, but they're still working for government schools.
It would be nice to chose non-government controled schools instead.

[mrustow]

BTTT

[mrustow]

So, if they just all up and quit their jobs, and let their kids starve, you might consider showing them some respect. How sweet. Are you willing to up and quit YOUR job (or have your spouse or loved ones quit THEIRS), just to satisfy some contemptuous stranger, who has already shown an utter lack of regard for people who are putting their time and effort into reforming the public schools?

I didn't think so.

[concerned about politics]

, and let their kids starve,

Yeh. Right. Gimmie a break.
They could work for private schools if they were really out to change the system.
Public schools ARE government schools. They're "aiding the ememy" for crying out loud!
They still teach socialism. It's their job.

[EdReform]

Teachers who want to belong to a Professional Education Association should consider joining the Association of American Educators. You could join the AAE, then spread the word among your fellow Hoosier educators and start your own state chapter.

Let your colleagues know that they are entitled to receive a refund on the part of their NEA dues that is being used for political activity. Many teachers believe that they must join the NEA to get liability insurance -- The AAE offers excellent Liability Insurance.

Now is the time to help bust the NEA

[EdReform]

Ping

[Visioneer]

As a former "government" school teacher, I want to politely point out that you are severely mistaken in some of your assumptions.

Based on what you seem to believe, I can assure you that many public school teachers both live and teach information and values I will define as "conservative".

Many still control what is taught in their classrooms and how it is taught and these are going to be the salvation of this mess we are in...IF that time ever comes.

Many of the students I taught in public schools were absolutely outstanding young people who, for a variety of reasons, did not have the luxury of private school attendance. In other words, they were "stuck" with whatever teachers they happened to get. Some ended up with me. I pray to God I did right by them. One thing for sure, I knew my students got a daily dose of outstanding teaching from a conservative America-loving teacher....

Yes, we could just give up and run away rather than try and sight for what is right. Tell me, is this how you would recommend we deal with Sadaam in Iraq... by just walking away because the challenge is great?

Many of us stay in public schools specifically because we want to be there for those students who have no option but public school attendance. At least, in my classes, they learned the need for ethics and good values, appreciation for the American Heritage and for our wonderful way of life, the necessity for accepting responsibility for their decisions, along with in-depth understanding of the academic lessons and materials I presented.

Contrary to your suggestion, our decision to fight rather than take flight represents our last best hope that things will, one day, turn around if we do not walk away from our sacred calling because of cowardice or lack of commitment.

Public Education, if it is to be altered, must, inevitably, be reformed (redeemed) from the inside--not the outside.

In other words, "If it is to be, it IS up to me."

Hope this makes sense....

[concerned about politics]

Government school teachers will teach what they're told to teach.
Just because a few join an outside organization , it doesn't mean they're not still teaching socialism, living off the public dole, and collecting their government welfarwe checks.
They demand respect for the little they do. They work an average of 6 mo. per year, and rarely work a full 8 hours. Yet, the American taxpayers are paying these people to teach anything but academics, at an outragious cost.
What other job is there in America where one gets 6 mo. vacation, works less than a full day, cannot be fired, and still get a tax paid full years govenment check? Is this a waste, or what?
Vote school choice canidates. It would greatly reduce the cost to taxpayers, give the children an academic- based education, and allow the parents to choose the school they feel is the best for their children. It's a win/win approach.

[concerned about politics]

you might consider showing them some respect.

The U.S. school system was modeled after German schools created in the 1800's for the express purpose of producing obedient soldiers and factory workers (This is true! I've read it in many different good sources). The German system was extremely successful in achieving its goal in Germany and was therefore copied by other countries, including the U.S. The great American tycoons are big supporters of the German system in America since they want illiterate but obedient factory workers. Our schools are operated pretty much the same way today.
Obviously the brightest and most creative kids are going to have the biggest problem dealing with this restrictive environment.

I've had many people tell me they give their child Ritalin "only when they're in school" to prevent behavioral problems. It would seem in those cases that the school is the real problem.

Why do parents settle for this? I suspect one reason is that they don't know there are alternatives. Good alternatives, often inexpensive or even free.

[concerned about politics]

PS....

Obedient factory workers also help the NEA get out the socialist vote. A big plus for their political agenda.

[pfflier]

In our local school district, the NEA has lost it's grip as of this year. The non-aligned and the AzPE membership is 66%.

The NEA had a cow and refused to participae at all in any negotiations.

The big deal was liability insurance. The NEA always used it as a recruiting tool. The AzPE and independent insurers came up with a better plan.

BTW the AzPE is by charter, apolitical.

[mrustow]

You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din! I wouldn't have been so polite.

As someone who spent six-and-and-a-half years teaching remedial and allegedly college-level courses in two-and-four year colleges in New York and New Jersey, I salute you, for trying to make a difference as a teacher, and through seeking to reform the schools.

[concerned about politics]

Government indoctrination centers are still government indoctrination centers.
Those who work there are still government workers. Both entirely supported by massive U.S. tax dollars.
All collect their government welfare check.
So the workers join a new club. It changes nothing.
The government schools need to be shut down, and replaced with a new free market system. Competetion brings a better product at a lower cost.
Government schools are a failure. It's about time America puts the kids first, and the government brainwashers on the street.