Posted on 11/01/2001 4:02:31 AM PST by summer
Letter to President Bush
from NEA President Bob Chase
Dear Mr. President:
We Americans are a diverse and often divided family, but at this time of tragedy we stand united - one nation indivisible. We are united by our shared grief, and also by our resolve to root out and punish those who have attacked our homeland.
Nearly one in one hundred Americans is a member of the National Education Association. I want you to know that, as President and Commander in Chief, you have our wholehearted support at this time of crisis. You should also know that, in recent days, teacher unions from around the world have expressed their strong solidarity with America. Those who love freedom and democracy are rallying to America's flag and to your leadership as President in the war on terrorism.
You have our strong support - and our prayers - as you make the fateful decisions necessary for America to prevail. The 2.6 million members of the National Education Association stand with you, and we stand ready to assist you in any way we can.
May God give you wisdom and strength, Mr. President, and may God bless our great nation.
Sincerely,
Bob Chase
President
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Letter to NEA Board of Directors
from NEA President Bob Chase
October 5, 2001
Dear NEA Board of Directors Member:
As President Bush so compellingly argued in his speech to Congress, the terrorists attacked America because they despise our values. We will defeat this enemy by arms and law, but also by holding fast to the core values that define us as Americans: our freedom, our liberties, our commitment to an open, tolerant, democratic society.
Of necessity, public schools will be a frontline institution in this new era. America's domestic security will depend on more than metal detectors and sky marshals. It also will depend on the values taught in America's public schools. In the months and years ahead, it is our challenge as educators to guide an entire generation of young Americans to understand the freedom and democratic ideals that are at stake in this struggle.
With this in mind, I am passing along this packet of source materials that I hope you will find useful - and inspiring. Included are America's founding documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights. There are also backgrounders on Islam and the Arab world; resource lists on school safety and helping children cope with loss; a booklet titled "The Bible & Public Schools: A First Amendment Guide;" and much more.
When you get back home to your schools and communities, I encourage you to reproduce and disseminate items in this packet that you find especially useful. If there are other ways that we at NEA headquarters can assist you in responding to the events of September 11, don't hesitate to ask.
Sincerely,
Bob Chase
NEA President
The president of the NEA used the "G-word" (twice) in his letter to President Bush? That's clearly a violation of the separation of church and state. I'm callin' the ACLU!
This support of Bush is just too far-fetched! ;^)
Anti-Americanism started with the academia in this country and must come to an end by them. Communist-socialist values still run strong amongst educators and these values and ideals are contrary and intolerant of all that America is and stands for.
What say you?
My next door neighbor is a teacher. Used to march lock stock and barrel to the union line. She wasn't a very good teacher, either, but don't believe me. Even our very liberal state didn't know what to do with her (Merryland) and moved her all over the place.
She's a sweet woman, really, a real joy to have as a neighbor. But independent thinker? Seeker of truth? Inspiration to the youth she teaches?
Never.
We chanced to talk the other day, over the fence as it were. "How are your students doing?" I asked. For here lately my mind's run amok with the effects of all this on our children and hey, I don't think it's necessarily a BAD thing. My daughter, who I love dearly, grew up in an era of peace, prosperity and no fear. I stupidly sent her to public schools and believe me, she's a product of same if ever there was a definition.
But I digress.
Anyway, meek, mild teacher tells me how she blew up in the teachers' lounge. "Another teacher was going on and on about Bush, how he can't talk properly....really making fun of him," she explained. She told me she couldn't stand it for another minute, jumped up from the table and shouted, "What's a little verbal stumbling with all this man has on his mind? He's done a fine job and for all your mockery, would you rather have Clinton at the helm? Thank God we don't."
*MY* mouth like to drop to the ground at the description of the outburst. This woman is very liberal, total Dem and, well, she's a teacher.
I then launched into a mini-rant about how kids today are going to be a whole different breed, THEY'LL be the ones to change the world. I even, so inspired was I at the sound of my own voice, raved about the importance of teachers, more now so than ever. Those precious and frightened children, I ranted, need guidance and leadership top notch.
Teacher neighbor tells me how they say the pledge of allegiance and she can see their endless pride. They're collecting money for the children of Afghanistan, a Bush move that I thought to be pure and unadulterated genius. They have a "patriotic" moment every afternoon. She said they're keenly interested in American History.
My goodness she was so animated, so into it. For a brief shining moment I envied her...me, the person who'd sniggered at her life of lazy summers and tenacious tenure.
I'd disagree that the NEA President's words don't ring true. The NEA might well be reflecting the change in the very students they teach.
I haven't heard any other good ideas either, but that doesn't mean they can't try. =) They don't want to "win a war", but they want to ensure that we are no longer threatened by these terrorists, just like us. And they shouldn't be shut out, called anti-American, or whatever because they're trying to reshape their beliefs around what happened on 9/11.
This is the first war I've ever supported myself, including Vietnam and Desert Storm, and I had a tough time coming to grips with the reality that innocent Afghan civilians are going to be extraneously killed. But that fact that more civilian deaths would result through inaction in the long run convinced me.
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