[VeniVidiVici]

If my tech job goes by the wayside I'm thinking of becoming a teacher. Yes, I have a slight masochistic streak in me.

Anybody know if one can be a teacher without being forced to join the NEA?

[jz638]

As sad as it is, being in the NEA is probably the best option if you're going into public school teaching for one reason: legal representation.

If you want to be ambitious, look into organizing a co-op or starting a charter school in your area. I'd be surprised if a good many homeschoolers' parents didn't jump at the chance to use economies of scale to further enhance their childrens' educations.

[MissEdie]

Yes, here in SC the teachers are not unionized.

[Lil'freeper]

Anybody know if one can be a teacher without being forced to join the NEA?

Absolutely you can, but I strongly urge you to get your own liability insurance. Most of the teachers I know joined the union for one reason only: 1 million dollars in liability coverage that they couldn't afford otherwise. Only fools teach without such coverage- you can get sued for making eye contact with a kid these days.